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Engagement Ring by Whiteflash.com
Dear Whiteflash Sales Team,
My fiancé Scott told me that Whiteflash.com had helped him create my diamond ring for engagement. Scott proposed at sunset on top of an observation tower overlooking four beautiful Michigan lakes. The ring was a perfect fit and I was floored when he presented it and slid it onto my finger. I absolutely love it! Scott chose the setting on his own, and it’s the perfect combination of classic and antique for me. The center stone is simply gorgeous! Thank you so much for creating this lovely ring.
Sincerely,
Courtney
Our friends over at OneWed have just launched Wedding Pre-Party (as well as a whole new look and design for OneWed.com). OneWed’s Wedding Pre-Party is being billed as the marriage of social networking & wedding planning.
With Wedding Pre-Party you can invite your wedding party and guests to chat, share wedding tips, post photos and provide inspiration on everything from tuxes to groomsmen gifts all within a private environment. It’s a virtual way to start the celebration early and keep in contact, while building excitement before the big day. And the singles can even scope out the other singles beforehand to mitigate any awkward moments at the singles table!
Read the original press release from OneWed: OneWed Launches Wedding PreParty.com: The Marriage of Wedding Planning & Social Networking
Whiteflash Conflict-Free Guarantee
Ever heard of blood diamonds, also known as conflict diamonds? Kanye West rapped about them in his song “Diamonds from Sierra Leone”. Leonardo DiCaprio played a mercenary who gets caught smuggling these diamonds in the movie Blood Diamond. If Hollywood has done a movie about it and it’s being mentioned in a rap song, it must be rather significant, right?
In short, a blood diamond is a diamond that was mined and taken from a war zone (usually an African country, but not always) and sold for purposes such as perpetuating child labor, state sanctioned violence and worker exploitation, to funding a war, providing payment to diamond companies throughout the world, or payment directly into a warlord’s pocket. This is why they are called blood/conflict diamonds. Plenty of people have even died over these diamonds, specifically in countries such as Angola, Liberia, Zimbabwe, and of course, Sierra Leone.
In response, former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush signed documents to stop importation of these diamonds from Sierra Leone, and the 2003 Clean Diamond Trade Act was passed. But many have argued that neither of these actions has had any effect on conflict diamond mining. Other organizations and governments in other countries are doing what they can to prohibit the production of blood diamonds. Although the practice has decreased significantly, it hasn’t stopped entirely.
Whiteflash ACA Diamonds
So what can you do help? There are alternative diamonds you can buy—cultured and conflict free diamonds, which can even be bought online. Conflict-free diamonds are those gems which were not obtained due to human rights abuses, child labor, violence, or environmental degradation. The other option, cultured diamonds, are simply diamonds grown in a laboratory. Whiteflash.com, offers conflict-free diamonds, which are also no less real than the blood diamonds. Whiteflash also give guidance about how to differentiate between blood diamonds and certified conflict-free diamonds.
Diamonds can still be a girl’s (and guy’s) best friend. But if she’s going to be picky about the cut, color, clarity and carats, she might as well be picky about how it was obtained as well.
Whiteflash's Diamonds By The Yard Necklace
“Diamonds are a girl’s best friend”, I never believed it when my mom used to tell me that. When I was younger I wasn’t a bit interested in loose diamonds and never knew why my mom was so intrigued by them. I used to get annoyed going jewelry shopping with her but as I got older I realized how precious diamonds are and now I grew to love it (I mean who doesn’t?). Whenever I pass by the jewelry shops I always look through the windows and pick out my favorite pieces. Diamonds are luxury pieces that will not go out of style and depreciate in value, definitely a good investment. I know I’m going to get my mom’s pass down, so I’ll be sure to keep mine for my daughters in the future (ha!).
Whiteflash Diamonds sent over a package and inside was the fabulous Diamond by the Yard Necklace that contains 10 Whiteflash ACA Diamonds on a white gold necklace. The diamond necklace is simple and chic, it can be worn to compliment any outfit, from casual summer wear to a night out. I’ll be putting good use into this delicate diamond necklace, diamonds makes every girl’s eyes sparkle and is just simply fab with any outfit. Loves it!
More pics after the jump…
Diamonds By The Yard Necklace
Diamonds By The Yard Necklace by Whiteflash.cm
DBTY Necklace
Whiteflash's DBTY Necklace
Whiteflash's Diamonds By The Yard Necklace
Three Stone U-Prong Diamond Engaement Ring by Whiteflash.com
Proposing is tough enough, but finding the perfect diamond engagement ring, set with the perfect diamond is even tougher. To eliminate the headache, here are step-by-step instructions from Whiteflash.com, an online diamond and jewelry boutique specializing in Hearts & Arrows diamonds and diamond engagement rings.
Educate yourself. Start the diamond education process by learning about the four Cs. “Understand how diamonds are evaluated and categorized,” says Debi Wexler, founder of Whiteflash.com. The four Cs refer to clarity, cut, color and carat, and by understanding each, Wexler says, you can determine which is most important to you and then start shopping. “This will also help you determine how much you’re willing to spend,” he adds.
Because diamond education is important when engagement ring shopping, Whiteflash.com offers an interactive DVD, which features an in-depth look at each of the four Cs.
A Cut Above Diamonds
Engagement Rings by Whiteflash
Get input. Find out what she wants. It’s better to be safe than sorry. Take her to a jewelry store – that is, if marriage has been a topic of conversation and a surprise engagement is not on your agenda. Have her try on as many rings as possible. Make her look at every shape of diamond and type of setting. Another way to gauge whether she prefers pear-shaped over a princess cut diamond is have her look at bridal magazines like “The Knot” or “Brides.com” or at an online diamond expert’s site like Whiteflash.com. Either way, you’ll know exactly what will make her swoon when you pop the question.
If you’re being discreet, look at the jewelry she wears on a day-to-day basis; is it classic or vintage in style? Is she prone to wear larger pieces or dainty? The other option is to ask someone close to her, like a sister or a best friend, for insight.
Let’s talk carats. As soon as you’ve decided shape, you need to look at the carat or weight of the diamond; carat is how diamonds and other precious gemstones are measured…in “carat” weight. One carat, for example, equals 1/5 of a gram. Sometimes you will hear carat weight referred to in ‘points’. “There are 100 points in a carat and as points or carats increase, so does the price of the diamond. For example, the price per carat will be less for a .90 diamond than the price per carat for a 1.00 diamond even if the color and clarity are the same. Determining the size of the diamond, and then the cut and color is really going to help establish your budget parameters.
Pick a color. “Color is the third most important decision in the diamond selection process,” says Bob Hoskins, senior gemologist for Whiteflash.com. Diamond color is graded according to the Gemological Institute of America or GIA Color Grading Scale – D being the whitest, and N and below color ratings showing noticeable yellow tones. “E and F have no detectable color tones to the naked eye,” says Hoskins, who graded diamonds for the Gemology Institute of America (GIA) and taught several courses on colored stones. And from G to J range, diamonds remain near colorless however, from J to M, you do begin to see a faint trace of yellow.
Whiteflash ACA, an exclusive brand of Hearts & Arrows diamonds available only through Whiteflash.com, range in color from D to I. Because of their superior cut, ACA even ‘face-up’ appear whiter than their lab-assigned grade. “A great cut improves the apparent color of any diamond,” says Hoskins.
Whiteflash ACA Diamond
Proposing isn’t easy.. and neither is selecting that perfect engagement ring.
The cut and sparkle. Cut is the most important and perhaps the most misunderstood and controversial of the four Cs. “It’s about more than the shape of a diamond,” explains Hoskins. When we talk diamond cut, we’re talking about the exact angles, proportions, symmetry and polish that affect the way the diamond reflects light and sparkles. Diamond dealers also refer to cut as “make” – as it is the only feature of a diamond that can be controlled by man, and it must be precise. Each facet – or small plane surface on the diamond – must be cut to align perfectly with the facet opposite it. There’s not much room for error because this affects the diamond’s ability to sparkle, or what we call in the industry…brilliance
How important is clarity? Gemologists use a grading scale set forth by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) to determine a diamond’s clarity – how clean the gem appears when viewed through a magnifier. Most diamonds contain some “inclusions” – crystalline fractures or irregular crystal growth. The Gemological Institute of America GIA Clarity Grading Scale ranges from Internally Flawless (IF) through included (I3). Flawless (F) and Internally Flawless (IF) being the highest, with the next best grade being VVS1 and 2 or very slight inclusions followed by VS1 and 2, referring to very slight inclusions are difficult to see even with magnification.
SI1 and 2 diamonds will have slight inclusions, which are easily seen through magnification, but may remain clean to the naked eye, depending on the specific diamond. Hoskins says grades I1, I2 and I3 indicate inclusions that are visible under magnification and also to the naked eye. The clarity of the stone you purchase will depend on your level of comfort and budget. Some advice: Inclusions are more difficult to see in ideal cut and super ideal cut diamonds, because of the exactness in the cut.
Establish a budget. After determining the four Cs, you should be able to set a budget or at least have a figure in mind for the purchase of your diamond engagement ring. The general rule of thumb is to set aside two months worth of salary. “If you’re hesitant to set a dollar amount, look at your options in diamonds and settings to get a general idea of what you’d like to spend,” advises Hoskins.
Select a jeweler. You have more options than the local jeweler around the corner. There are independently owned boutiques, national chains and now with the Internet revolution … online diamond boutiques like Whiteflash.com. No matter whom you buy from, make sure the jeweler is reputable and affiliated with the American Gem Society (AGS). If you’re unsure of the jeweler’s credibility, check with the local Better Business Bureau. You can also test how knowledgeable the staff is about diamonds, look into customer reviews and look over the company’s return and repair policies … this is important
Time to shop! Before you place the order, make sure that you will receive a grading report with your purchase. If a grading report will not accompany your diamond engagement ring, make sure the sale is contingent upon an independent appraiser’s opinion. Another option is to ask for a fingerprint of the diamond. This is a three-dimensional drawing of the diamond indicating the four Cs, along with the stone’s overall dimensions and enhancements. Inclusions and blemishes should be noted. As soon as you receive the diamond, double-check all of the information, including the bill of sale and drawing to make sure that it is, in fact, the diamond you purchased.
When purchasing from a Whiteflash ACA diamond, customers receive the gem’s certification and a signed letter of verification from an independent graduate gemologist appraiser for insurance purposes. We refer to all of this as “the 5th C – Confirmation.”
Set the diamond. If you purchased a loose diamond, you’re now faced with the setting. And, like diamonds, the options for diamond engagement rings are endless. Consider three stone settings, a solitaire or a custom design. We suggest allowing four to six weeks before popping the question if you go the handcrafted route. If you’re simply lost in the decision making process — propose with diamond in-hand and pick out the setting later — together!
We are proud to announce the inclusion of Whiteflash.com into our newest Style gallery section, Wedding Bands and Engagement Rings! Not only is Whiteflash the Internet’s premium designer and provider of custom diamond jewelry creations, but they also offer the most comprehensive online Diamond Education around!
Diamond Engagement Ring by Whiteflash.com
But… what I love most about Whiteflash is that they’ve taken a strong stand against the use and purchase of Blood Diamonds, and use only certified conflict-free diamonds in all of their pieces.
And last but not least, they have a pretty cool blog, too! Check out Whiteflash’s Fashion Accessories & Jewelry Insight Blog for some sparkly inspiration!
We are thrilled to welcome Whiteflash.com to our engagement ring gallery!
Whiteflash Halo Diamond Engagement Ring
Santorini Engagement Ring by Whiteflash.com
Harmony Diamond Engagement Ring by Whiteflash.com
Gucci gold cuff links
No doubt, wearing expensive jewelry on a formal occasion to show off your riches sounds a bit awkward, but luxury cuff links are a fantastic choice that add an adequate decadency and sophistication to men’s wardrobes. So, if metallic yellow is your desired shade, then don’t hesitate in donning Gucci’s gold cuff links on your wrists. Wrapped in 18 carat gold, these bejeweled male accessories boast the company logo, which is an obvious sign of luxury. The latest gold cuff links at €1150 ($1640) that blend tradition with the modern era are a must-have men’s fashion accessory for those who intend to flaunt their prosperity in a polite way.
Diamond Engagement Ring by Whiteflash.com
Dear WhiteFlash Sales Team,
I picked the engagement ring up yesterday and I am elated!
The diamond ring is just stunning! In the sunlight it is full of fire! I cannot detect a single flaw with my naked eye. Going with J color and SI2 clarity, I wasn’t expecting the beauty and brilliance of this amazing ring!
I am so glad I went with Whiteflash. I will never consider anyone else – you guys are the best, truly a cut above!
Thank you SO much in guiding me with this purchase. For the dollars, I know I would not have even come close to this kind of quality anywhere else.
This is a big weekend for me and a huge life event; you have made it extra special!!!!
My fiancée Christine has some friends who run a bed and breakfast in the Mountains, and it’s her favorite place in the world. I used to play the guitar when I was younger and she really likes music and encouraged me to start playing again – so I wrote a song for her that I am going to propose in. We will be up in the mountains this weekend and on Sunday I will play her special song, with the beautiful diamond engagement ring in my guitar case!
When she told me she wanted to go to the B&B, I knew it was the perfect opportunity, so that’s why I had to scramble a bit. I will have my camera, so I will definitely send you some pictures!
I checked with her folks before I started looking for the ring, and got her father’s kind permission. That’s how I found out she likes white gold and how I got her ring size. Christine doesn’t have a clue.
Sincerely,
Lonnie
Gold-plated dustbin for your expensive trash
Designer Sylvie Fleury seems to make mockery out of the luxury lifestyle with her critical but adulatory designs. Earlier we’ve seen “Yes to All,” a 24-karat gold-plated New York City garbage can from her, and now the Swiss artist has popped up a gold-plated trash bin that presents a nexus between fashion, commodity, fine art and a bit of flamboyance. Made of tin and coated in gold sheets, the 25 pieces of this limited addition garbage bin are available between a price range of $10,000 and $15,000. If you’ve used the Yes to All, you know what goes into a gold-plated trashcan, but in case you haven’t, I advise you to dump those diamond ring and platinum crockery – just don’t take me too literally though.
Michael Jackson Diamonds To Go On Sale
The company that once made a loose diamonds from Beethoven’s locks has their sights set on another musician, Michael Jackson. LifeGem, a company that specializes in making lab diamonds created using carbon such as hair from loved ones. A former Michael Jackson friend, Ralph Cohen just happens to have some Michael Jackson hair. He got it in 1984 when he threw his jacket over Michael Jackson’s head to put out the flames when Jackson’s hair caught fire during the filming of his Pepsi commercial. Cohen held on to some of Jackson’s burned hair. It was sold at auction and eventually went to a celebrity hair collector who is now teaming up with LifeGem to sell diamonds made from the hair. LifeGem is not sure yet how many stones can be created from the sample.
Conflict Free Diamonds – DreamsofAfrica.org
AWEAR
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Bride's Choice Awards 2011
