Few diamond shoppers can walk into a high-end jewelry store and buy a 5-carat, D color, Internally Flawless diamond with Ideal cut parameters. If you are like most diamond shoppers, you have a limited budget. However, you still want to get the biggest and most beautiful diamond within your budget. You can take some simple steps that will ensure you get the biggest diamond possible.

1) Diamonds have price per carat increases at the most popular carat weights (0.50, 1.00, 1.25, 1.50, 2.00, etc.) because that is what shoppers request when they go into a jewelry store. Your dollars can go further buying a diamond that has a carat weight just under those weights. For example, a diamond that weighs 0.90 carats can be the same millimeter diameter as a diamond weighing 1.00 carat but cost $1000 less.

2) The price of diamonds is very sensitive to color grade, yet most shoppers have a difficult time seeing the difference between some of the color grades. If you buy the lowest color grade that looks beautiful to your eyes, the lower price per carat allows you to buy a bigger diamond with your dollars. The highest color grades (D, E, and F) are categorized as "colorless." The next color grades (G, H, I, and J) are "near colorless" and the source of beautiful diamonds at much lower prices.

3) A ring with several smaller diamonds is less expensive than a single diamond with the same total carat weight. For example, three 0.50 carat diamonds will cost a fraction of what a single diamond weighing 1.50 carats. The same holds true for a 1.0-carat center stone with 0.25-carat diamonds on each side. If you want a finger full of diamonds with a limited budget, consider several diamonds rather than a solitaire.

4) All diamonds have inclusions; the key is what you can see with your eye. Once a diamond is clean to the eye (VS2 or good SI1 for brilliant cut shapes), higher clarity grades have no impact on the beauty or appearance of a diamond, they only add to the expense. Get the lowest clarity grade you are comfortable with and save a lot of money will no sacrifice in beauty.

5) The shape of the diamond can affect the millimeter size. Of course, you should always get the diamond shape you like best but some shapes do look larger than other shapes. Ovals, marquises and pear shaped diamonds generally look larger than round or square diamonds with the same carat weight.

6) Even diamonds with the same shape and carat weight can be different sizes. The cut of the diamond can influence the millimeter size. Shallower diamonds tend to be bigger in length and width than deeper diamonds. It is similar to two men each weighing 200 pounds, where the smaller waistline probably results in a taller man.

7) The type of setting you select to hold your diamond can influence the diamond's perceived size as well as affect the dollars you have to spend on the diamond. White gold settings cost about one-third of platinum settings, leaving more money for your diamond. Bezel set diamonds or diamonds with pave around the center stone can make the diamond appear bigger.

8) Perhaps the most important factor in getting the biggest diamond for your dollars is where you purchase. The retail markup on diamonds can range from well under 10% with online retailers to over 200% at high-end jewelry stores. Finding a retailer with very low overhead and low prices will ensure more of your dollars go for your diamond. Why spend your money for polished marble floors, fancy display cabinets, and elaborate store interiors, all things you cannot wear out of the store?

In the end, you want to go with the diamond that excites you and makes you happy every time you wear it. That is the best indicator that you have made the right decision and have the best diamond for you.

Discovery of Gold Nuggets

Gold was initially discovered in its natural state. They look like yellow nuggets which shines when the sun's rays touches it. It was one of the earliest metals discovered by humans. The nice thing about it is that gold deposits can be located in different regions of the world. So that gold was discovered by different groups and anyone who saw it was readily impressed with its qualities.

Necklaces in General

A necklace is an object worn around the neck. In different cultures, necklaces can be in the form of clothing, indigenous materials or metal. Variations of necklaces have been created over time so that some of them can be as simple as a regular chain or circular object. It could also be more complex so much so that special designs come with gems or lockets attached to them.

Consumer Use of Gold Necklaces

A lot of people have in one way or another possessed a gold necklace or even several pieces of it. There are several reasons why people purchase them. One reason why people buy them is to wear accessories. Most people would wear accessories when they have some special occasions to attend or host. It somehow makes the wearer look better with it than without it.

Some people, on the other hand, invest in gold necklaces. A number would buy them for their value. Gold prices are bound to go up most of the time and so in a sense it's like investing in real estate. Buyers are assured that they can wear them and still be able to sell them at a good price if and when they decide to do so.

Some religious groups like the Christians wear gold necklaces with a crucifix or cross attached to it. Although not everyone wears them as a rule, some wear them for purposes of showing their religious affiliations to people they meet without actually saying it.

However, there are some groups who wear gold necklaces with crosses attached to it as a pendant for decoration such as some singers of the hip hop genre. Wearing gold necklaces for the hip hop groups has become part of their distinctive attire. The practice of wearing loud gold necklaces is usually associated with them primarily because of mass media such as the television where the public gets the chance to see them in their full attire a good number of times.

Marketing of Gold Necklaces

Gold necklaces of all types are readily available in the market nowadays. Jewelry shops can be seen in malls, business areas and even online. The public could take their pick of any type they want or find more designs that appeal to their tastes. Gold necklaces are marketed with long or short strands. They also come in various thicknesses and karats. Even the designs of the gold chains are not the same for all gold necklaces. This has opened the marketing of gold necklaces not just to the rich ones but also the average man. Go ahead and get one for yourself too. People will always find uses for them whatever the venue or occasion may be.

It's that time of year again. Spring is in the air and so are wedding bells, which makes wedding sets a popular pick among many jewelry shoppers. With June being one of the most popular months for a wedding, that doesn't leave much time to save thousands of dollars for the wedding set of your dreams. But that's okay because many couples are opting for the beauty and affordability of sterling silver and cubic zirconia wedding sets to tie the knot in a more practical way. You can always upgrade to genuine diamond wedding sets in the future, but cubic zirconia, especially when set in sterling silver, is the budget conscious choice for many newlyweds who don't want to break the bank.

Cubic zirconia is cut and measured exactly as a genuine diamond, which means it has the same look but without inclusions or cloudy visuals. Sterling silver, which is recognized as a precious metal, will last a lifetime with the proper care and is often the choice for those who enjoy the look of platinum or white gold without the price tag. Put the two together and you have a lot of sparkle for your money and a bold presence that everyone will envy. The most common cuts for cubic zirconia wedding sets are round, marquise, pear and emerald.

When it comes to the spring forecast, experts are predicting a lot of sparkle for the bride-to-be. The upcoming trends suggest that vintage is back in a big way, which lends even more truth to the old saying that history is destined to repeat itself. As many brides walk down the aisle this year, they are going to be doing so with wedding sets that replicate favorite designs of yesteryear. From total vintage and antique styles to a combination of classic meets modern, you may want to take a look at jewelry sets that possess an estate look.

One of the most important considerations when purchasing wedding sets is that of size. Purchasing the best fit will be easy enough for now, but what happens if the rings need to be resized in the future? Many may not realize this, but sterling silver can be sized up or down according to the wearer's needs. Depending on the width and gram weight, sterling silver rings are commonly able to be resized by either one or two sizes. It's important to have this option for the future and makes the choicef sterling silver wedding sets even more practical for many newlyweds.

In conclusion, wedding sets are a very personal choice and should reflect both the bride and groom's individual taste. From polished bands to those inlaid with cubic zirconia, sterling silver wedding rings are available in a variety of choices. Engagement rings are available in an equally large selection to accommodate every bride's taste. Diamonds are stunning, but cubic zirconia wedding sets can offer the same look for a lot less money and, when starting a new life together, this is an important consideration.

Turquoise beads are as stylish today as they were when they were worn by ancient Egyptian rulers. Turquoise beads were also made and worn by Indians and pioneers. The global popularity of turquoise beads can partly be attributed to the fact that turquoise is found amongst gold and copper. Another attribution is the unique blue color of turquoise, which can only be described as "turquoise". Turquoise matches a wide spectrum of colors, and one does not need a special occasion to wear turquoise. A simple necklace of turquoise beads looks as great with a t-shirt as it does a formal. Being versatile as well as beautiful has earned turquoise the reputation as one of the most fashionable gemstones around.

Indians of southwestern United States called turquoise beads "pieces of sky", and rightly so. Throughout history and throughout the world, turquoise is associated with the heavens and gods. Consequently, turquoise is also associated with luck, health, and safety. Turquoise beads have been used as talismans and rosaries. In many cultures the sick and injured were given simple turquoise necklaces to heal them. Turquoise was even worn by warriors to keep them from falling from their horses.

Superstitions revolving around turquoise still exist today. The bright, cheery color of turquoise is thought to help battle depression. Turquoise beads are also thought to promote loyalty in personal relationships. Some people wear turquoise when flying or pursuing risky business ventures since turquoise is still thought to carry good fortune. Whether or not these beliefs are true, turquoise beads certainly make one emboldened and confident.

Jeans have come a long way since they first started being worn, from the first pairs of non-riveted jeans whose back pockets would rip apart after a few weeks, to today�s modern jeans offering a sleek, fashionable look and a quality material and stitching at the same time. However, jeans have long gone beyond the traditional �blue cowboy pants� type and now we can notice a trend to use denim (formerly used simply as a material for making trousers) in many other areas such as overalls, shorts, dresses, skirts, shirts, jackets or capris.

The jeans market is flooded with all sorts of models, from different kinds of brands ranging on an extremely wide array of prices. It�s often quite difficult to choose what�s best for you in regards to quality and fashion. Here are some of the types of jeans that circulate on today�s market:

The �designer jeans� trend started in the late 70s, with the Nakash brothers (Ralph, Avi and Joe Nakash) launching their line of Jordache jeans. It was the first time in history that a jeans model would literally start a fashion trend following its release and the Jordache line represented the birth certificate for a future marketing formula. After witnessing the success of the Nakash brothers in 1978, many other designers tried to take up their trend-breaking formula and created models of their own, intended to shock and change the fashion of the time.

Designer jeans are mostly handstitched and they can sometimes have engravings or diamond insertions. The usual price for a pair of designer jeans can go from $100 to $500, depending on the quality of the material used and the designer brand. In some cases, jeans can go above this sum, especially if they have a lot of engravings and are riddled in precious rocks.

There are now many different designer jeans brands. Seven Jeans is probably the most well known designer jeans and they have many of the top styles. Also True Religion Jeans have become a very popular choice for jeans. There are hundreds of jean companies but most don't compare to the top designer jeans for fit and style.