How to Determine Bracelet Size

There are several ways to determine the size to order, but in every case, the measurements refer to the circumference of the bracelet. Use the photos and descriptions below to help you determine the correct size. When you contact me with the size you have determined, be sure to let me know which method you used. I have some tips if you are buying a gift and want to determine the size to order without giving away the secret!

To determine size, you will need a flexible measuring tape. A dressmaker's measuring tape (shown at the top) will work well. If you do not have one, cut a strip of thick paper (cardstock works well) and use a ruler to mark lengths in quarter inch increments. Here I have wrapped the cardstock ruler around my wrist so that it is comfortably touching the wrist all around. The ruler indicates "6-3/4" which would be too tight for a bracelet, but is useful to know, if that is the only measurement you can take. I have opened up the ruler slightly to find a comfortable size. This is where personal preference comes into play. Decide whether you prefer your bracelet to remain fairly stationary, or to move freely up and down your wrist. There is usually a range of sizes that will fit. In general, adding 1/2 inch to the actual wrist measurement (shown above) will be a good fit. For instance, I can wear a 7 and a 7-1/2, but prefer the feel of 7-1/4. If you have a rigid bracelet, bangle, or cuff that fits, you can use the flexible ruler to find the size. Adjust the ruler so that it has the same circumference as the bracelet. In the photo you can see that the ruler held over one of my own bracelets measures 7-1/4. You can also use the ruler to measure the inside circumference of a bracelet that fits well. Here you can see that this results in a slightly smaller measurement. This can be easier than the previous step; if you take this measurement, be sure to let me know so I can make the adjustment. NOTE: A measurement of the outer circumference is NOT useful! This is the sizing tool I use when I make bracelets. And here is the same tool held over my bracelet. Their circumferences are the same and the tool shows a size of 7-1/4, as determined with the cardstock ruler shown above.

Tips for Keeping a Gift Secret If you live with the intended recipient, try to find a bracelet that you know the recipient likes and use the instructions above to determine the size. A tightly fitting watch band can also be used in a pinch. Measure either the inside or the actual circumference and be sure to let me know which measurement you took. If you do not live with the recipient, perhaps you can enlist the help of someone who does. If there is no way for you to measure either a watch or bracelet, then make your best guess; I am always happy to exchange a bracelet for the correct size, just be sure to contact me first. In general, most women will be in the range of 6-3/4 to 7-1/4. If you think your recipient's wrists are larger than average, try ordering a 7-1/2 or 7-3/4. Finally, while I can make any size, very tiny sizes (less than 6-1/2) pose special challenges for some of my designs; be sure to contact me first! Source: http://www.janraven.com/sizing.html

How to Find the Correct Ring Size

After selecting the perfect wedding rings to signify your lifetime of love, you’ll need to make sure you have them sized correctly so they’ll fit comfortably. Here’s the best way to find your ring size. Use a piece of string no wider than ¼ of an inch and wrap it around the base of your ring finger. Next, mark the point when the string meets itself, making sure the string can slide over the knuckle. Then, use a ruler to measure the length of the string from its tip to the mark. Now, match that measurement to the following ring sizes: 46.5 mm, size 4; 47.8 mm, size 41/2; 49 mm, size 5; 50.3 mm, size 51/2; 51.5 mm, size 6; 52.8 mm, size 61/2; 54 mm, size 7; 55.3 mm, size 71/2; 56.6 mm, size 8; 57.8 mm, size 81/2; 59.1 mm, size 9; 60.3 mm, size 91/2; 61.6 mm, size 10; 62.8 mm, size 101/2; 64.1 mm, size 11; 65.3 mm, size 111/2; 66.6 mm, size 12; 67.9 mm, size 121/2 and 69.1 mm is a size 13.
How Should My Ring Fit?
Typically, jewelers recommend that your ring be comfortable and movable with no swelling on either side of the ring. Also, you should be able to slide a toothpick between your finger and the ring. Lastly, your ring should slide snugly over your knuckle—which is usually the largest part of your finger—but not so snugly that you have to really force it on. Think of your knuckle as a sort of barrier that will keep you from losing your ring.

 Quick Tips for Choosing the Right Size Ring
Since your fingers swell and shrink, depending on the temperature and the time of day, jewelers suggest measuring your ring finger at room temperature at the end of the day when it will be the closest to its normal size.

 Also, it’s good to remember that the wider the band you select, the tighter your ring will fit. So, you may need to size up a bit—maybe a ¼--from your normal ring size. Many people don’t realize you can order rings in ¼ sizes, but you can. So, if a 6 is too small, and a 61/2 is too big, opt or the 61/4.

 Once you receive your ring, try wearing it a few days before determining if it’s the right size or not. Remember, temperature, your sodium intake and the time of day will all affect how your ring fits.

 Ring sizing is not an absolute science; it’s actually all about personal preference. So, if you choose to wear your ring a little tighter than what’s recommended, so be it. You’re the boss.

 Source: http://www.diamondjewelry.org/magazine/find-ring-size.html

How To Choose The Right Length Necklace

How To Choose The Right Length Necklace

by SolveYourProblem.com : 2008

 

Necklaces come in a wide variety of lengths. The length of a necklace was once attributed to specific age groups or classes. However, currently choosing the right necklace length is a matter of personal taste.

Collar necklaces are between 12 and 13 inches in length. Necklaces of this length will fit snuggly around the center of the neck. Collar necklaces are often made up of three or more strands of necklaces. They are an ideal accessory when wearing off the shoulder or low v-neck attire.

A choker necklace is usually between 14 and 16 inches long. This is a very traditional and versatile length. It can compliment almost any out fit and neckline. In addition it can easily be dressed up or down, depending on what it is paired with.

Anything longer than 16 inches is generally classified as a long necklace.

The princess necklace is typically between 17 and 19 inches long. This is the most common length for a necklace, with the end falling right at the collarbone. This length works well for low cut and crew necklines. This is the length you should purchase if you cannot decide which length will work best for you.

The matinee necklace is between 20 and 25 inches long. This length necklace works well for business or casual attire. It exudes confidence and sophistication. This length usually works best with a high neckline.

The opera necklace is a lengthy 26 to 36 inches long. This length is best worn with evening wear, preferably with a high neckline. Because of it length this necklace can be worn is several ways. It can be worn as a single strand, or doubled to create a two-strand choker. It can also be tied in a knot around the bust line to portray a more vintage look.

A rope necklace is typically 37 inches or longer. This necklace can be worn as a single strand or doubled for a two-strand choker. It can usually be tripled to create a three-strand choker as well. A rope necklace may be knotted at the bust, or even worn backwards to compliment a backless number. Rope necklaces are often made with several clasps. The multiple clasps allow the rope to be broken down into separate combinations. It is often worn as a necklace and bracelet.

A lariat necklace is 48 inches or longer. This length of necklace is popular for pearl lovers. This strand is usually unattached t the ends to allow the wearer to knot or wrap it in whatever manner suits them.

Some necklaces have adjustable lengths. They have extra links near the clasp that can be added or removed to adjust the length of the necklace. These necklaces are good for people who are not sure which length is right for them, or if you are giving the necklace as jewelry.

When shopping for a specific length necklace you should ask the jeweler if the clasp is included in the measurement. This is particularly important if you are buying the necklace online or through a catalogue where you cannot try it on first. The clasp will generally add anywhere for three- fourths of an inch to a full inch, so it is important to know if it is included in the overall length.

The best way to determine which length necklace works best for you is to try it on, if you can. Necklaces hang differently on different body types. In addition, you should try to visualize the outfit you intend to wear the piece with. Keep in mind the necklace may look great in the store, but may not compliment the attire you plan to pair it with.

 Source: http://shopping.solveyourproblem.com/jewelry/necklace-length.shtml

Diamond or Cubic Zirconia: Knowing the difference can save you money!

Learn why cubic zirconia has been recognized as a beautiful synthetic gemstone that has quickly become a desirable substitute for diamond. Knowing the difference between diamond and cubic zirconia can help you make better purchasing decisions and in turn, save you time and money.

So what is the difference between diamond and cubic zirconia? Why is cubic zirconia (CZ) quickly becoming more popular as a desirable substitute for diamond? Gemologists can agree that CZ comes closer than any other gem material to matching the characteristics of a diamond.

Most people, even trained gemologists, cannot tell the difference between diamond and CZ, with the naked eye. Moreover, to the untrained eye, CZ looks identical to a good quality diamond. However, under closer inspection, CZ appears to have slightly less brilliance (or sparkle) than a diamond, and more fire, or flashes of color.

CZs were originally developed by the Russians, for their space program. They were developed as an alternative to diamonds that were used in the optics of their lasers. CZs have a refractive index, dispersion and hardness so close to a diamond it's uncanny.

So what are some key features that can guide you in telling the difference between diamond and CZ? Do keep in mind, though, in order to accurately distinguish the two gems, gemological equipment such as microscope, or loupe, must be used for testing and verification.

To start, let's take a look at the hardness factor: Did you know CZ ranges between 8.5 to 9.0 on the Mohs' hardness scale, whereas diamond, one of the hardest materials known to man, is rated 10, lying at the top of the hardness scale?

Furthermore, glass (or sand) is rated approximately 5 to 6 on the hardness scale, therefore, dust and dirt will not scratch CZ. Indeed, CZ can scratch glass just like regular diamonds, making it more resistant to chipping.

One great difference between diamond and CZ is weight. CZs are heavyweights in comparison to diamonds; a CZ will weigh approximately 1.75 times more than a diamond of equivalent size. So basically, a piece of CZ the same size as a one-carat diamond weighs about 1.75 carats. Well...isn't that interesting?

Contemporary production of CZ is virtually flawless, whereas diamond usually contains impurities and inclusions, or have some sort of defect, be it a feather, included crystal, or perhaps a remnant of an original crystal face (e.g. trigons).

In regards to color-more precisely, the lack of color—only the rarest of diamonds are truly colorless, as most have a tinge of yellow or brown to some extent. By comparison, CZ in most cases can be made entirely colorless, equivalent to a perfect "D" on diamond's color grading scale.

Also, under close inspection with a loupe, the facet shapes of some CZs appear different from diamonds. Both gems disperse light a little differently. Dispersion is just a scientific term for the breaking up of light into its spectral colors. With a dispersive power greater than diamond (0.060 vs. 0.044), the more prismatic fire of CZ can be seen by even an untrained eye.

Dispersion occurs based on the gem's refractive index. In this case, refractive index simply indicates how much a beam of light will bend, based on the direction in which it is traveling when it passes between two materials of different optical densities (such as between diamond and air; or between CZ and air). Being that CZ has a refractive index of 2.176, compared to a diamond's 2.417, diamonds are therefore said to be brighter than CZ.

Another difference between the two gems is that CZs are thermal insulators—meaning, they reduce the rate of heat transfer—whilst diamonds are among the most efficient thermal conductors—meaning, they allow heat to easily pass through them. Without testing the gems' heat conductivity, it can be difficult to tell them apart.

Remember, it is a 50/50 guess to identify a gem by visual inspection; it is not a scientific method of authentication. That is why even certified and degreed gemologists use gemological equipment for testing and verification.

You will also be glad to know that CZs are not only durable and inexpensive, but just like diamonds, they come in any color of the rainbow, making them even more desirable.

There have been many instances to see if jewelers can tell the difference between diamond and cubic zirconia, just by examining the gems with the naked eye. Over and over again, it was inconclusive; jewelers could not tell the difference just by looking at the gems. So you can now understand why the difference between diamond and cubic zirconia rests in the price, and in the mind...

Source: © 2007 - 2008 PennyCZJewelry.com. All rights reserved. http://www.PennyCZJewelry.com

Jewelry metal information

 by Sharon Wild - Gillett's Jewellers

What you need to know about jewelry metals There are several metals used in the creation of fine jewelry. By knowing information about the different metals, their benefits compared with each other and their unique qualities you will be able to make a better and more informed decision about purchasing your jewelry. The metal types commonly used to make jewelry include gold, platinum, titanium, silver and stainless steel. Metals including rhodium and palladium are also used with jewelry. Below you will find information about each of these metal types, together with information about which metals are best for particular types of jewelry. Gold Gold carats Yellow gold, white gold and rose gold Platinum Titanium Silver Tungsten carbide Stainless steel Rhodium ^Top Gold Gold is the most popular choice for men's and ladies wedding rings and engagement rings. Gold is also very popular in dress rings, earrings, pendants, necklaces and bracelets. There are two things to consider when looking at gold. First, which gold carat to choose and second, the gold color or the combination of gold colors available. Gold carat There are several carats available for gold. The carat is the gold content of the metal. The carat measures the proportion of pure gold mixed with other metal alloy to make up the final metal. The carat of gold is represented in many countries by the abbreviation ct. Carat can also be called karat, represented by kt or K. You may notice that carat or ct is also used to measure the weight of diamonds and gemstones. Although the same name is used, the two measurements are measuring different characteristics of jewelry. The gold carats normally used in men's wedding rings are 9kt, 14kt and 18kt. The higher the proportion of gold used in the final metal, the more valuable and expensive the metal will be. So all other things being the same, an 18kt ring will be more expensive than a 14kt ring and a 14kt ring will be more expensive than a 9kt ring. Gold 9kt gold contains 37.5% pure gold (375 parts per thousand parts). 14kt gold contains 58.5% pre gold (585 parts per thousand parts). 18kt gold contains 75% pure gold (750 parts per thousand parts). The remainder of the metals is made up of a combination of alloys, different metals which can help to give the metal its unique appearance, such as a different color. Other gold carats are used in different parts of the world including 10ct, 22ct and 24ct. It is generally considered that 22ct and 24ct gold are too soft to be used to make men's wedding rings. 10ct gold (417 parts pure gold per thousand parts) is very similar to 9kt gold and the reason why some countries use 9kt and other countries use 10ct is due to historical reasons, rather than one being superior to the other. Jewelry is normally stamped with a marking to show the type of gold. For 9kt gold the stamp will normally be either the number 375, 9kt, 9kt or 9K. For 14kt gold the stamp will normally be either the number 585, 14kt, 14kt or 14K. For 18kt gold the stamp will normally be either the number 750, 18kt, 18kt or 18K. The stamps only indicate the carat of metal. They do not indicate the color of the metal. So for example an 18kt yellow gold ring would have a stamp of 750 as would an 18kt white gold ring. 9kt, 14kt and 18kt gold are each relatively hard and durable metals and are suitable for use in all types of fine jewelry. Gold is also suitable to be used in jewelry that is worn on an every day basis. When choosing jewelry, particularly rings, many people consider the hardness and durability of gold to be used in their ring. Metal hardness is measured by what is called the Vickers scale where harder metals receive a higher Vickers score than less hard metals. 9kt has a Vickers hardness of 120 and 18kt has a Vickers hardness of 125. This shows 18kt as harder, but the difference is so slight that in practical terms 9kt and 18kt are much the same in terms of hardness. There is another difference that should be considered when comparing 9kt and 18kt. 9kt is more difficult to bend and is a little more springy and therefore a fine 9kt ring may be less likely to bend out of shape than a fine 18kt ring. However, if the ring is of a good sturdy construction neither metal will be likely to bend out of shape. Gold colors Next you need to consider the color of gold. Gold is available in several different colors. The most popular is yellow gold, followed by white gold and rose gold, though other gold colors are sometimes also available such as bronze, red and lime gold. Jewelry can also be made using a combination of different gold colors. These jewelry items are sometimes called two-tone, three-tone or multi-colored gold. The gold content of yellow gold is measured in the same way it is measured in for example white gold. So an 18kt white gold ring contains 75% pure gold, just as 18kt yellow gold contains 75% pure gold. The difference in color between yellow, white and rose is determined by the metals used in the alloy mix. As the color difference is due to the metal components in the alloy mix, the color of yellow gold and rose gold will not chip, fade or wear off with age. Yellow gold is made by mixing pure gold with alloy metals such as copper and zinc. Rose gold is made using a mix of pure gold with alloys including copper. The copper provides the rose-reddish color. White gold is an alloy of gold and some white metals such as silver and palladium. Traditionally nickel was used in white gold, however, nickel is no longer used in most white gold made today as nickel can cause reactions with some people. We do not use nickel in our white gold When white gold rings are new they can be coated with another white metal called Rhodium. Rhodium is a metal very similar to platinum and rhodium shares many of the properties of platinum including its white color. The rhodium plating is used to make the white gold look more white. The natural color of white gold is actually a light grey color. The rhodium is very white and very hard, but it does wear away eventually. To keep a white gold ring looking its best it should be re-rhodium plated approximately each 12 to 18 months. Most local jewelers are able to rhodium plate jewelry for a cost effective price. As each gold color contains the same proportion of pure gold all gold colors with the same carat weight when measured on the Vickers scale have the same Vickers score. There can be a difference in color between the different carats of gold. 18kt yellow gold is more yellow than 9kt yellow gold with 18kt yellow gold having a richer golden color making 18kt yellow gold a more popular choice of yellow gold than 9kt for ladies engagement rings. 9kt rose gold has a darker rose-copper color than 18kt rose gold which has a more subtle rose color. 9kt white gold and 18kt white gold have a similar white color (as normally both have a rhodium plating finish. When comparing the price of the gold colors in the same carat, white gold is normally a little more expensive than yellow gold and rose gold. Yellow gold and rose gold normally have approximately the same price. When trying to decide between the gold carat types there are three things to consider. The metals performance with every day wear The difference in color between the 9kt, 14kt and 18kt gold The difference in price between the gold carats. In practical terms, 18kt generally holds up to everyday wear better than 9kt and tends to look better than 9kt as it ages over the years. This is one of the reasons why 18kt is normally preferred for ladies engagement rings rather than 9kt. 18kt is the superior metal for lady's and men's wedding rings provided that the ring is not a lightweight construction (Gillett's Jewellers rings are a good construction). However, 18kt is more expensive than 14kt and 9kt, which is usually fine for ladies engagement rings, though in a large men's ring the 18kt price can be a noticeable difference. 9kt, 14kt and 18kt are each suitable equally suitable for use in dress rings, earrings, pendants, bracelets and necklaces. Many people choose 9kt and 14kt for their earrings and pendants due to its lower price. Quick Reference - What types of jewelry are suitable for gold? Ladies engagement rings preferred gold type is 18kt View yellow gold engagement rings View white gold engagement rings Men's engagement rings preferred gold type is 18kt, though 14kt and 9kt are also suitable Ladies wedding rings preferred gold type is 18kt. Ladies wedding rings are normally made in the same metal as the engagement ring View yellow gold wedding rings View white gold wedding rings Men's wedding rings preferred gold type is 18kt if it falls in your budget. Otherwise 14kt and 9kt are both suitable. View yellow gold men's wedding rings View white gold men's wedding rings View men's two tone white and yellow gold wedding rings Ladies and men's dress rings 18kt, 14kt and 9kt are each suitable Earrings, pendants, bracelets and necklaces 18kt, 14kt and 9kt are each suitable ^Top Titanium Titanium is a natural element which has a silver-greyish-white color. Titanium is the hardest natural metal in the world. It is very strong, three times the strength of steel and much stronger than gold, silver and platinum and yet is very light weight. Pure titanium is also 100% hypo-allergenic which means that it if safe for anyone to wear as it will not react to your skin. Titanium provides several unique factors that make it a good metal for jewelry. It is very strong, more dent, bend and scratch resistant than gold, silver and platinum, is lightweight and importantly offers an exotic array of colors which other metals simply do not. One factor to consider with titanium is that titanium cannot be soldered, which means that titanium rings cannot normally be resized. Titanium rings made using pure titanium can normally be cut-off the finger in the event of an emergency, though they are more difficult to cut-off than gold, silver or platinum rings. Aircraft grade titanium rings normally cannot be cut-off in the event of an emergency. Titanium is popular in earrings and bracelets for both ladies and men. Quick Reference - What types of jewelry are suitable for titanium? Ladies engagement rings Titanium engagement rings are available, though because titanium cannot be soldered, the prong setting styles common in engagement rings cannot be made using titanium. The range of titanium engagement rings available is therefore significantly limited compared to gold and platinum engagement rings. Titanium engagement rings cannot be resized in the future, because the titanium cannot be re-soldered. .View titanium engagement rings. Ladies and men's wedding rings Titanium is an increasingly popular choice for wedding rings. Although the same metal is recommended for use in both a lady's engagement ring and wedding ring, some ladies are preferring to wear titanium rings with their 18kt engagement rings. Titanium wedding rings cannot be resized in the future, because the titanium cannot be re-soldered. View titanium ladies wedding rings and titanium men's wedding rings. Earrings Titanium is suitable to be used in earrings. Some titanium earrings are now available. The range available is normally smaller than for gold and silver. Pendants and necklaces Titanium is not commonly used in pendants and necklaces due to the inability to solder titanium, limiting the shapes and designs that can be created. Bracelets Titanium offers a lightweight alternative to gold and is more affordable for use in bracelets, making it a popular choice for men's bracelets. The color of titanium is also appealing to men and often matches the color of men's watches. View titanium bracelets. ^Top Platinum Platinum is a white metal, but unlike gold it is used in jewelry in almost its pure form (approximately 95% pure). Platinum is extremely long wearing and is very white, so it does not need to be rhodium plated like white gold does. Platinum is very dense and heavy metal, so a platinum ring will feel heavier than an 18kt gold ring. Platinum is, however, significantly more expensive than gold. With all other things being the same, a platinum ring will be approximately twice the price of an 18kt white gold ring. Platinum is a prestige choice and is often chosen for its sophisticated appeal and popularity amongst the rich and famous. Platinum is normally not used in the full range of jewelry products due to its higher price. Platinum is mainly used in ladies engagement rings, ladies wedding rings and men's wedding rings. Platinum can also be used to make dress rings, though it is not commonly used to make earrings, pendants, bracelets or necklaces. Quick Reference - What types of jewelry are suitable for platinum? Ladies engagement rings Platinum is suited to ladies engagement rings. It is an increasingly popular choice. Platinum engagement rings can be resized in the future. Gillett's Jewellers can custom make platinum engagement rings. View platinum engagement rings Ladies wedding rings Ladies who wear platinum engagement rings normally choose platinum wedding rings. Platinum wedding rings can be resized in the future. Gillett's Jewellers can custom make ladies platinum wedding rings. View platinum ladies wedding rings. Men's wedding rings Platinum is suitable for men's wedding rings, though it is significantly more expensive than other metal options, making it less popular for men's wedding rings. The choice of men's platinum wedding rings will normally be more limited than with gold wedding rings. Gillett's Jewellers can custom make men's platinum wedding rings. View platinum men's wedding rings. Dress rings Platinum is suitable for men's and ladies dress rings, though it is significantly more expensive than other metal options, making it less popular for this type of ring. The range of platinum dress rings will normally be limited.. Earrings, pendants, bracelets and necklaces Platinum is not commonly available in these types of jewelry due to its increased expense. ^Top Palladium Palladium is a white metal which is has a silver-grey-white color and is similar to platinum. Palladium is one of the metals that is part of the platinum group of metals. The platinum group metals share similar chemical properties. Palladium is well suited to use with engagement rings and wedding rings. A few short years ago the price of palladium was actually higher than platinum, however, the price of palladium is now lower than platinum, making it a more affordable option. Quick Reference - What types of jewelry are suitable for palladium? Ladies engagement rings Palladium is not recommended for engagement rings. Palladium has only relatively recently begun being used in engagement ring designs, so the number of palladium engagement ring designs will normally be smaller than for other metals. Ladies and men's wedding rings Palladium is recommended for wedding rings Dress rings Palladium is suitable for use in dress rings, though the number of palladium dress ring designs will normally be limited. Earrings, pendants, bracelets and necklaces Palladium is suitable for use in earrings and pendants, though it is rarely used to make these items. ^Top Silver Sterling silver is a white-grey colored metal which is less expensive than gold, platinum and titanium. Silver is a softer metal than gold, titanium and platinum and does not have hardness that the other metals do. Silver is a popular metal for use in jewelry such as earrings, pendants, bracelets, necklaces and dress rings. It is best used for jewelry that will not be worn every day for an extended period. For that reason it is usually not recommend to be chosen for ladies and men's wedding rings, and is not suitable for ladies engagement rings. Silver is also more prone to oxidisation, sometimes causing the silver to turn black. The silver jewelry can easily be made to look like new again if you use a silver jewelry cleaner (available from most department stores) or if you have your jewelry cleaned by a local jeweler. Quick Reference - What types of jewelry are suitable for silver? Ladies engagement rings Silver is not recommended for engagement rings. Ladies and men's wedding rings Silver is not recommended for wedding rings Dress rings Silver is suitable for use in rings that will be worn as dress rings. These rings are generally not worn every day for an extended number of years. The range of silver dress rings for ladies and men is often quite wide and they include simple silver rings, diamond silver rings and gemstone silver rings. View ladies silver dress rings and men's silver dress rings. Earrings, pendants, bracelets and necklaces Silver is a very popular choice for earrings as it is very cost effective and has an appealing color. View silver earrings, silver pendants, silver bracelets and silver necklaces. ^Top Tungsten Carbide Tungsten carbide, also referred to simply as tungsten, is a very hard, strong and durable metal. It's also quite heavy. Tungsten has a characteristic unique to this special metal - tungsten is highly scratch resistant. Unlike gold, platinum and even titanium, tungsten rings do not scratch with everyday wear like the other metals do. It is technically possible to scratch tungsten, though only with objects that are harder than tungsten. So that leaves diamonds, sapphires, rubies and ceramic. Though unless you dragged the tip of a loose diamond along the tungsten, the metal will stay scratch resistant. Having a wedding band that's scratch resistant offers a lot of advantages. Tungsten always looks new and bright and shiny. Tungsten offers what's referred to as a permanent polish, which means that it doesn't need to be re-polished. So, it doesn't need the polishing maintenance that gold, platinum and titanium rings do. Tungsten stands up to the wear that even the roughest husbands can dish-out, making it a popular choice for men's wedding rings. Tungsten has an appealing color which almost all men like. The tungsten color is a grey-white color, similar to that of white gold or titanium. Tungsten is particularly popular in men's wedding rings. The range of tungsten jewellery is generally more restricted than for other metals. Tungsten rings cannot be resized (as tungsten can't be cut and resoldered), so it's important to have your finger size accuratley measured before buying a tungsten ring. View men's tungsten wedding rings Ladies engagement rings Tungsten carbide is not recommended for engagement rings. Tungsten carbide is a hard metal to work with making it not suitable for use in most engagement ring designs. Ladies wedding rings Tungsten carbide is not normally used for ladies rings, as most ladies choose the matching metal used in their engagement ring Men's wedding rings Tungsten carbide is becoming popular for use in men's wedding rings. The range of tungsten carbide wedding rings is normally more limited than for gold and titanium. Earrings Tungsten carbide is not readily available in earrings. Pendants Tungsten carbide is not readily available in pendants. Bracelets and necklaces Tungsten carbide is not readily available in pendants. ^Top Stainless steel Stainless steel is a metal not traditionally used in fine jewelry, though its popularity in dress jewelry is increasing. Stainless steel is a relatively hard and durable metal. It is particularly popular in men's bracelets, necklaces and men's dress rings. The range of stainless steel jewelry is generally more restricted than for other metals. View stainless steel bracelets. Ladies engagement rings Stainless steel is not recommended for engagement rings Ladies wedding rings Stainless steel is not normally used for ladies rings, as most ladies choose the matching metal from their engagement ring Men's wedding rings Stainless steel is generally not recommended for men's wedding rings. A wedding ring needs to last for a very long time, and stainless steel is not as durable as other metals used in men's wedding rings. Stainless steel can be used in men's wedding rings though the range of stainless steel wedding rings is normally more limited than for gold and titanium. Earrings Stainless steel is not readily available in earrings. Pendants Stainless steel is now often used in men's pendants and some ladies pendants due to its appealing color and lower cost. Bracelets and necklaces Stainless steel is becoming increasingly popular in men's bracelets and necklaces due to its appealing color and its lower cost.

Source:http://gilletts.com.au/information.php?info_id=39

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