Teddy Shattock, managing director of Aldridge Jewellers on London show us how to choose a wedding ring. The selection of a wedding ring could be one of the most critical decisions of your life; so get it right with VideoJug's assistance.
How To Choose A Wedding Ring
Source: www.videojug.com
A nationwide survey of retail and online jewelers finds that this year's Valentine's Day brides will be hoping for princess cut engagement rings as their wedding band of choice.
The Wedding Rings Newswire reports that men seeking to pop the question on Valentine's Day 2008 -- which is certain to be the most popular day of the year for engagements -- will be making the right choice if they select a princess cut engagement ring.
Respected retailers such as Robbins Bros. (http://www.robbinsbros.com/rings-diamonds-jewelry/ring-finding-guide.asp), which operates engagement rings stores in Southern California, Texas and Illinois, note that the growing appeal of princess cut engagement rings is evident.
Wedding Rings Newswire, which conducted its survey in December 2007, said jewelers have found that princess cut engagement rings are popular not only for their unique rectangle styles and brilliance, but also for the fact that the rings compete very well with all wedding bands on price and carat weight.
"The choice of ring is often a real obstacle for guys who want to surprise their girlfriends on Valentine's Day with a proposal and a ring," Wedding Rings Newswire editor Joelle Dawid says. "Selecting a princess cut engagement ring narrows the choices considerably, while still being certain that she'll swoon when you open the box."
Dawid adds that men who don't want to compromise in their choice of diamond engagement rings, but do want to start out their married lives on a sound financial footing, can do both in selecting a princess cut engagement ring.
"In the hunt for the most magnificent wedding rings, prince cut engagement rings are a perfect fit," Dawid says. "Young couples, especially, will prize their beauty and their comparative affordability."
The Wedding Ring Newswire notes that February is the biggest month of the year for engagement ring sales, with an estimated $2 billion of total jewelry being purchased each year surrounding the Valentine's Day holiday.
The Wedding Rings Newswire is an independent news and feature service focused exclusively on wedding ring-related topics.
Whether you’re looking to get engaged, upgrade your wedding set or just give a gift that will leave her gasping in delight, a diamond is always a good choice.
More shoppers than ever are eschewing busy malls in favor of online shopping, and diamond buyers are no exception. Think few people buy diamonds online? Think again: Google “diamond shopping online” and you’ll get about 5 million results, many of them Web sites that specialize in the sale of diamonds. Online jewelry sales in the United States topped $2.45 billion in 2006, a 20 percent increase over the year before, according to data from IDEX Online Research.
“The online market is a natural evolution for diamond shopping,” says Isaac Gottesman, a diamond expert and owner of dimend SCAASI of Chicago, a leading national jeweler whose company entered the e-market in 1997 and now does more than 70 percent of its business online. “In the old days, you went to your local jewelry showroom to look at loose stones and settings. Then large jewelry chains evolved and became mall staples. Next came jewelry sales on television shopping channels. Now jewelry shopping, including diamond buying, has moved online.”
Shopping for diamonds online provides all the advantages of the Internet: huge inventory and selection, competitive prices and exceptional speed and convenience. The pitfalls, however, are just as many: disreputable sellers, questionable products and undereducated buyers. Before you log on to make your diamond purchase this holiday season, consider these do’s and don’ts of online diamond buying:
* Do seek out sites with exceptional customer service standards. “Online shopping can often mean less customer service than you might hope for,” Gottesman says. “But when you’re purchasing something as important as a diamond, you can’t afford to deal with a site that is lacking in customer service.”
Look for sites, like Gottesman’s www.dimendscaasi.com, that allow you to speak directly to a customer service representative, either by phone or live chat, both during your diamond selection process and after you’ve made your purchase. Buying a diamond is more complex than many other online transactions and you’ll want expert advice and attentive service.
* Don’t overlook the importance of the site’s privacy and security measures. Be sure you fully understand the site’s policies before you buy. The site should use encryption and security software. When you get to the payment page, be sure the web address includes https.
* Do look for sites that use technology innovations to give you the best overall picture of the diamond you are buying. “A site that offers you just one image and a brief description of a stone isn’t giving you enough information to make an educated purchase,” Gottesman says.
Gottesman’s dimend SCAASI invented a proprietary, patent-pending software system, dubbed “InnerView,” to allow potential buyers to view diamonds and gemstones online in real time. After choosing the diamond they are interested in at www.dimendscaasi.com, buyers can request an InnerView appointment by phone, e-mail or directly online. Or, if they’re unsure what stone or setting they are looking for, they can request an appointment in which a gemologist helps them decide what they’re looking for in a stone and setting.
During the InnerView session, a gemologist places a diamond or gemstone under powerful magnification of up to 300 times to show its unique characteristics, including the cut, any inclusions the stone may have and a close-up of the laser inscription correlating to the certification number. The buyer can view these features magnified and also see how they appear to the naked eye. InnerView also makes it possible for the customer to view the diamond or gemstone in different settings
* Don’t assume every Web site will take the diamond back if you’re dissatisfied with it. Be sure you know the site’s return policy before you do business with them. Look for sites with a clear and fair return policy, and find out what, if any, restocking fees are associated with returning an item.
* Do be sure the site takes every precaution to ship swiftly and securely. “The site should only ship through reputable carriers who offer a system for tracking your package,” Gottesman advises. “At dimendSCAASI, your package is insured for its full purchase value. That way, if it is lost, we can recover the value and remake the ring for you.”
* Do look for certification from reputable labs such as GIA and AGS. The certification should detail the characteristics of the diamond.
* Finally, do search the Web for consumer reviews of online jewelers, and visit sites like Citysearch or Yelp to find customer feedback.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
GroomGroove.com interviews New York City jeweler, Roslyn, about the groom's process of finding the right engagement ring for your future bride.
In this clip from Get Married on Lifetime, Giorgio Damiani of Damiani Jewelry gives his advice on choosing the perfect engagement ring and wedding rings.
Diamonds are forever, but how do you know that you're getting the most bling for your buck? We'll show you how to choose the right diamond and close a good deal for it.
