A Helpful Glossary of Jewelry Terms

/in , , , /by

A Helpful Glossary of Jewelry Terms

Ever wonder what to call that thin delicate diamond set band or a specific structure of a ring? While you don’t have to necessarily know every term used in the industry, it will certainly help you communicate your desires to the jeweler or jewelry consultant.

Here are some commonly used and misused terms:

Pavé – Tiny little round brilliant cut diamonds set in multiple rows, much like a paved road. Pavé is often misused to describe a thin one row of diamonds.

14k rose gold micro pave eternity band

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fishtail – This style of setting is often used to get the thinnest version of a diamond band. U shaped prongs that are holding the diamonds in place.

Fishtail set platinum eternity bands

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

French cut – From the top it looks very similar to the fishtail set, it’s when you look at the ring from the side profile you will see the hand carved crisscross detail around each stone that makes this slightly more sparkly.  This is one of our specialties at BRAG.

Diamond solitaire engagement ring

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shared prong – Each stone shares 2 prongs with the next stone. This style of setting makes the round stones look rounder than in a fishtail or French cut.

Shared prong platinum eternity band

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bead set – When the stones are set in a band and held with tiny beads.

rose gold platinum diamond eternity wedding band unique

Bow tie diamond bead set eternity wedding bands

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Channel – Stones are set inside a band held by higher metal walls.

Princess cut diamonds set in platinum channel eternity band

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Solitaire – A single, solitary stone on it’s on.

Catherine Solitaire Platinum

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cathedral – when the band of the ring comes up and meets the basket of the center stone.

platinum diamond solitaire engagement ring

Cathedral Solitaire Platinum

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Halo – tiny little round brilliant cut diamonds that surround a larger stone.

Halo diamond engagement ring

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vintage inspired – When a ring style is made to look like a vintage ring. The benefit is that you have a well-constructed new ring with the look and feel of yesteryears.

Shield Ring

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filigree – open spaces of shapes carved out on a ring.

Round Brilliant cut center diamond set in cushion halo with vintage style lace side walls, bead set band and filigree basket

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mill grain – small edge carving that frames a ring and provides a touch of vintage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

For more examples please check out our collection on www.bostonringandgem.com or come see us at BRAG, Boston Ring and Gem at 333 Washington Street, Suite 203-8, Boston, MA 02108

Selecting a Diamond…Carat

/in , , /by

When trying to select a diamond you will hear the 4 C’s over and over again. Clarity, Color, Cut and Carat. Carat refers to the weight of a diamond. The higher the carat weight, the more valuable it is (other factors being equal). There is a slight formula that goes into calculating the carat of a diamond. A carat weighs 200 milligrams and is divided into 100 points. So, if you have a  .5 carat diamond it is exactly the same as if you had a 1/2 carat diamond which is the same as a 50-point diamond.

Over a carat, diamond weights are usually expressed in carats and decimals. A 1.06 ct. stone, for example, would be described as “one point oh six carats,” or “one oh six.”

This word for the measurement of a diamond’s weight Carat – is derived from the carob seeds that were used to balance scales in ancient times.

This is an important factor to evaluate but is not the most important one. When selecting the size be sure that all the C’s are taking into consideration. You could put all your money into a 2 carat diamond ring, but with poor clarity, color and cut it does not have the value of many smaller stones. The other three C’s like clarity, cut and color determine the visual brilliance of the jewelry. Don’t be fooled by the size, you can find a beautiful, affordable engagement ring in Boston with BRAG jewelers that will make her say yes!

What Is Ring Insurance?

/in /by

Your jewelry is priceless to you but there is an actual cost of replacing your beloved jewelry in the event that you have a loss. For extra peace of mind we highly recommend you insure your jewelry especially if it worn daily. Did you know that with jewelry insurance you covered worldwide against loss, theft, damage, and mysterious disappear. When you purchase jewelry from BRAG, we will always provide you with a complimentary appraisal so you can acquire insurance.  You will need just an appraisal from BRAG, not the bill of sale what you actually payed may not be the current market price; replacement should always be based on replacement cost not actual cost. NEVER give your bill of sale. We have complimentary appraisal update for jewelry purchase from Boston Ring And Gem. We recommend you stop in every three years and have us check things out and make sure you have no imminent threat.

How ring insurance works

We believe that “discounted” insurance is better than no insurance, but based on our experience we have had the best results with Liberty Mutual as a personal property policy on your homeowner or renter, and Jewelers Mutual insurance which is a separate insurance policy from your homeowner/renter policy. Jewelers Mutual offers additional preventive repair, they would rather pay to have smaller problems fixed before they become larger, so your diamond engagement ring  that is worn daily will eventually need to have some preventative maintenance even though we perform those service for cost of labor and material for BRAG setting,  Jewelers mutual will pick up the tab.  If you are planning a move make sure your insurance follows you to the new location, so you can move with confidence.

If you have more questions about ring insurance contact our store!

How To Find Your Ring Size

/in /by

Boston Ring and Gem is happy to assist you in determining the correct ring size. You can visit our convenient Downtown Boston MA location with any questions and then show our variety of engagment rings styles. If you want to find out the resize without visiting our Boston store, here are some helpful hints to keep in mind.

HELPFUL HINTS TO FINDING YOUR RING SIZE

  • Ask your partner’s parent or close friends if they know the finger size.
  • Borrow one of your partner’s rings and use a Ring Sizing Guide. The ring should be from the correct finger on the correct hand.
  • The average finger size is a 6 to 6.5 for women, and 9 to 10 for men. When no other information is available to you, selecting one of these sizes is your best choice.
  • Sometimes the ring won’t fit, here at Boston Ring and Gem, we are happy to resize it for you. Please contact us or call 617-720-2724 for return instructions.

What is a loose diamond?

/in , /by

If we are getting very technical, a loose diamond is the end product of a once rough diamond that came from a mine. If you are designing your own diamond engagement ring you will be picking a loose diamond and putting it the setting of your choice! Boston Ring and Gem has beautiful loose diamonds in variety of cut, colors, carats and clarity ready for sale! You can mount a loose diamond on a ring, a pendant, earring or any piece of jewelry.

When you have a loose diamond in your hand you can inspect the 4 C’s of the diamond from all different aspects such as weight, dimensions, depth, color, and clarity.

When the diamond is loose it is best way to inspect all the elements before making a purchase! For more information about loose diamond visit our diamond store located right in Downtown Crossing in Boston MA.

How To Clean Your Engagement Ring at Home

/in /by

There is nothing better than seeing your diamond engagement ring catch your eye or the eyes of strangers.  It is only natural to want to maintain that sparkle by keeping it clean on a regular basis. However, if cleaned improperly you can permanently damage your engagement ring.

Before you start attempting things that you heard from a friend of a friend, the diamond experts at BRAG jewelers in Boston MA can tell you how to clean your engagement ring safely and what to avoid at all costs.

First, let’s try to figure out what it is that is making your ring so dirty. If you are outdoorsy or spend your days in the kitchen environment, let the Boston jewelers at BRAG professionally clean your diamond ring or jewelry. It is best to get it cleaned at the jewelers using quality professional-grade products that will restore the brilliance of the diamond safely.

If your engagement ring is dirty from everyday common products like: hairspray, lotion, makeup, or perfume a easy at-home cleaning should do that trick. All you need is warm (almost hot) water, dish soap and a very soft toothbrush. Get a small enough container not to loose it or have it accidentally dumped down a drain! Soak your ring for about 20 to 40 minutes, gently brush the stone with the toothbrush, and rinse it under warm running water. Repeat the process if necessary.

How NOT to clean your engagement ring.

Any household cleaner should not even be considered. If you start reaching for things like bleach, chlorine, and acetone, stop now! These chemicals are far too harsh and can break down the base metals in your ring! While we are on the topics, never use any abrasive products such as toothpaste, baking soda, or any powdered cleaners, which can easily scratch metals. The damage these cleaners will cause will be costly to undue.

Anything that runs on battery or electricity is also something to avoid. These powered jewelry cleaners can weaken prongs or dislodge a stone. If you think a machine is required, bring it to BRAG jewelers conveniently located in Downtown Boston MA, where we can fix anything that might become loose.

What Is a Princess Cut Diamond

/in /by

Princess cut diamonds has become one of the most popular cuts for engagement rings.  These diamonds have grown in popularity as people begin to customize their engagement rings for their loved ones. Princess cut diamonds have this unique shape that make them very easy to incorporate into any style ring you want.

The traditional princess cut is square, with all four sides equal length, but most cuts are more on the rectangular side. This difference is cut is hard to see. Most people prefer the rectangular cut which is often lower in price.  After picking out the perfect princess cut diamond it is important to have the prongs protecting all four sides of the diamond.  The prongs protect the corners and help eliminate any flaws, such as, naturals, extra facets, and other inclusions may be located here. The last real concern would be deciding whether or not the flaws are significant enough to affect the stability of the diamond, which is very rare.

If you know that the princess cut diamond is the diamond you and your loved one choose, Boston Ring and Gem can help complete the process. At our diamond exchange store located in Downtown Boston MA we can fully education you on diamonds and help you pick the perfect princess cut diamond engagement ring!