Shopping Maniac

Great products, Bargains and gift ideas


You are here: Home / Archives for The Shopping Maniac

The New Classy: Emerald Cut Diamonds

by






The emerald cut engagement ring is steadily growing in popularity with individuals from all walks of life including the rich and famous. One of the reasons for this new trend is classic rectangular shape makes it a perfect blend of classic elegance and polished modern sophistication.

The emerald cut as the name implies was specifically developed for emeralds, allowing this relatively hard stone to be cut without causing breakage due to the many natural occurring inclusions. It was found that the only way this could be accomplished is by using a stepped approach with rounded corners, leaving the overall shape that of a rectangle. These clipped corners provide the perfect place for the prongs that will securely hold your stone in place.

The elongated shape of the traditional emerald cut diamond tends to have less “fire” in comparison to the “round brilliant” cut however it also tends to have fuller, more striking flashes of light. The tailored lines of emerald cut diamonds bestow both an elegant and classic look regardless of if you choose a simple or elaborate setting. In the end it comes down to personal choice and the expectation you have for sparkle on your finger.

While buying an emerald cut diamond, it’s especially important to consider the quality, as the faults, color weaknesses, and inferior cuts are much more evident to the naked eye. With that being said, emerald cut diamond rings are much more affordable so the quality of diamond that you will be able to acquire will be much higher. This is partially due to the fact that the emerald diamond is still growing in popularity as well as the cut its self is much easier perform therefore less time consuming to produce.

Traditionally an emerald cut engagement ring is set perpendicular to a ring, however the possibilities are endless. You can have your emerald cut diamond set as a solitaire for maximum impact or you can have a number of accent stones to play it up. When deciding on a setting remember to try them on your finger do not just pick one out of a catalog and send your partner in to pick it up. An emerald cut diamond is indeed stunning but the traditional rectangular shape is particularly suitable for women with long and slender fingers. If you have shorter fingers and the emerald cut really appeals to you choosing a more square shape may be an option. Again it comes down to personal choice if think your chosen ring looks great then that is the one you should get because you are going to be the one wearing it.






Gifts for Men: Cracking the Code

by

If you’ve been looking are for gifts ideas the men in your life, you may find yourself a little confused. Guys may seem simple at first, but when it comes to finding the right gift, you’re at a loss. Shopping for your girlfriends is easy, but buying for that special guy in your life feels like the hardest thing in the world.

Don’t worry, we’ve all been there. I’ll help get your brain thinking in the right direction, and find you some great gifts ideas for your special man.

The first outside the box idea is an experience gift. An experience gift is simply a package you buy as a gift that is redeemable for a real world experience rather than a physical item. These are great because they are very unique and highly memorable. The most classic example of this is a skydiving gift certificate, but there are many other options available. Check them out, you sure to find the perfect experience to offer your man.

Buying a classic dress accessory can be another great option. Mens fashion is pretty simple, there are only a few classic pieces that go together to great a sharp look. One such piece is the mens watch. Going for a high end men’s watch, such as Breitling or Omega, makes an amazing gift for any classy man out there. If you look around, you’ll be able to find discount Brietling watches that will help you save big on an amazing gift.

Personal electronics are another good gift idea. Men love electronics, and a pretty much always happy to see new ones. Is your guy looking for a new laptop or digital slr camera? Surprise him by getting it for him on his birthday. It’s hard to screw up with electronics.

I hope this has helped you see some of the possibilities out there when it come to gift ideas for men. There are many options, but this should help get the creative juices flowing.

Titanium: The New Trend In Men’s Jewelry

by

When most people hear titanium the first things that come to mind are probably golf clubs, medical plates or rods and aircraft. This naturally occurring element has various uses including a relatively new application in jewelry making.

In 1791, titanium was first discovered near Cornwall, England by pastor William Gregor who was an amateur geologist and unaware of what he had uncovered. In 1795 this metal was rediscovered and given its name which comes from the Titans in Greek mythology. Although titanium can be found around the world in abundance it is always bonded to other elements making the process to recover it is fairly extensive. The Kroll Process named after William Kroll in 1946 was and still is today used to produce titanium for commercial use.

Titanium is known for its strength in fact it is the strongest naturally occurring metal known (steel is not a pure natural element). This strength makes titanium resistant to dings, scratches, dents and bending that most other metals are prone to. Another advantage of this strength is that titanium jewelers are able to created designs by carving, grooving or inlaying without causes damage to the integrity of the piece.

This silver or grayish white metal is very lightweight, strong and 100% hypoallergenic. In fact titanium is biocompatible in that it will not cause reactions or irritations with your skin or cause a discoloration which is common with many other metals.

Although titanium does not corrode or rust it does respond to an oxidation process that enables you to get titanium in many different colors that are not possible with platinum or gold. For instance these color variations can give you a silver ring that in different lights or at different angels can appear blue or purple. If you like color variations it is also possible to find rings that are made from a combination of metals for instance gold and titanium.

Since titanium is not a precious metal, jewelry made from it are among the most affordable available. In fact you can purchase rings of basic design for under a hundred dollars, making them an extremely good buy.

One characteristic that you must be aware of when purchasing a titanium ring is that in most cases they can not be resized. In some cases jewelers may be able to size up by a very small amount but it is safer to assume that the size of ring you buy is the one you are going to have to keep. By the same token it is important to know what grade of titanium your ring is made of because in an emergency situation not all grades can be cut off very easily.

Tips To Buying Diamonds Online

by

With all of the potential for scams concerning loose diamonds, buying diamonds online almost seems unthinkable! However, you actually can purchase diamonds online, without any problems – as long as you are careful.

First, think about your reasons for wanting to purchase the diamond online, as opposed to making a purchase from a local jewelry store. The most common reason is price. Due to low overhead costs, online jewelers and wholesalers are able to offer lower prices. However, you must be careful – sometimes a price that is too low is a sure indication of a scam.

One of the best things about purchasing online is the unlimited selection. When shopping offline, you are limited to the selection in the stores in your general area. There are no limits online. Be very careful when you decide to fork over all that cash to someone who you just met!

Before shopping, learn as much as you can about diamonds – especially cut, color, clarity and carat weights. When you are knowledgeable about diamonds, it will be harder for a con artist to rip you off. Once you know more about diamonds, you will be ready to start shopping.

Take your time. It’s not a good idea to purchase the first diamond you see. Instead, look for similar diamonds on sale. Finding the lowest prices would have to be done while doing some comparison shopping. Once you have found the lowest price, start doing your investigation. You know about blue diamonds, you’ve found a diamond that you love, and you’ve found the lowest price – but you are still quite a ways away from actually purchasing that diamond!

Ask about the seller’s credentials, such as professional jewelry associations that they belong to. View and print the seller’s return, refund, and upgrade policies. Also inquire about additional services, such as settings and mountings, sizing, and free shipping. Do a search for customer reviews on this particular company around the Internet. The BBB Online is a great source to verify if there have been any complaints.

Independent laboratories such as HRD, GIA, AGS, and EGL are great sources when asking for a diamond report. You should see this before making a purchase. Finally, use a reputable escrow service for high dollar diamonds – preferably one that will have the diamond appraised while it is in their possession. The seller sends the diamond to the escrow service, and you send the money to pay for the diamond to the escrow service. The escrow service has the diamond appraised, sends the diamond to you, and sends the money to the seller. This is the surest way to protect yourself…again, make sure that you use a reputable escrow service!

Economical Holiday Presents

by

The holiday season can be the most economically demanding time of the year. Nonetheless, there are a lot of ways to find low cost Holiday present ideas.

Make It

If you’re crafty or have any special skills, you can make a present. For instance, if you weave you can make the person an afghan. If you are a closet rhymester or songwriter, pen a sonnet or song that deals with the person. Perform the song or poem and have the original framed.

Coupon

A custom made coupon book can be a an appreciated Holiday gift. Make individual coupons for doing odd jobs, organizing, and clean-up for the person. You might propose to organize their pictures into albums, do a week’s worth of dishes, or clean their vehicle. If the person is a husband or wife you might give passionate treats such as foot rubs and date nights. A certificate book can be created by printing off blank certificates that can be located on the web and bound with staples or string.

Gift Baskets

If you’re searching for a present for an entire family, and have no idea what they like, a gift basket might be the best answer. You can fill a low cost basket with homemade cookies or muffins, small packages of cocoa mix, coffee mugs, and ripened fruit. You may also want to think about outdoor decor gifts such as birdhouses, bird feeders, or yard statuary. A youngster may love a gift basket filled with toys from the convenience store. Some ideas may be chalk, bouncy balls, jump ropes, balloons, vivid windmills, small stuffed animals, play clay, and sweets.

Adolescent girls might enjoy a gift basket consisting of burettes, clips, combs, eye shadow, nail polish, and a magazine or two. A new mother may like a gift basket that might include soothing bath salts, body creams, and ointment. If you have the means, include a gift coupon to a health spa, beauty salon, or a specialty shop. The important thing is that you incorporate thoughtful X-Mas gift ideas that take into consideration what the person likes.

Treasure Chests

Children love receiving treasures, so why not present them a treasure trunk? This Christmas gift is simple and you can incorporate merchandise from discount stores, online stores, and even your own closet.  To start, find a trunk with a safety lid. This could be a decorated plastic tub, cardboard box, or a genuine chest. After that, choose a theme. If your theme is dress-up, you could load the trunk with costume jewelry, hats, used clothes, toy batons and swords, boots, bows, and pendants. Other theme ideas are cowboys, royalty, medieval, nature, astronauts, or aliens.

Hence, with a little thought you can find unique Holiday gifts that are very affordable. All it takes is a little bit of digging to find out what the persons interests are, if you don’t already have an idea what they are, and a visit to the local discount store. Always remember, it’s the thought that matters.

Meta

Pages