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There are two basic types of wedding bands: straight and contour. A straight wedding band is the more classic style. It's a continuous, uninterrupted circle that represents the eternity of a marriage pact. A contour wedding band is a more modern variation that is made to follow the contours of your engagement ring. Below, you can see how an engagement ring with a woven, pavé shank would look with the two different types of wedding bands. Some engagement rings, such as this one, work with both kinds of wedding bands. More unusual engagement rings, like the antique ring below, are...

Maybe you have some jewelry sitting in your jewelry box, collecting dust. You've had it since you were young, or maybe you inherited it. How can you figure out the value of these pieces? The easiest thing to do is to look for a stamp. You'll be looking for these stamps inside rings or on the backs of earrings or pendants. Gold and Platinum Jewelry Stamps 10K - may also be stamped as 417, which means that 41.7% of the alloy is pure gold14K - may also be stamped as 585, which means that 58.5% of the alloy is pure...

Birthstone month: AprilColor: Ideally colorless, though many diamonds have a hint of yellow or brownFamily: DiamondMoh's Hardness: 10Transparency: Transparent Typically, gem-quality diamonds are colorless or nearly colorless. When the discoloration in a diamond is intense enough to be viewed as an entirely different color, though, these diamonds are intentionally marketed for their color and inclusions. Yellow diamonds, blue diamonds, black diamonds, gray/salt and pepper diamonds, champagne diamonds, and cognac diamonds are all variations valued for their non-standard look. Here's an example of a raw, uncut diamond: Diamonds are unusual in that they are the only gemstones that are comprised of...

My brother Ben asked me to create a custom engagement ring for his girlfriend, Meg. He had a few images of vintage-inspired rings that Meg mentioned she was interested in. I had been picking up clues over time, as well. I already knew her finger size, that she likes round diamonds, and prefers bezel settings. That's enough to start with! (Ready to start dropping hints yourself? Send me a message!) I created two options for Ben to look over. The first option featured a round brilliant center diamond with a simple split-prong halo. I added some leaf-shaped filigree underneath the...

Does your ring spin on your finger, but barely fit over your knuckles? How can you fix this? An easy and fairly permanent option is to add sizing beads to the inside of your ring. Sizing beads add a little more surface area for your ring to grip your finger, but they slip easily past your knuckles.   Having trouble with a spinning ring? Ask your local jeweler to add sizing beads! xo, Christine