Estate Jewelry Show - West Lebanon, NH

Local Estate Jewelry Show to Feature Celebrity Jewels Amidon Jewelers is putting on an Estate show on March 21 and 22. It will be fun just for people to stop by and look at some of the amazing items on display, including a bracelet worn by Cher. Earrings from Elizabeth Taylor. A watch that was worn by John Wayne. These and many more Celebrity owned Jewelry items will be featured at the estate event happening at Amidon Jewelers. Date: Friday, March 22nd, at Amidon Jewelers. PowerHouse Mall, West Lebanon, NH The vast majority of the estate items being shown in this event are available for purchase with a large variety of pieces under $1500. Additionally, items will be featured from Robert Goulet (including cufflinks given to him from President Ronald Reagan), Mia Farrow (including gifts to her from Frank Sinatra and Yul Brenner), Mary Pickford, Bette Midler, Tallulah Bankhead, Bob Hope, Jon Peters (a vintage Rolex given to him by then girlfriend Barbra Streisand), Les Paul (a pocketwatch given to him from Ritchie Sambora), Tony Curtis (including a pocketwatch given to him by Jack Lemmon) and more. The Estate show is from 10 to 6 in Claremont on Thursday, and from 11 to 7 on Friday.

Everything you need to Know about Pre-set Engagement Rings

Thinking of buying a pre-set diamond engagement ring, you probably won’t be surprised by the aray of beautiful designs available to choose from. It’s important to venture into ring shopping mode with at least some basic education of diamond characteristics and quality in order to know the value of the rings that catch your eye, and to get the highest value ring available within your budget.

Many couples are avoiding the “design-your-own-ring” craze, out of fear that their knowledge of diamonds is too limited, or maybe they prefer to choose from a variety of pre-set rings for the instant gratification. And that is OK, there are many beautiful preset diamond engagement rings out there today, created from talented jewelry artisans - there is a perfect semi-mount engagement ring out there for you too.

There’s a lot to be said for the adventure that goes with the search as well, and in the knowledge you will learn more about settings, precious metals (for the setting), and diamonds, which designs are most fitting on your hand, and which settings are most reasonable to your lifestyle. Whether you’re hoping to surprise your girl with a briliant diamond solitaire, or an eager couple looking forward to the prospect of finding the perfect ring together, this should be one of the most enjoyable, and memorable episodes in your relationship.

pre-set engagement rings spare you from choosing a loose diamond because the jeweler has already paired the diamond and the setting. Although you don’t get to select a loose diamond, buying a pre-set diamond engagement ring does offer some great advantages.

Pre-set diamond engagement rings are easy to shop for. Keep in mind, the diamonds used in preset rings are often not the best quality. Ask your jeweler, whether you are purchasing your pre-set ring from an online retialer or a storefront, about the certification for the diamonds already set in the ring you choose.

Be aware of mall jewelry stores and others that offer pre-set diamond rings with either no diamond certifacate, or just their own in-store certificate. If the diamond in your pre-set ring is .5 carats or larger, you should ask for the independent diamond’s certification, issued by GIA, IGI, AGS, EGL or HRD.

Without a unbiased third-party evaluation of a diamond’s true quality and value, a jeweler’s personal grading holds little merit. Unless the jeweler agrees to have the diamond removed from its setting and sent to either GIA or AGS for an accurate grading, walk away and look for a ring that does have the appropriate evaluation to go with the diamond. There are plenty of reputable diamond sellers both online and in storefronts who offer independently certified diamond pre-set engagement rings, and those are the jewelers you want to shop with.

Regardless of your budget of your diamond engagement ring, a diamond grading report is still a esential for several reasons:

1. A diamond ring with no diamond certificate is often sold within a carat weight “range.” This means that the diamond merchant may tell you that you are buying a 1.00 carat diamond, but it may in fact be as small as 0.95ct., or as large as 1.17ct. Carat weight is one of the most important factors when determining a diamond’s price.

Be aware that a diamond just under 1.00ct can often be found at a much lower price than a diamond above 1.00ct because it falls just under the price spike for the desired 1.00ct size.

2. Pre-set engagement rings sold with no grading report are often listed within a color and clarity range – for example, a diamond could be listed H/I color or SI2/I1 clarity. But this color and clarity “range” doesn’t give an accurate representation of the diamond’s actual color and clarity. When it comes to selecting diamonds, even in a pre-set ring, the devil is in the details. Make it your goal to know the difference between a diamonds independent grading report and a subjective in-store system, as this directly affects a diamond’s quality and price.

Without a grading report, you will not be able to compare the diamond’s cut, which is the most critical factor in determining a diamond’s true value.

It may seem like a lot of elements to remember, but purchasing a pre-set diamond engagement ring is really easy and fun. Stick with a credible diamond jeweler, and enjoy finding the pre-set  engagement ring of her dreams!

Choosing her Ring

Choosing your diamond band could be a once-in-a-lifetime affair, and one you would like to grasp you’ll be proud of for the remainder of your life. There area unit several choices for getting a diamond band, and many-brides-to-be draw inspiration from a number of today’s most opulent diamond band designers.

An band from A. Jaffe, is a finely crafted piece of jewelry within the old fashioned tradition. Fine jewelry artisans produce complex bridal engagement rings, wedding rings and anniversary bands that area recognized for quality, and prime quality diamonds. A Jaffe uses palladium-based 18k alloy for his or her rings settings, guaranteeing a lifetime of wear and tear with no tarnish or color change.

A. Jaffe rings all hold a signature shank designed to insure that each bride’s ring fits properly. Their distinctive shank style helps stop the ring from turning on the finger, insuring the foremost comfy match and a lifetime of sturdiness.

Alishan Halebian, another original jewelry artisan, is a proficient self-taught goldsmith whose a master in his treatment of precious metals. Alishan uses subtle techniques to form diamond engagement and wedding rings that appear weightless, whereas maintaining textures inside the dear metals for a really elegant and provoking look.

Since he began his jewelry career in 1970, his talent was recognized rapidly. Alishan started his jewelers career in 1970, discriminating shoppers recognized his inventive talent. The California-based designer is a reward winning jewelry designer whose diamond engagement rings and wedding rings are as outstanding, daring and exquisite. 

Maevona diamond engagement rings from Scottish designer and stylist Maeve.  These crafted diamond engagement and wedding rings that showcase her love for details. Galvanized by the lines of Celtic artifacts growing up in Europe, Maeve learned the art of gold-smithing and jewelry making as a young child, and fine-tuned her craft over the years. Engagement and wedding band designer and jeweler, she completed ancient coaching and attained 2 degrees in jewelry and gold-smithing from the School of Art in Europe, and a master’s degree from the distinguished Royal School of Art in London.

Gold Medals are they really Gold?

With the Olympic Games starting today, a question came up: Are Olympic gold medals made of gold? 

Well Yes, but they haven't been solid gold for about 100 years

 The medals are designed by the Olympics Committee in each host city, but designers must follow a few minimum guidelines to create acceptable medals:

• all medals must be at least 60mm in diameter and 3mm thick
• silver medals must be made from 92 1/2 percent silver (This is called Sterling Silver)
• gold medals must be plated with at least six grams of gold.  Six grams is a fair amount of actual pure gold

Some medals for past games have been larger, like the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City. The gold and silver medals awarded at those games were the largest ever created to date, measuring 85mm in diameter, 10mm in depth and weighing in at 20 ounces.

Here is hoping the US brings home some gold over the next few days!