The Wedding Ring Blog

The Buzz about Mayan Marriage of Many 12-12-12 weddings!

2012-02-09T17:18:30-05:00

I love it! The Mayan Marriage of Many will bring together 36 lucky couples to be married on 12-12-12 in Belize. This unique wedding package really is one of a kind. And recently Bridal Buzz gave this event some very cool coverage. Dallas residents may attend a special cocktail party to help a lucky couple celebrate winning a trip to Belize for this once in a lifetime event. Sounds great!

When Blushing Bride Boutique in Frisco was asked by Influency Group to locate a couple to participate in their contest to win a wedding in the Mayan Mountains of Belize they jumped at the chance. And now, that couple has either won the grand prize or a runner-up package and the world will find out which it is on the morning of February 13.

So, what does all this have to do with you? Well, to celebrate the couple, Romantic Travel Belize is hosting a cocktail reception event from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. the evening of February 13 at the historic Frisco Heritage Center Depot and it is open to the public.

Read - You’re Cordially Invited to the “Unbelizeably in Love Cocktail Reception.”

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Platinum ring sales increase.

2012-02-06T15:02:04-05:00

Just a few years ago, platinum wedding rings and engagement rings were declared dead by many retailers because of platinum’s high market value. A platinum ring was much harder to sell over a gold ring because platinum was much more expensive.

“Platinum’s dead,” they said. Well, long live platinum!

Thanks to platinum and gold being very close in price these days, platinum has enjoyed a comeback.

According to NationalJeweler.com, Boston’s Long’s Jewelers saw a 20 percent increase in sales of the precious white metal over the holidays. The retailer advertised on local radio, and highlighted platinum’s current price situation.

And just state away, future brides that were heavily involved in their engagement ring buying process at Lux Bond & Green said they overwhelmingly prefer their engagement ring diamond to be set in platinum from the outset.

Read - Platinum prices turn holiday into white Christmas.

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Looking for a wedding ring deal (Western New York)?

2012-02-03T16:51:38-05:00

Hey Western New Yorkers! If you are looking for a wedding ring and want a GREAT deal, then look no further than Niagara Fall’s Firth Jewelers. In business since 946, Firth Jewelers has sold wedding rings and fine jewelry to the people of Western New York. Growing from a simple, one room store on East Falls Street, Firth’s now employs a staff of more than 20, including a registered gemologist and a custom jewelry design team.

Firth Jewelers will be having a wedding ring event on March 1 through March 3rd, and you can save up to 30% during this annual wedding ring event. So don’t miss out!

Learn more about Firth Jewelers.

LIKE Firth Jewelers on Facebook.

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The Wedding Ring Blog on His Bride blog.

2012-02-02T16:53:23-05:00

Just a special thank you to Darla at His Bride blog for the mention!

Read - Mayan calendar.

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Mayan Marriage of Many on 12-12-12.

2012-01-30T15:30:15-05:00

Will the world really end near the completion of 2012? Or will there be a series of catastrophic events that will illustrate that the end is near for all of mankind? Well, if you believe how many interpret the meaning behind the Mayan calendar, and you are thinking about getting married, now is the time to think about a wedding that is once in a lifetime. In fact, you may consider Belize as the wedding destination of your choice. After all, if something REALLY bad is going to happen, then you may as well go out with style. Or at least having recently have had the time of your life!

Supposedly December 2012 will mark the end of the 5,126 year era in the Mayan Calendar. But instead of it being a sign of mortal finality and/or destruction, it actually can be thought of as a time of renewal, rebirth, renaissance and new beginnings. In honor of this historic and spiritual moment, thirty-six adventurous, fortunate and spiritually motivated couples along with two hundred and eighteen of their closest friends and family will partake in the unique Mayan Marriage of Many wedding celebration in Belize. This grand wedding event will be staged on an ancient Maya Temple at the 3200 year old Mayan City of Cahal Pech on December 12, 2012 (that’s 12-12-12). At the same time, in five other exotic resort locations in Ambergris Caye, five additional couples will each hold their own separate full court fairytale wedding nuptials event as well.

Package for the group weddings in Cahal Pech range from $14,030 to $24,030 for the Bridal Couple (depending on their chosen hotel and other add-on options) and includes a 5-night Mini-Moon, all receptions, day tours, etc. Packages for guest couples start at $5,030 for December 9-13, 2012, with custom mini-cations also available.

While in Belize, brides, grooms and guests will be able to enjoy an exciting choice of activities that the land has to offer including zip lining, Maya massage and other healing, arts medicine trails with Maya shaman, horseback riding, Caracol and other Maya site exploration, bird watching, kayaking, cave tubing, exploring ancient caves with human remains, museums, botanical gardens, a world class zoo, repelling, spelunking, scuba diving or snorkeling around the second largest barrier reef in the world, helicopter tours, mountain biking, yoga and more.

Wow! There’s a lot do in Belize! For additional information on wedding events, packages and resort accommodations go to www.2012weddingsbelize.com.

The Mayan Marriage of Many has recently been mentioned on FoxNews.com - Cashing in on the 'end of the world' tourism.

Images: Jose Luis Zapata Photography

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Download The Jewelry Book for free!

2012-01-27T15:02:53-05:00

The Jewelry Book, a leading jewelry industry publication dedicated to everything about jewelry, is available online as a free download. If you love jewelry, or even just want some ideas for Valentine’s Day, then The Jewelry Book is for you!

Stories featured in the latest issue include:

Yvel on The Cover – Celebrating its 25th Anniversary.
Design Trends for 2012 – Predictions from our favorite brands.
The Wedding Corner – The wedding ring is often the gateway to a lifetime relationship with your jewelry customer.
The River of Inspiration – Known as “The Jewel Box of the Indian Ocean,” Sri Lanka (formerly known as Ceylon) continues to yield precious stones and fine gems at a seemingly endless supply.

Featured designers include:

A Jaffee, Asscher Cut Princess, Centurion Jewelry Show, Charles Krypell, Coast Diamond, Gem Platinum, Gumuchian, Jack Abraham, Jack Kelege, JB Star, John Buechner, Memoire, Precision Set, Rudolf Friedmann and Yvel

Download The Jewelry Book today.

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Fairytale engagement ring has thousands of diamonds.

2012-01-27T14:39:08-05:00

The Tsarevna Swan Ring, designed by Lobortas Classic Jewelry House in Kiev, Ukraine, has set the Guinness World Record for having the most set diamonds. In fact, there’s a total of 2,525 diamonds weighing 10.48 carats set on the 18k white gold ring.

White gold? Are you kidding me? Why not platinum? If you are going through with all this effort, use platinum! Holy Moly!

Read - Tsarevna Swan ring with the most number of diamonds makes it to The Guinness Book.

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Holy emerald, Batman! 57k carat emerald on sale!

2012-01-27T14:30:21-05:00

Is green your favorite color? Then you just might like this!

A 57,000 carat emerald, claimed to be the largest in the world, will be put on sale at the Western Star Auctions in Kelowna, British Columbia. The prized emerald, named Teodora (or “God’s Gift”), was originally discovered in Brazil and later cut in India. The huge oval emerald, which weighs a hefty 25 pounds, is valued at $1.15 million, but is anticipated to sell much higher. However, there are questions as to whether this stone is in fact all emerald.

Read - Put that on her finger! 57,500-carat world's largest emerald worth $1.15 MILLION up for auction.

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Choosing platinum for your engagement or wedding ring.

2012-01-26T14:49:54-05:00

Today’s economy presents a very difficult challenge for a bridal jewelry companies everywhere; stores want to stock less product than ever, and what they do stock might not be at a price point that they normally would try and meet if things were good. I’ve found that despite the fact that gold and platinum are similar in price, many stores have given up or greatly reduced platinum stock in favor of gold for engagement rings and alternative metals for men’s wedding rings. In many cases, a consumer looking for platinum may not ever see it in most stores, and therefore have to turn to online retailers such as Blue Nile, so the brick-and-mortar retailer loses a sale when they most likely didn’t have to.

To help bolster platinum in the bridal jewelry marketplace, American bridal jewelry manufacturer Novell developed its Studio Platinum Collection based upon classic styles that will always sell well either in a store or online. The combination of styling that has appeal, the benefits of platinum and a reasonable price point means one thing – a winning situation!

You can check them out at NovellPlatinum.com.

Prices range between $975.00 for a simple semi-mount without side stones up to $2500.00 for designs with side stones. All prices do not include center diamonds, will vary a bit depending on the market value (just like oil) or a store’s individual mark-up (which may be slightly more or even less), and may also vary depending on diamond size for the side stones as well.

Why should you want platinum for an engagement ring? Platinum is a naturally white metal that holds a diamond secure and won’t lose much mass over time. Therefore, you can have a piece of platinum jewelry refinished again and again without scratching metal from the piece (unlike with white gold). And platinum will not turn yellow over time, yet white gold will. So if you are making a purchase based upon similar pricing, platinum should win every time.

So far, retailers that stock the entire program include:

Day’s Jewelers (all locations)
Auburn, Maine
Bangor, Maine
Brunswick, Maine
Waterville, Maine
South Portland, Maine
Manchester, New Hampshire
And online.

Direct Jewelry Outlet
101 E. Broad Street
Falls Church, VA 22046
(703) 534-2666

Herman Hiss Jewelers
905 Washington Ave.
Bay City, MI 48708
(989) 892-2567

Jones Brothers Jewelers
7705 N. Grand Prairie Drive
Peoria, IL 61615-9243
(309) 692-3228

Lux, Bond and Green
46 LaSalle Road
West Hartford, CT 06107
(860)521-3015

Shuler’s Jewelers
110 W Germantown Pike # B
Norristown, PA 19401
(610) 275-3600

Tivol
220 Nichols Road
Kansas City, MO 64112
(800) 829-1515

However, a consumer can order from any Novell authorized retailer, or even from their favorite jeweler if there’s not a store in their area.

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The Wedding Ring Book’s free ring eBook.

2012-01-26T13:55:59-05:00

Need help with your wedding ring purchase, but don’t know where to start? If you are in a bind, and need a little help, then start with The Wedding Ring Book, which is available as a free download.

Free? That’s right, it’s free!

The Wedding Ring Book is the destination for all of your wedding ring designs and information. They have created a beautiful eBook to educate and showcase the latest and best designs in the bridal industry. All the prospective bride and groom need do is to click on an image or ad and be directed to that designer's website.

Beautiful designer wedding rings, education and selection is all at your fingertips!

Featured wedding ring and jewelry designers include:

Asscher Cut Princess, Benchmark, Charles Krypell, Coast Diamond, Gem Platinum, Gumuchian, Jack Abraham, Jack Kelege, JB Star, John Buechner, Katharine James, Memoire, Norman Silverman, Novell, Platinum Guild, Precision Set, Rudolf Friedmann, and Sholdt Designs.

Please also visit www.theweddingringbook.com to see additional brands and styles as well.

Download The Wedding Ring Book today.

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Wedding rings made with Argentium Silver and gold.

2012-01-13T14:10:27-05:00

Novell’s new In Union wedding rings combine 14kt gold and Argentium Silver with a very unique bonding technology. Check out twenty of these great wedding ring styles.

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Diamond scavenger hunt - find a diamond in Hoboken!

2012-01-13T12:45:51-05:00

New Jersey wedding ring retailer Hoboken Gold & Diamonds is conducting their "Jewel of the Mile" scavenger hunt, which allows up to fifty lucky couples the chance to discover a hidden diamond worth more than $10,000.

Couples have until February 4, 2011 to register for Hoboken Gold & Diamonds’ diamond scavenger hunt, and the contest takes place February 12. Participants are randomly selected, and will need to use their knowledge of Hoboken to decipher clues leading them to the location of the hidden diamond. Hoboken Gold & Diamond will then offer to use the diamond to produce an engagement ring for the winning couple.

Hoboken Gold & Diamond also partners with other Hoboken businesses for additional contest prizes; Madison Bar & Grill, Spa Aura, Creative Groove Studio and Carlo's Bake Shop all provide discounts and services for the winning couple’s wedding day.

For more information about registering, please read Jeweler Teases Couples with Diamond Scavenger Hunt.

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Wedding ring trends for 2012.

2012-01-05T16:42:11-05:00

Should the economy stay relatively the same in 2012, two precious metals for wedding rings bridal jewelry will be more prominent due to their price points.

Palladium is a naturally white precious metal that has been around for years and years. In fact, my Grandmother’s wedding ring was created in palladium, and she was married during World War II. Not a lot of consumers realize that palladium is a less expensive white metal option, and that wedding rings created with palladium are closer in price to 14kt white gold designs (which are not naturally white and eventually develop a yellow hue if not rhodium plated). However, the benefits of palladium far outweigh the benefits of white gold. Palladium rings are lightweight, hypoallergenic, retain their color, and can be sized, which is something that can not be said about much cheaper alternative metal styles.

Another precious metal that should become more popular is Argentium Silver. Argentium Silver is more pure than standard sterling silver, is tarnish resistant, and Argentium alloys are nickel-free, so those with a reaction to nickel have noting to fear. Rings created with Argentium Silver also fill in a price point that falls in between cheaper alternative metal designs and that of 14kt gold. They can also be sized, while titanium and tungsten can not. All in all, Argentium Silver sounds like a great deal.

Novell Design Studio has been a leader in palladium wedding ring manufacturing, and has recently introduced a new collection of In Union wedding rings. In Union rings are made by pairing a very thin layer of 14kt gold and Argentium Silver with a very unique bonding technology. A light-weight gold band is designed, finished, and carefully fused to a strong Argentium Silver liner. This results in a wonderfully resilient product with great potential for color, design, and flexibility. In Union wedding rings are priced to be the precious metal answer to alternative metal products – a need that jewelry stores have been asking about!

By the way, Novell uses pink and yellow gold as the outside layer of In Union rings strictly for fashion. Rings that are all white are 100% Argentium Silver through and through.

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Surprise proposal fails – woman runs away – all on UCLA cam!

2012-01-04T09:59:43-05:00

Men have great ideas that sound fantastic in their head, but sometimes it’s unfortunately ONLY in their head! For one ill-fated California guy, the setting at the UCLA and Richmond basketball game was the perfect place and time for him to make a big proposal splash. However, the crowd that came out to watch the Friday night basketball game got more than what they ever expected. And for some, the entertainment level was off the charts. What else says "I want to spend the rest of my life with you" than a marriage proposal on a big screen at a UCLA game just before Christmas? Sounds like the perfect proposal that the happy couple could tell their children and grandchildren.

Except things didn't quite go as planned. In fact, the gal looks at the ring and runs away! That’s right – runs away!

Midway through UCLA’s 71-63 victory over Richmond Dec. 23 at the Los Angeles Sports Arena, UCLA's "Mistletoe Cam" cut to this seemingly lucky couple seated courtside. There’s even an announcer right there to capture every memorable moment. Mr. Unfortunate reaches into his pocket, smiles big, pulls out a ring and says, "I knew that I was going to do this since the first day that I met you, and I figured now was as good a time as any." Merry Christmas and a life happily ever after, right? Jimmy Stewart would be smiling in his grave.

But wait a sec! Oops! After an awkward pause, Miss Future-Bride-to-Not-Be runs away faster than a cheetah. If I was that guy, I would have asked out the announcer right there. It definitely would be You Tube history! Why wait for the rebound chick? She’s right there!

Of course, it’s moments like these that make for some great water cooler discussion at the office. In fact, one particularly pretty, but currently single, gal summed up the moment with the following statement:

“It’s wh*res like her who ruin it for us nice girls**.”

So ladies, please heed this advice. This is the age of social media. If a man proposes to you live on camera in public, chances are it is also being recorded in some manner. So smile, say yes, take the ring, and then turn his heart into romantic road kill out in the parking lot. Otherwise thousands of women from coast-to-coast will be calling you names.

Watch - Video of marriage proposal gone wrong at UCLA basketball game.

**This is strictly the opinion of a co-worker and not of The Wedding Ring Blog or our advertisers.

Got the time? Watch Tappers help their Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

2012-01-03T10:19:40-05:00

One of Michigan’s most trusted jewelers Tappers is supporting their Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation for their first “Making Time for a Good Cause” initiative of 2012. Visit any of the three Tappers locations to purchase standard watch battery (a simple and affordable purchase in itself), and the cost of the battery changing service will be donated to Tappers Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation as its featured charity for the quarter. A little time, and a watch, is all you need to support a very important cause.

Tappers offers great customer service and an outstanding selection of the highest quality diamonds, jewelry, wedding rings, engagement rings and of course watches.

LIKE Tappers on Facebook.

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No wedding rings on Perry or Brand? OMG!

2011-12-30T14:33:49-05:00

Have we as a society become a little too celebrity obsessed? While searching Google News for the term “wedding,” there were dozens of headlines related to these questions – are Katy Perry and Russell Brand splitting up? And are they really walking around without their wedding rings?

Here are a few headlines:

Russell Brand seen without his wedding ring for the second day in a row as sources say he and Katy Perry have NO plans to divorce!

No wedding band for Russell Brand!

Katy Perry, Russell Brand Seen Without Wedding Rings

I think that the media is a bit concerned in this Internet age with what goes on with celebrities. And the public, with all of the available Wi-Fi Internet access and smart phones, eats it up just as fast as they can. Can’t we concentrate all this energy and bandwidth towards solving some real issues in this world?

Just sayin’!

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Frost & Company Diamonds features Audrey Hepburn.

2011-12-30T10:01:02-05:00

I found this great picture of iconic actress Audrey Hepburn on Frost & Company Diamonds Facebook page. Such a classic beauty and the jewelry is just as classic and iconic as she is!

LIKE Frost & Company Diamonds on Facebook.

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Experimenting with Pinterest.

2011-12-29T13:17:07-05:00

Lately I have been experimenting with Pinterest. It certainly is interesting – much like the name of the site implies. I am not sure where I am going with Pinterest, but I am having a good time with it.

Here are some things I have featured:

Source: novelldesignstudio.com via Wedding on Pinterest

Source: theweddingringbook.com via Wedding on Pinterest

Support the No Dirty Gold pledge!

2011-12-29T10:48:56-05:00

As with diamonds, many average consumers don't know where the gold in their wedding ring or jewelry comes from, or even about the methods used to mine it. And also like the diamond industry, gold mining can be a very dirty undertaking: it can destroy communities, contaminate drinking water, exploit workers, and eradicate what were once pristine environments.

Thanks to the Day’s Jewelers Facebook page, I just came across NoDirtyGold.org. After reviewing the website and learning more about how the gold mining industry affects the air people breathe, water people drink and a mine’s surrounding communities, I signed the No Dirty Gold pledge. As with any cause, demanding an industry to change is a long and winding road to travel. But with heightened awareness and even some social media chatter, things can happen. So sign the No Dirty Gold pledge today.

LIKE No Dirty Gold on Facebook.

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New Argentium Silver video on YouTube.

2011-12-29T10:05:14-05:00

I blog about the benefits of platinum and palladium quite a bit, but there’s also another white metal that is bright and wears well over time. Argentium Silver is a good choice for a naturally white affordable precious metal. With the economy still being quite a challenge for many individuals, affordability is important, so Argentium Silver is a logical choice for a wedding ring or jewelry if price is an issue. And unlike tungsten or titanium, a ring made with Argentium Silver can be resized! That’s right – most alternative metals can not be easily sized. So unless you intend to stay exactly the same weight for the rest of your life, sizing can be a real issue down the road.

Here’s a video which illustrates the beauty of Argentium Silver. The benefits of Argentium Silver are clearly explained. Test results for the metal are shown and a wide variety of Argentium items are showcased. It really is a good starting point if you are interested in Argentium Silver.

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Teen Ben Breedlove leaves behind touching video.

2011-12-29T09:36:52-05:00

Life gets busy and complicated, and sometimes we forget just how precious it really is.

Ben Breedlove, an 18 year old from Austin, Texas, died on Christmas Day. Ben had a heart condition called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (the heart's walls thicken and it becomes more and more difficult for it to pump blood), and he’d had it for as long as he was alive. He left behind two wordless videos on his YouTube channel which utilized a series of note cards with handwritten messages that explain what his existence with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was like, including the three times he "cheated death." The videos were discovered shortly after his passing.

WARNING: These videos might make you cry!

Watch - After Christmas Death, Teen Leaves Online Message Behind.

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Platinum engagement rings on our Facebook page.

2011-12-28T10:26:03-05:00

See Novell’s new Studio Platinum engagement ring collection on The Wedding Ring Blog’s Facebook page. Platinum is the superior metal for engagement rings and wedding rings. Luckily Novell has come along to create platinum designs that are very affordable as well.

View Studio Platinum rings on Facebook.

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Check out The Wedding Ring Book.

2011-12-27T14:29:35-05:00

Are you looking for some great wedding ring ideas and shopping tips? Well, look no further than The Wedding Ring Book, a free online publication dedicated to bridal jewelry.

The Wedding Ring Book is a great place to start for anyone looking for shopping ideas. You can download the issue as a PDF file for easy printing. Choosing the right wedding rings can be tough, and we typically only do it once in a lifetime (if you are lucky). So if you are looking for a great place to start for wedding ring ideas and a basic wedding ring education, download The Wedding Ring Book for free!

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Top 10 Men Wedding Bands of 2011.

2011-12-20T10:57:30-05:00

Leading online wedding portal YourEngagement101.com presents the selections for the Top 10 Men Wedding Bands of 2011. Chosen by both consumers and editors, interesting designs created by Chris Ploof (with a palladium wedding band), Novell (one of their TATU rings) and Wright & Lato (an alternative metal design) were featured.

See the Top 10 Men Wedding Bands of 2011.

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Vote for Sarasota wedding ring retailer Coffrin Jewelers!

2011-12-20T10:30:23-05:00

One of Florida’s best wedding ring retailers needs your help! Vote for Coffrin Jewelers to be recognized as Sarasota’s Best Jeweler of 2012. Just by telling Sarasota Magazine who some of your favorite businesses in the area are, you could win two tickets to their big Best of Sarasota party at Selby Gardens in April and a night at The Sarasota Ritz-Carlton!

Fill out the Best of Sarasota 2012 Entry Ballot today! Entries must be received by Jan. 15, 2012.

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GetEngaged.com offers quality man made diamond rings.

2011-12-20T09:47:18-05:00

A challenging economy can make things difficult for young couples in love – especially if they are planning on getting engaged or have a wedding soon. For those looking to get make the big commitment but still keep a little money in the bank for the future, GetEngaged.com is a great option. GetEngaged.com offers precious metal settings (created in 14kt white and yellow gold) coupled with man made diamonds. With prices starting at $599, GetEngaged.com may be the solution for couples in love yet still on a very real budget.

What I love about the jewelry industry is that there’s always plenty of choices; precious metal designs and non-precious metal styles, real diamonds and quality man made diamonds, choices for gemstones of all kinds, and the list goes on and on. GetEngaged.com’s puts a great amount of detail into their highest quality man made diamonds, and are another alternative for your engagement ring needs. It’s also very important for The Wedding Ring Blog to present a variety of choices to the wide variety of consumers currently looking for the right ring. Happy shopping!

Buy man made diamonds at GetEngaged.com.

WIn a free cocktail ring from Beauty News NYC and Amora.

2011-12-08T11:16:15-05:00

Beauty News NYC is teaming with online wedding ring retailer Amoro.com for readers to get a chance at winning one of two rings from the jewelry website. The winner will have a choice of two styles - a white gold with amethyst cocktail ring or a white gold with diamond and blue sapphire ring. Blue sapphire has been very popular since the Royal Wedding, and it makes an oversized ring come to life.

To enter the contest, all you have to do is "like" Beauty News NYC on Facebook. Then send your name, address, phone number and Facebook ID to giveaways@beautynewsnyc.com. A winner will be selected at random on December 17th, 2011. Please note that all information must be present in your email or you will not be entered.

In addition to the chance to win free jewelry, Amoro.com is also giving its customers savings on non-jewelry purchases. Just register on their jewelry site to receive 15% off any online Godiva purchase and 25% off any online Teleflora purchase. After all, ‘tis the season for gifts of chocolate and flowers as well as for jewelry!

Should you be in the market for wedding rings, then be sure to check out Amora.com’s selection of platinum and palladium wedding rings as well. Shop until you drop!

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Vote for your favorite UK wedding vendor.

2011-12-08T09:59:23-05:00

The Bridal Magazine, the United Kingdom’s leading online wedding portal for brides-to-be, is conducting their 2011 Wedding Supplier Awards. UK residents can complete the entry form to register their vote for the wedding business of choice. Please make sure to wait for the confirmation page before leaving the page or votes will not be sent!

Vote for your favorite wedding vendor for Bridal Magazine’s 2011 Wedding Supplier Award.

LIKE The Bridal Magazine on Facebook.

Wholesale diamonds online are easy with Brilliance.com.

2011-12-07T11:16:18-05:00

Diamonds go through a fairly straightforward process once they are taken from the ground; they journey from the mine to diamond cutters (where they are formed into many of the common cuts, sizes and shapes that you may recognize today), and then most are graded and certified before they arrive at a reputable diamond retailer. But in essence the last step is a key component for the average consumer – where can they find a diamond seller that they can trust?

There are a lot of places online where you can find diamond jewelry. But if you are looking for a highly qualified source for a wholesale diamond, engagement ring, or diamond ring, then Brilliance.com is the place to check out.

Before the arrival of online diamond retailers like Brilliance, consumers had to make a journey to their local jewelry store. Overall diamond selection would often be from just a limited assortment of diamonds that were on-hand. Someone making a purchasing decision from only what the store carries might mean sacrificing some desired characteristics, or even being pressured by pushy salespeople. Sometimes it may result in paying more for a diamond than was anticipated. Therefore, the overall diamond buying experience may not be all that great. And since a diamond is an investment, your experience should never be less than exceptional.

As reputable online jewelry retailer, Brilliance offers an extremely wide selection of wholesale diamonds online. The customer can to search to find a particular loose diamond that meets exact specifications. Brilliance also lists loose diamonds from some of the leading diamond suppliers from around the world. So if you search for a cushion cut diamond using the online diamond search, you'll be presented with thousands of results instead of just a handful of options you'll likely find at your local jewelry store.

In addition to the expanded selection, customers who buy wholesale diamonds from Brilliance will enjoy nice savings up to 50-90% off retail prices. Consumers have significantly more purchasing power buying diamonds online than in a retail store.

Buy your wholesale online diamonds at Brilliance.com.

Visit Rothstein Jewelers (of Beverly Hills) on Facebook.

2011-12-02T15:56:56-05:00

Rothstein Jewelers is truly a one-of-a-kind jewelry store, In addition to being a great source for gold, platinum and silver jewelry at wholesale prices, they also buy your unwanted jewelry and promise to give the highest market price. Customers can also bring in or send in their outdated jewelry and Rothstein Jewelers will custom design a new item – it's called a jewelry makeover. They also re-cut chipped diamonds, mine-cut diamonds and damaged gemstones.

LIKE Rothstein Jewelers (of Beverly Hills) on Facebook.

Jewelry made in America - Lieberfarb.

2011-12-02T15:33:03-05:00

Lieberfarb is an American family-owned designer and manufacturer of engagement rings,wedding bands and wedding rings created in platinum, palladium or gold. The name Lieberfarb has been synonymous with bridal jewelry for decades. And with 2012, this legendary jewelry company will announce a new beginning. Check out their beautiful wedding ring designs at www.lieberfarb.com.

LIKE Lieberfarb on Facebook.

Brilliance.com’s Understanding the 4C’s of Diamonds info-graphic.

2011-12-02T10:59:08-05:00

Well made info-graphics can tell a great story, and one featured by leading online jewelry retailer Brilliance.com is one of the best that I have come across. The Wedding Ring Blog gets pitched info-graphics almost every day, so I am very careful to choose the ones that I feel strongly about. Brilliance.com’s Understanding the 4C’s of Diamonds is without a doubt a good one!

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4C's of Loose Diamonds

Understanding the basics of how a diamond is evaluated is essentially the first step in the engagement ring buying process. Cut refers to the make and shape of the diamond; shapes include round, princess, oval, or pear to name just a few. Color is the amount of yellowness that can be seen in the diamond, and is rated on a letter scale from D (the highest color grade you can give a diamond) to Z. Clarity considers the amount of inclusions in the diamond, while carat is the diamond’s weight, and probably the first diamond-related term that consumers are exposed to and understand.

My favorite aspect of Brilliance.com’s info-graphic is the illustration of diamond color; notice it actually shows you what a Z-color stone might look like. This info-graphic includes a few other color examples all the way to D. You can really grasp why color is an import characteristic of a diamond. Also it explains that the more color a diamond has, then the less brilliant it will look due to an absence of reflected light; in other words, the more light it can reflect, the better it will look.

If you are shopping for an engagement ring, then visit Brilliance.com to learn more about the four C's today.

Re-launching the Jewelry Made in America initiative.

2011-12-01T17:16:10-05:00

A few years ago, I along with The Jewelry Book began a new movement to help publicize the importance of jewelry that is manufactured here in America. With the economy in such a sad shape, my thoughts were with the thousands of American-based jewelry craftsmen that were losing their jobs due to slumping jewelry sales. Cheaper and in many cases inferior jewelry products were being imported from China and India to be sold in malls from coast-to-coast and online. Overall, the domestic jewelry landscape was just not as strong as it should be. Thus, Jewelry Made in America was born! And it was received with an amazing…amazing….AMAZING THUD!

I had reached out to over 90 bloggers and editors nationwide, and all but a very few seemed interested or even responded. Leading fashion jewelry blog Gem Gossip featured their amazing post “The Jewelry Book: all for 'Made in America',” and aside from some special Made in America features in The Jewelry Book, there was little else. Sad but true. However, The Wedding Ring Blog will put the Made in America money where our blogging mouth is!

While recently doing keyword research with Google’s keyword tool, I discovered that there are over 300,000 monthly searches for the term “Made in America,” and the competition for this phrase is very low. What this shows is simple – general interest in Made in America products is high, and although the search volume for “jewelry Made in America” is very low, I am betting that awareness will pick up, and that the jewelry category can be discovered by individuals searching for consumer goods that are Made in America.

Stay tuned!

LIKE Novell Studio Platinum bridal jewelry on Facebook. It’s Made in America!

Jewelry made in America - Novell wedding rings.

2011-12-01T15:39:52-05:00

At this year’s JCK Show in Las Vegas, American wedding ring manufacturer Novell introduced stunning new bridal jewelry crafted in platinum. Also included in this recent platinum assortment of styles are designs from the Studio Platinum Collection, which is platinum bridal jewelry that is specifically designed to be affordable. And since platinum is literally the metal that is naturally white (unlike white gold) and can potentially last a lifetime, your piece of platinum bridal jewelry can remain in your family forever.

Visit www.novelldesignstudio.com to see Novell’s handcrafted wedding band and engagement ring creations.

LIKE Novell wedding rings on Facebook.

Jewelry made in America - Precision Set.

2011-12-01T15:27:45-05:00

All of Precision Set’s jewelry is designed, produced, and hand-finished at Precision Set headquarters in Dallas, Texas. The company takes painstaking attention to all details to assure the highest level of craftsmanship and superior quality. Their jewelry is perfect for any occassion.

See Precision Set engagement rings, wedding bands and other fashion jewelry at PrecisionSet.com.

Jewelry made in America - JB Star.

2011-12-01T15:23:28-05:00

JB Star is a one of a kind, made in America jewelry designer and manufacturer which specializes in engagement rings, wedding rings, anniversary rings, stunning fashion jewelry and much more. For JB Star, jewelry is a “labor of love.” And I am sure you'll agree that they make stunning one-of-a-kind jewelry which has been viewed in leading publications from coast-to-coast.

Visit www.jbstar.com to appreciate JB Star’s wide spectrum of fine jewelry.

LIKE JB Star on Facebook.

Jewelry made in America - John Buechner.

2011-12-01T15:16:53-05:00

Jewelry manufacturer John Buechner established his jewelry company in 1988, but has been in the jewelry industry since 1975. John Buechner's essential concept is to create innovative jewelry creations, and go that extra step to insure your trusted satisfaction. Please visit www.johnbuechner.com to browse jewelry that you will not only desire, but cherish for years to come.

Jewelry made in America - Katharine James.

2011-12-01T15:04:30-05:00

In 2005 (which seems like an eternity ago), Katharine James launched her very successful jewelry company with just one piece - the Sweet Juliet™ engagement ring. This awesome engagement ring was an instant success, and thus a jewelry industry legacy was born. Katharine James' jewelry line has since grown, and continues to expand and evolve. She is a meticulous jewelry designer who is intricately involved in every aspect of the jewelry manufacturing process, and is continually inspired by her sophisticated clients and their romantic weddings visions. As Katharine stated in an interview with The Jewelry Book a few years back - "...anything luxurious begins and ends as a labor of love."

Visit www.katharinejames.com to see more jewelry from this very hands-on designer.

Jewelry made in America - Alex Sepkus.

2011-12-01T14:57:43-05:00

I am a firm believer that jewelry can be fun. With this in mind, jewelry designer Alex Sepkus creates some very vivid, extremely fun and colorful fashion jewelry. As featured in Gem Gossip’s post about the Jewelry Made in America initiative, Alex Sepkus brings a wild boldness to the jewelry industry at large.

Visit www.alexsepkus.com to see what the buzz is all about!

Coming soon – a new eBook about online jewelry marketing.

2011-11-30T17:05:18-05:00

I have recently been putting the final touches on a new eBook dedicated to success stories and case studies involving online jewelry marketing. Internet Marketing – A Jewelry Industry Success Manual will illustrate several marketing practices that many might overlook, as well as feature interviews from active jewelry designers and marketers who discuss what’s been working for them. I really enjoyed putting it together, as it not only let me examine past success, but also think about what I should do in the future.

Topics covered include:

Facebook advertising without breaking the bank.
Success with niche keywords.
Online press release tips.
And many more marketing-related articles and interviews.

If you are looking to get ahead in the world of online jewelry marketing, but have had a little bit of trouble, then the first installment of Internet Marketing – A Jewelry Industry Success Manual should be for you!

Stay tuned!

LIKE King Jewelers on Facebook to win Mikimoto pearls.

2011-11-25T15:25:33-05:00

And not just any pearls! Want to win a FREE pair of 8mm A+ quality Mikimoto pearl studs? All you have to do is LIKE the King Jewelers Facebook page and cross your fingers.

With locations in Aventura, Florida and Nashville, Tennessee, King Jewelers offers brides and grooms a first-class experience and great selection of wholesale diamonds, custom designs for engagement rings, wedding rings, and more.

I have dealt with King Jewelers on numerous occasions. Although they are not officially a client of my company’s, they are an excellent retail jewelry store that I can only highly recommend. Good luck with this Facebook promotion!

Engagement ring info-graphic shows engagement ring history.

2011-11-25T09:26:26-05:00

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Leading online jewelry retailer Gemvara presents this great info-graphic illustrating the history of engagement rings. I never knew that one of the first forms of the engagement ring was just a simple ring with a poem or saying on the inside (a Posy Ring). Or that the styles of engagement rings that we commonly see today didn’t take hold until the 1930s (much to the relief of the diamond industry). What I like most about Gemvara’s info-graphic is that it stays away from the typical myth that insists buying an engagement ring requires a minimum investment of two months salary.

See the selection of engagement rings at Gemvara.

LIKE Gemvara on Facebook.

For sale – big diamond cross. For diamond cross lovers!

2011-11-23T13:31:18-05:00

Holy diamond cross, Batman! Here’s something to add a little bling to your holidays! Currently available exclusively through the Robert Manse Designs Facebook page, this diamond cross packs a lot of spectacular diamond punch!

Here is a whopping 19.36 carat total weight diamond cross created from 14kt white gold. This diamond cross is offered at a crazy closeout price of only $8995. Its measurements are 3 3/4" x 2 7/8". The featured bold diamond cross contains multiple princess cut and round diamonds which are G/H color and VS clarity. There is only one available, so if you are a big diamond cross aficionado, contact Robert directly!

See the diamond cross on the Robert Manse Designs Facebook page.

Please note: This offer is considered a private sale between you and the jewelry designer. Robert is a reputable television celebrity with over twenty years in the jewelry industry. The Wedding Ring Blog is happy to promote this item as a story, but is not responsible for any other part of the transaction.

Black Friday giveaway at Northeastern Fine Jewelry.

2011-11-23T12:17:32-05:00

With Thanksgiving comes the greatest shopping day of them all – Black Friday. And what better way to get you to consider giving the gift of jewelry then a cool free gift with your purchase. Established jewelry retailer Northeastern Fine Jewelry (with locations in Albany and Schenectady, New York and Manchester Center, Vermont), a store know for its great Black Friday specials, will be giving away some of the hottest technology of this holiday season! Customers who spend $1,499 on Friday, November 25 or Saturday, November 26 will receive a free Apple iPad 2; those who spend at least $749 on jewelry and gifts for those same dates with walk away with a free Kindle Fire, the first color screen tablet from Amazon.com. Northeastern Fine Jewelry is extending their tradition of high-tech Black Friday giveaways that began in 2007 with iPhone and iPod Touch giveaways.

Visit the Northeastern Fine Jewelry website for directions.

LIKE Northeastern Fine Jewelry on Facebook.

Selling gold? You need top gold buyer reviews.

2011-11-23T09:54:20-05:00

So you are looking through your old jewelry, and have decided that you have some gold items to sell. However, you might wonder about where to go in order to get not only the best deal, but the best service, when trying to cash in on your gold jewelry. Where do you go when you want to get cash for gold?

Never fear! Help is here! A listing of top gold buyer reviews is all you need. Top Cash for Gold Buyers offers a very comprehension compilation of reviews. They even provide screenshots of checks that they received. Aspects like company history, shipping methods and money back guarantees are all disclosed. If you are even a little leery about the cash for gold business because it’s really unknown to you, these reviews will be a very big help.

Keys to a reasonably successful wedding ring blog.

2011-11-22T09:29:06-05:00

Success with blogging is not an easy thing if you are going about it the old fashioned way – with hard work, creativity and optimism. The Wedding Ring Blog has built up a nice amount of organic traffic on its own. While there is always room for growth, I have to say that I am proud to have been able to have started from literally ZERO traffic to now nearly 6,000 visitors a month (and growing).

Here are the basic reasons why The Wedding Ring Blog has good success:

• Persistence – I have stayed with it!
• Image tags – All images are named with keywords, and not just with file names.
• Diversified content – This initially was strictly a branded blog. Now I cover a wide range of wedding-related topics.
• Content and links from HARO (Help A Reporter Out) – I use this free news reporting service for story ideas that may eventually lead to links and stronger content.

LIKE The Wedding Ring Blog on Facebook.

Facebook page for Studio Platinum surpasses 1,000 LIKEs.

2011-11-22T08:58:44-05:00

Platinum is without a doubt the premium metal for wedding rings and engagement rings. And recently, American wedding ring manufacturer Novell introduced a new and affordable platinum engagement ring collection called Studio Platinum. Studio Platinum’s Facebook page just surpassed 1,000 LIKEs, so if you haven’t paid it a visit, then please do!

LIKE Studio Platinum on Facebook.

Trust RecyclePlatinum as your platinum buyer.

2011-11-21T16:18:53-05:00

Have you seen today’s platinum and gold prices? Now is a good time to consider selling your unused jewelry. And if you have platinum jewelry bought a long time ago, now is a great time to capitalize on platinum’s outstanding market value.

RecyclePlatinum is the premier platinum buyer that has been around since 1990. In addition to platinum, they also buy and recycle gold and other fine jewelry products that may be just lying around. Industry professionals can also cash in on their services, as RecyclePlatinum are also scrap platinum buyers. They make the entire process fast, friendly and reliable. After sending them your metal, you’ll get a call right after they evaluate its worth. So there’s little waiting, which is a relief! Who doesn’t need some fast money nowadays?

Share you online jewelry success story.

2011-11-21T14:03:52-05:00

Are you looking to share your jewelry selling success story with the world? Well, step right up! This is the right place, and the right time!

The Wedding Ring Blog is looking for online jewelry selling success stories. What methods have helped you sell your jewelry online? Is it a blog? Standard SEO practices? Adwords? Facebook? Is there something that you have stumbled upon and want to share? Stories will be fully branded with links to websites and Facebook. What’s your online jewelry selling success story? The Wedding Ring Blog wants to know!

E-mail me - theweddingringblog{@}gmail.com.

Platinum ring wins Brides Facebook poll.

2011-11-21T11:56:45-05:00

American wedding ring manufacturer Novell recently won Brides Magazine’s Bridal Jewelry Facebook poll (September 2011). The company is a leader in platinum bridal jewelry manufacturing.

Read more about Novell's platinum engagement ring.