After more than 20 years of operating a jewelry store in St. Petersburg, Florida we have learned a few things about the care and value of fine jewelry and luxury watches. We're happy to share this knowledge with you.
According to About.com and Wikipedia.org, here is a list of traditional gifts for wedding anniversaries. While we have exactly what you need for the 10th, 14th and 20th anniversaries, we can help you with the perfect gift for any anniversary or occasion.
1st Anniversary | Paper, Clocks | |
2nd Anniversary | Cotton, China | |
3rd Anniversary | Leather, Crystal | |
4th Anniversary | Fruit, Flowers, Appliances | |
5th Anniversary | Wood, Silverware | |
6th Anniversary | Candy, Iron, Wood | |
7th Anniversary | Wool, Copper, Desk Sets | |
8th Anniversary | Bronze, Pottery, Linens, Lace | |
9th Anniversary | Pottery, Willow, Leather | |
10th Anniversary | Tin, Aluminum, Diamond Jewelry | |
11th Anniversary | Steel, Fashion Jewelry | |
12th Anniversary | Silk or Linen, Pearls | |
13th Anniversary | Lace, Textiles or Furs | |
14th Anniversary | Ivory, Gold Jewelry | |
15th Anniversary | Watches, Crystal | |
16th Anniversary | Silver Holloware | |
17th Anniversary | Furniture | |
18th Anniversary | Porcelain | |
19th Anniversary | Bronze | |
20th Anniversary | China, Platinum | |
21st Anniversary | Brass, Nickel | |
22nd Anniversary | Copper | |
23rd Anniversary | Silver Plate | |
24th Anniversary | Musical Instruments | |
25th Anniversary | Silver | |
26th Anniversary | Original Pictures | |
27th Anniversary | Sculpture | |
28th Anniversary | Orchids | |
29th Anniversary | Furniture | |
30th Anniversary | Pearl, Diamond | |
31st Anniversary | Time Pieces | |
32nd Anniversary | Conveyances | |
33rd Anniversary | Amethyst | |
34th Anniversary | Opal | |
35th Anniversary | Coral, Jade | |
36th Anniversary | Bone China | |
37th Anniversary | Alabaster | |
38th Anniversary | Beryl, Tourmaline | |
39th Anniversary | Lace | |
40th Anniversary | Ruby | |
41st Anniversary | Land | |
42nd Anniversary | Improved Real Estate | |
43rd Anniversary | Travel | |
44th Anniversary | Groceries | |
45th Anniversary | Sapphire | |
46th Anniversary | Original Poetry | |
47th Anniversary | Books | |
48th Anniversary | Optical Goods | |
49th Anniversary | Luxuries | |
50th Anniversary | Gold | |
51st Anniversary | Blue Sapphire | |
52nd Anniversary | Ruby | |
55th Anniversary | Emerald | |
60th Anniversary | Yellow Diamond, Diamond | |
65th Anniversary | Star Sapphire, Gray | |
67th Anniversary | Star Sapphire, Purple | |
75th Anniversary | Diamonds, Diamond-Like Stones, Gold | |
80th Anniversary | Diamond, Pearl | |
85th Anniversary | Diamond, Sapphire | |
90th Anniversary | Diamond, Emerald | |
95th Anniversary | Diamond, Ruby | |
100th Anniversary | 10K Diamond |
How Do You Pick the Perfect Engagement Ring?
It's the biggest choice of your life -- besides, of course, choosing to get married in the first place! So, how do you find an engagement ring that shows your special someone just how you feel AND make sure that she loves it, too?
You could opt for an "engagement setting", which is a temporary setting that your diamond sits in so that you have something to propose with. After she says "yes", both of you can head to the jewelry store and pick out a permanent setting together. That way, you're guaranteed to wind up with something that she loves!
But what if you want to do everything yourself? How do you pick the perfect engagement ring?
1. Look at her existing jewelry
Taking a quick spin through her jewelry box when she's not looking will give you some big clues as to what kind of engagement ring she's looking for. For example, you'll find out whether she prefers white gold, yellow gold, or rose gold. You'll also get to see if she prefers traditional jewelry designs or pieces that are more modern.
Taking her existing jewelry into account is especially important if there are certain pieces she wears every day -- like the gold bracelet her parents gave her or the silver necklace she won't go anywhere without. After all, her new engagement ring will have to complement them!
2. Find a jeweler that can be your "partner in crime"
A smaller store is much more likely to work with you from start to finish than a big chain is. They'll also be happy to answer any questions you may have -- no matter how many of them you've got! A good jewelry store will even help you create a custom engagement ring if you want something that's totally unique.
3. Consider her fingers
Does the love of your life have short fingers? If so, a wide band will make them look shorter. Or, does she have long, skinny fingers? If so, a "long" diamond (like an oval or a pear) will make them look even longer.
4. Opt for clarity and color
Since you budget probably won't allow you to buy the biggest, most flawless diamond in the store, you need to choose wisely. That means you've got to opt on the side of clarity and color! After all, a bunch of carats aren't nearly as exciting if the diamond itself is cloudy or full of flaws. Remember, true engagement ring success means having everyone "ooh" and "ahh" whenever she shows it off!
Diamond grading is subjective. The location of inclusions can mean that not all diamonds with the same grade are the same. The same quantity and size of inclusions on 2 diamonds with the same VS grade can look drastically different because of their location, and their orientation to the desired setting.
The 4 C’s of Diamond Buying according to the GIA: carat, cut, color and clarity.
Carat
A diamond’s size is measured in Carat Weight. Each diamond carat is also equal to 100 points. For example, a diamond that is a ½ carat can also be referred to as a 50 point diamond.
Cut
The cut of the diamond is also referred to as the shape. Shapes include Round Brilliant, Princess Cut, Emerald Cut, Marquise Cut, Oval Cut, Radiant Cut, Pear Shape, Heart shaped and Assher Cut. When a diamond is cut to good proportions, light is refracted from one facet to another, then dispersed through the top of the diamond. A well cut diamond - regardless of its shape - sparkles, has more fire, and offers the greatest brilliance.
Color
Color is the natural body color visible in a diamond and is the one C determined completely by nature, not man. As a rule, the closer a diamond is to colorless, the more valuable and beautiful it is. Diamond colors appear in a range from D to Z. Color grades D, E and F are considered colorless, making them rare; grades G, H and I are near colorless; and grades J down are going to have a considerable amount of color.
Clarity
Clarity is an indication of a diamond's purity. When a rough stone is extracted from carbon, deep beneath the earth, tiny traces of natural elements are almost always trapped inside. These elements are called inclusions, though sometimes they are referred to as birthmarks, because they are formed naturally and are unique to each stone. Clarity ranges from flawless (FL); internally flawless (IF); very, very slightly included (VVS1-VVS2); very slightly included (VS1-VS2); slightly included (SI1-SI3); and included (I1-I3).
No matter what type of jewelry you're looking for, you have to be careful about where you buy it. Whether you're looking for something valuable or that’s simply different from anything else, the jewelry store you pick will ultimately determine how great you look!
Here's how to tell if you've picked the right jewelry store:
1. They've got a big selection
Since you're going to put so much effort into finding a quality jewelry retailer, the last thing you want to have to do is search around every time you need another piece of jewelry! Luckily, a good store will offer everything from engagement rings, to luxury watches, to designer earrings, to one-of-a-kind bracelets, and more. No matter what you want to wear, they'll have it for you!
2. They'll be happy to give you an explanation
All diamonds aren't created equally! If you want to make the perfect purchase, you'll need to understand the cut, the color, AND the clarity. That's why it's so important to find a jewelry store that will take the time to explain all of these things. They'll also give you the "grade" for each of your potential diamonds so that you know you're getting the most bang for your buck.
3. They'll have a good history
If your jewelry store has been around for years and years, you can rest easy knowing you've made a good decision! After all, the less-than-stellar retailers don't survive very long.
4. They'll have trained eyes
The jewelry appraisal you get is only as good as the expert who gives it to you! If your appraiser doesn't have a trained eye, he may miss something important -- something that could cost you big-time down the road.
As an added benefit, those trained eyes will ensure that your jewelry store only has the very best pieces to choose from!
5. They'll place a big emphasis on the details
After all, the details are what separate good jewelry from great jewelry! A good retailer will help you create a custom piece, pick out the best materials, and even offer top-notch "other stuff" so that your jewelry is as strong, sturdy, and beautiful as possible.
6. They'll have an ability to make your old jewelry look as good as new
No matter how careful you are, jewelry will always get dirty, and there's always a chance that something will eventually break. (After all, these are teeny-tiny pieces we’re talking about!) Luckily, a good jewelry store will handle all of its repairs on-site, so that you never have to worry about your stuff leaving your sight!