‘Diamond Rings and Bands’ Category
Posted on July 1st, 2016
Designing a one-of-a-kind engagement ring is a great way to create a personalized piece of jewelry; however, the different technical terms used by jewelers may seem confusing and overwhelming. The following guide will help decode the mystery surrounding jewelry jargon.
Multiple elements comprise the head of the ring. It includes the center stone and the fixtures that hold the stone in place. The collet, also called the setting, is made up of the circular rim that holds the stone and the claws that help keep the stone secure.
Types of Heads and Settings
Different head, setting styles and shapes are available to highlight the carat size and shape of the center stone. For example, a buttercup setting features claws that curve over the side of the stone. This type of setting is elaborate and typically resembles a flower as suggested by the name. Marquis, princess cut, or other angular stones are well-suited to a V-shape claw setting.
This 3.5 carat old mine cut diamond engagement ring flaunts a beautiful setting:
This is the star of the ring design. The center stone can be cut into a variety of shapes ranging from the traditional round to more oval or angular styles. While a single stone is the most common choice, a setting can feature more than one center stone. Engagement rings feature center stones in all different sizes ranging from 0.3 carat up to 10 carats that may be surrounded by smaller side stones. Diamonds are the traditional choice, but a yellow diamond, a sapphire, emerald, or ruby can be equally beautiful.
This 3.4 carat transitional cut diamond ring flaunts simplicity and displays the center stone masterfully:
The Prongs or Claws
Most rings feature between four and six pieces of metal that hold the center stone securely in place. When designing the ring, it is important to strike a balance between form and function. More claws mean that the stone is more secure and less likely to come loose while fewer claws highlight the clarity and beauty of the stone by permitting more light to shine through.
Elaborate rings may feature dozens of small stones surrounding the band or center stone. These stones may match or serve as a contrast to the larger center stone. For example, a ring may feature a large, colored gemstone, such as an emerald, surrounded by smaller diamonds. Side stones can expertly accent your engagement ring and enhance and enlarge the appearance of the center diamond. This masterful enhancement provides unrivaled brilliance and dazzling sparkle.
This 6.37 carat fancy yellow cushion cut diamond is magnified with the beautiful yet simple side stones:
This is the part of the ring that encircles the finger. The band is adjusted to your size and often inscribed in the case of an engagement ring. Many brides opt for diamonds to cover the band or shank. There are also a variety of styles in terms of how many shanks and where they connect and end in connection with the center stone and side stones. The possibilities are really endless. You can customize and create your timeless engagement ring with the expertise of Mark Broumand and our wide selection of stones on display at our showroom.
This 4.16 carat fancy yellow cushion cut diamond rocks a simple diamond band:
This 3.11 carat oval cut diamond has two bands:
Posted on January 7th, 2016
Getting engaged is one of the most exciting moments in life. Brides and grooms may find it challenging to choose an engagement ring that is beautiful, symbolic of their love, and is a style they will want to wear day in and day out. An additional point of stress can be finding a wedding band that complements and sits flush to the engagement ring. But with the right kind of support and expertise, you should have no problem finding an engagement ring and band that look beautiful together.
How do I know what type of wedding band I need?
First determine whether a straight wedding band will sit flush with your engagement ring. If your ring has a center gemstone that is elevated and sits above the band, then you can likely choose a wedding ring that is straight. Mark Broumand has many stunning straight wedding bands that will sit close to your engagement ring. Your engagement ring may be part of a matched set as designers often create wedding bands specifically for certain engagement rings.
What if a straight band won’t work?
If a straight wedding band will not work with your engagement ring, then a contoured wedding band may be the right option. This type of band matches the curvature of your wedding ring. It is contoured at the front and straight in the back in order to match the contours of your ring. Contoured wedding bands are quite common, allowing your rings to sit flush on your finger, and work well with many different styles of engagement rings.
Notched wedding bands are another option for a great fit with an engagement ring. Rather than bending around the ring like the contoured wedding band, a notched band allows the rings to fit together like the pieces of a puzzle.
When your ring has very fine details around the gemstone or the center stone is an elongated shape such as oval, marquise or emerald, then you may want to go with a band that is contoured and notched.
Are there other options?
Mark Broumand will always make sure your ring needs are met; it’s possible that a custom band may be the ideal choice for you. Though the process of creating a custom band requires time, you will end up with a beautiful band that complements your engagement ring. Visit MarkBroumand.com today to see all of the options for rings you will want to show off for years to come.
Posted on December 21st, 2015
Jewelry of any kind, especially diamonds, may be considered an investment with value that can be passed down to future generations. The amount of money tied to these pieces may be more than you could replace should something happen. It’s for this reason that many people pay for insurance that covers at least some of the costs in the event that something should happen to their items
Stolen Jewelry
With the exception of wedding bands, jewelry can sometimes be stored in jewelry boxes in the bedroom. In the case of an unfortunate event, like a home invasion, this is often one of the first places thieves will look for valuables. It’s much easier to peddle stolen jewelry than it is to walk out with a television. Insurance can help you recuperate some of the losses experienced in such a scenario.
Theft can also occur in social situations. It takes mere seconds for a visitor to drop a diamond ring into a pocket and walk away. It could be months, if not longer, before you realize that a particular ring or necklace is missing. At this point, it becomes exceedingly difficult to recover the piece
Accidental Damage
While many rings can be built to withstand a great deal of pressure, accidents are still capable of destroying these valuable works of art. Accidental drops, scrapes and other instances can cause damage to the piece that may be irreparable. Insurance policies may be able to help pay for replacements or repairs depending on the extent of the damage. At Mark Broumand, we recommend getting quotes through homeowners or renters insurance
Protecting Customized Settings
Customized settings can require a greater monetary investment as well as more time to create the ring. Insurance may be able to help you financially should something happen to this one-of-a-kind item. It’s difficult enough when the customized jewelry is damaged, destroyed or stolen. Financial security can help you recreate the customized piece without heavy out-of-pocket expenses.
Insuring your jewelry can be vital to financial recovery. Every day your diamonds go uninsured is another day the investment is at risk. Consider what can be lost in the event of natural disasters, accidents or theft before deciding to forgo insurance on your high-end pieces. We recommend a company called Jewelers Mutual that offers great service in jewelry insurance.
Posted on December 13th, 2015
Christie’s auction house is synonymous with opulence, and it is only fitting that the organization has auctioned several record-breaking diamonds throughout the years. The diamonds in its record books represent all the colors of the rainbow, but the pink and blue paragons are the things daydreams are made of. A paragon is a perfect diamond — flawless and without inclusions. In the 16th century, a mass of twelve carats was sufficient to qualify for this designation, but today the threshold lies at 100 carats.
The Sweet Josephine
Surrounded by a halo of clear diamonds, the Sweet Josephine cushion cut pink diamond center stone is glorious enough to leave royalty in awe. Its facets reflect the light brilliantly out of the pure pink 16.08ct heart. While the band is platinum, rose gold prongs hold the stone in place while complementing its hue. 
(Photo Credit: Christie’s)
On November 10, 2015, Sweet Josephine broke the record for the highest final sale price for a pink diamond at auction. The anonymous new owner paid $28.5 million for the honor.
The Winston Blue
The world’s largest flawless blue diamond, the Winston Blue, is the color of a crisp blue. The 13.22ct diamond is pear shaped and is flanked by glittering, clear diamonds on each side. Christie’s dubbed it “The Blue,” but its new owner renamed it the “Winston Blue.”
(Photo Credit: Forbes)
On May 13, 2014, the Winston Blue sold for $23.8 million. That is a sale price of nearly $1.80 million per carat, the most a blue diamond has ever sold for. No need to dream about owning a fancy color diamond. These options below are rings that are exquisite yet attainable.
The Vivid Pink
Fancy-colored diamonds are sometimes on the small side, making them ideal for multi-stone bands like this round brilliant cut diamond wedding band from Mark Broumand. Smaller does not have to mean less extraordinary, and the Vivid Pink proves it. At 5.00ct, it is not the largest diamond Christie’s has ever sold, but the cushion cut stone astounds with its cherry blossom pink hue. Clear diamonds twinkle like snow at its sides, and yellow gold prongs add a final kiss of color to the piece.
The Vivid Pink continues to hold the highest price per carat record for a pink diamond. It sold for $10.78 million, or $2.15 million per carat, on December 3, 2009.
Many diamonds sold at Christie’s end up in a collector’s display, but your diamond engagement ring will be daily reminder of love and commitment. It does not have to break records to be worth more than all the diamonds in the world to you.
(Photo Credit: Jewels Du Jour)
Posted on November 18th, 2015
Men’s wedding rings are a relatively new tradition, historically speaking. While there is some archaeological evidence that women have been wearing wedding rings for thousands of years, men only began wearing these symbolic ornaments in the early 1900s.
A Romantic Gesture That Caught On
The tradition of matching bride and groom wedding bands
began when soldiers who were leaving to fight in World War II wore rings to remind them of their wives back home. Now, the romantic gesture that began with soldiers has become popular among almost all married men.
Today, men’s wedding rings are so commonplace that married men who do not wear them are seen as breaking tradition. When Prince William decided to forego a royal wedding band, the decision sparked public discussion. Men’s wedding bands are seen as a symbol of fidelity that married men are expected to wear.
Wedding Band Choices for Men
Men today have abundant wedding band options to choose from when they get married. From classic unadorned gold bands to ornate diamond bands, an engaged or married man can select a ring that is perfectly suited to his personality and style. At Mark Broumand, we offer an array of men’s precious metal wedding bands and men’s diamond bands.
One of the most important considerations for a man’s wedding ring is the material that the band is composed of. If a man has an active lifestyle or does a lot of work with his hands, he may want a durable wedding band made of platinum, titanium or palladium. While gold and silver bands are popular, they are not as resistant to scratches as other types of bands and so should be chosen with care.
No matter what type of wedding band a man chooses, the band should reflect his personal style and complement his bride’s wedding band. Bride and groom wedding bands do not have to match exactly, but subtle similarities in the metal color or engravings can make the two rings look well suited to each other, symbolizing the union of the rings’ wearers.
Posted on November 15th, 2015
People in all cultures have worn jewelry since before time was recorded. In fact, our ancestors may have decorated themselves with jewelry before they wore clothes. They made their ornamentation from bones, feathers, seeds and other natural materials. Rings today are just as unique, especially when custom designed by expert jewelers.
Rings Represent Eternity
Historians believe rings were the first types of formal jewelry. Because circles have no beginning and no end, they came to symbolize eternity. The first rings were likely worn as talismans and may have had magical powers attributed to them. Later, rings were used for identification as well as religious and commemorative purposes. They were even sometimes intended to be seen by the public and convey a message of eternity.
An Engagement Ring Is a Promise
Prior to the second century B.C., one ring sufficed for both engagement and marriage. Around this time,
ancient Romans began giving their brides-to-be two rings. One was a gold band to be worn in public, and the other was an iron band to be worn at home. Whether gold or iron, the betrothal ring represented a pledge to marry. Historians once thought that ancient engagement rings served as part of the bride price in which girls were purchased and owned by their husbands-to-be, but that is now regarded as a fallacy.
Engagement rings came into greater use in the Middle Ages as church authorities mandated that couples wait until marriage banns had been posted. As wearing an engagement ring spread to other cultures through the ages, the rings evolved from simple bands of metal. Colored gemstones were fashionable until contemporary times when beautiful, clear diamonds became signs of love and promise.
The Promise of Diamonds
Now, nearly all engagement rings include one or more diamonds. Each diamond is unique, but it takes an expert to facet the uncut stone so that it flashes with light. The faceted diamond is then placed in a setting that further enhances its beauty. The sparkling engagement ring is then given to another as a promise of lasting love.
Posted on June 25th, 2015
Though Mark Broumand is famous for his diamond engagement rings, he actually carries a full line of fine jewelry for women and men, for special occasions, weddings or just because. For couples that desire matching diamonds in their wedding jewelry, here are some men’s wedding bands that can perfectly compliment your bride’s round brilliant cut diamond engagement ring.
This exception men’s eternity style wedding band is a perfect fit for the man that desires sparkle on his wedding band. This 8mm wide band is crafted in platinum and features larger round brilliant cut diamonds set in a flush setting with rows of pavé set round diamonds separating them. The front and back of the ring also features pavé set round brilliant cut diamonds.
The band of this dramatic men’s wedding band features 14k white gold rectangular links. Very white, bright and clear round brilliant cut diamonds are flush set in the center of each link.
The round brilliant cut is the most popular diamond cut selected for use in jewelry because of its clarity, fire and brilliance. This cut accounts for over 80% of loose diamonds in the world. The 58 facets in this round diamond were placed to maximize the natural fire and sparkle of the gemstone. This diamond works well in prong, bezel or channel settings and shines with an unparalleled brilliance.
1.20cts of five very clear and very white round brilliant cut diamonds are showcased in this men’s 14k white gold wedding band. The diamonds are channel set in this rounded and bold band, with an even proportion of white gold and gemstones.
A row of flush set round brilliant cut diamonds are centered on this 14k white gold wedding band. For an added touch of sophistication, milgrain detail edges the row of diamonds.
In addition to the men’s round brilliant cut diamond wedding bands shown here, Mark Broumand also has a selection of men’s baguette cut, princess cut or simply elegant precious metal wedding bands. Mark can also custom design the men’s diamond ring, cuff links or wedding band that will surprise him and exceed your expectations.