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And this...

And this...

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A little help for the guys

We may have mentioned once or twice how we love proposals, and we show it, by occasionally showcasing really great ones that we find on the web or that we get from you guys. But we thought that today, we’d give all of you guys who are still unsure of how to pop the question, a little help. You know your girl, inside and out and you’ve chosen an engagement ring that fits her style and personality, and then what; you hit a brick wall that I’m going to affectionately term, proposal block. Sure, there are countless websites with proposal ideas, heck we’ve even featured quite a few of them ourselves, but it’s still a nerve wracking decision as you want everything to be perfect. So, how about this, look at the ring that you’ve chosen, it’s perfect right? Well look a little closer, because that ring is the key to the proposal of her, and your, dreams. Ok, so the perfect proposal idea isn’t etched into the ring, but they style of ring can give you the best clues as to what kind of proposal she would like best.

Solitaire. Your girl is classic and traditional, just like this timeless engagement ring design. When planning your proposal it’s probably best to steer clear of insane trends and tactics, live television, flash mobs, and jumping out of airplanes are most likely no go’s. Find a place that has stood the test of time, a national park, or protected monument are great locations. Using an example from our home state of Georgia, a perfect proposal site would be the many tree-lined squares in historic Savannah. Take her for a stroll near the water, and end up underneath the Spanish moss laden trees. I can’t think of a more romantic spot. And the best part is, these historic spots will serve as a time capsule of one of the most special days of your life. You can return for years and years to come and relive the moment that you embarked on a new chapter together. 

Three-Stone. First rising to prominence in the early 2000’s, three-stone or past-present-future rings immediately became a popular engagement ring choice. If you’ve chosen this type of ring for your bride-to-be, you know that she values the whole picture, your past, your present, and every moment of your future together as man and wife. A great proposal idea is to take that symbolism literally. Take her on a walk down memory lane, where you first kissed, the moment you told her ‘I love you’, and then embrace the present with your favorite date night activity. If you don’t live near any of these locations, a scrap book would be a great way to represent those memories and you’ll both enjoy looking through it for years to come. Finally, get down on one knee and tell her that she has made your past worth remembering, your present a joy, and that you can’t wait to see what the future will bring as you take this next step together. 

Vintage. A girl who craves a vintage engagement ring has an eye for detail, and a love of romance and history. The perfect proposal location would be steeped in all three. Perhaps a romantic trip to Paris, where you could meander through the streets and absorb the beauty of the city. Or if a trip to Paris isn’t in the budget, how about a trip through a historic area of your city or state, if you’re from the south, the Biltmore House is definitely worth a trip and its gorgeous grounds would make a perfect proposal location. But whatever your location, attention to detail counts with a vintage girl. Just as she’ll notice that touch of milgraining, or those darling diamond accents, she’ll notice every time you go the extra mile. 

Halo. This is a true glamor girl. She loves the glitz and the sparkle and dreams of a proposal to match. So sorry guys, a commercial break couch proposal isn’t going to cut it here. The perfect proposal would be a rooftop garden overlooking the city skyline, or maybe put the ring on the heel of that gorgeous pair of designer stilettos that she’s had her eye on. No matter what it is that she loves most, find a way to make it extra special for this night. For example, if she loves wine, plan for a private tour of a vineyard followed by a special tasting. And make sure to purchase a bottle of her favorite vino to toast the day. 

I hope this has given you guys a few ideas. That proposal block can be scary, but remember, you know your sweetie better than anyone else. You know her favorite places, experiences, foods. So pick one, and find a way to make it extraordinary. And no matter what, don’t lose sight of the fact that, at the end of the day, even if every one of your plans has fallen apart, you’re asking the woman you love to spend the rest of her life with you. That’s what really matters. So get out there and give her a proposal that she’ll never forget. And then come back here and tell us all about it! Don’t forget the pictures!

A puppy and a proposal!

We love proposal stories here at Union Diamond, especially if they’re as cute as the one we received this morning from a happy customer named Andy. He had met his fiance-to-be seven years ago in a college neuroanatomy lab and even though life took them in separate directions, he never forgot the “radiant beauty of a stunning young lady named Katie”. Over the years, they managed to never quite lose sight of one another, and finally they decided to really make a go of it. Andy moved halfway across the country, leaving a paid job to begin a new life, with Katie. Just over a year later, and he was ready to take the next big step, and ask Katie to be his wife.They're so cute together aren't they?

Now, here’s where it gets cute. Katie was always a dog person, and she was especially enamoured of her sister’s goldendoodle. She and Andy both “fell in love with his teddy bear face the first time [they] saw him”, and knew that a goldendoodle was for them. Unfortunately, Katie’s sister moved away, taking her goldendoodle friend with her. This would prove to be just the spark Andy needed to switch his plan into high gear. He contacted a breeder, and unbeknownst to Katie, picked out a sweet goldendoodle puppy that would be his more than willing accomplice in a proposal to remember.  

So the scene was set, the ring was placed in Ernie’s, the goldendoodle, crate in and amongst the puppy supplies and accessories. It’s a gorgeous ring isn’t it? Anyways, Andy posted the whole proposal story on his blog, so I’m going to let him take it from here so you guys can get his first hand account of how it all went down!

My morning started with a cup of coffee (if we're honest, it was two), a shower, and a change of clothes. I found my way to the storage unit where I'd been hiding the crate, gates, and several other items and stowed them in my car. Then we hit our first hiccup. My trip to Mike's Camera informed me that the rental department was in Boulder. Unfortunately, this meant I wouldn't have time to get everything setup at home for Ernie's arrival and that I wouldn't be able to film Katie's homecoming. Soon after, I realized I could simply record some of the events on my phone and upload them with apps to YouTube! This was a relief as I knew the reaction would be priceless! I ran home and setup the gate, FaceTimed with Katie's sister, Kelly, my accomplice in all of this, and arranged some other items. At around 11:25, I made haste for the home of my breeder, which is typically a 20 to 25-minute drive. By some odd miscalculation my travel landed me in her neighborhood 20 minutes early and I was forced to drive around and look at the homes to prevent myself from looking to eager for my appointment. I pulled into the driveway and headed to ring the big doorbell…

When I stepped in the door, I was greeted by none other than Mr. Blue (Ernie) himself! Mr. Blue was the last of the 3 brothers to leave home with a new family and had, apparently, been somewhat lonesome for a short while prior to my arrival. I couldn't wait to hold him. As I stood there in the entryway, I saw him exploring the area and chewing on some carpet padding. That was precisely the moment that a different kind of anxiety set in. As I pondered all of the disasters that could follow, Debbie was delivering invaluable advice, offering well wishes for the future, and trying to get me out of her house! I obliged her unspoken wishes by tossing Ernie into the car next to me and beginning the drive home.

The drive home was nerve-wracking, with Ernie crying the WHOLE way and lots of traffic on I-70. At home, Ernie meticulously inspected every nook and cranny, carefully determining which of the tight, dark places would best suit his furry, little body! He looked in the kitchen, the office, the living room, and the bathroom. He combed the bedroom, dining area, closets, and hidden spaces. After all the effort, he settled for an end table to find a respite from the horrors of the day!

After about 3 hours, which seemed like an eternity, Mom called and said she was on her way home! I quickly grabbed my handcrafted bow for Ernie and attempted to put it on him. Despite all his wriggling, I got it attached and we were ready for Mom to come in the door. When Ernie and I heard Katie coming up the stairs, we got in our position, I got my video recorder ready on my phone and we greeted her at the door. What happened next can be seen here: Meeting Mom Video

Ernie loved Katie immediately. In fact, he has loved everyone we've met so far. After a few minutes of joyful playing between Ernie and Katie, I asked her to sit down with me and look at all the things I'd gotten for him in preparation for his arrival. We looked through everything and when Katie had pulled the last thing out of the crate, I asked whether there was anything else in there. She said she didn't see anything else. I panicked for just a moment wondering what could have possibly happened to the other part of Katie's surprise before reaching in and trying hard not to drop it with all my shaking. Katie saw the box, immediately started crying, and agreed to my proposal, even though I hadn't yet given the speech that had kept me up so many nights prior! Some tears were shed and plenty of hugs and kisses were exchanged. When it was all over, Ernie calmly strolled over and rested his soft, furry, 12-pound body on both our laps.

Katie, Andy, and Ernie are on a new journey together. It is an adventure that will undoubtedly be fraught with challenges and a multitude of great joys.

I think I speak for everyone when I say, awwwwwwwwwwwwwww! That is one of the cutest little bundles of puppy fluff I’ve ever seen! Great job on the proposal Andy, and many Congratulations to you and Katie! The ring looks superb on her finger and all of us here at Union Diamond wish you a long and happy life together! 

(All of the adorable pictures in this post are from Katie, Andy, and Ernie's blog) 

Fergalicious bling!

Black Eyed Peas front woman Fergie celebrated her 37^th birthday in true celebrity fashion this weekend by throwing a huge bash at the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas. But we’re not here to talk about the party, even though it looked awesome and was attended by the likes of Ne-Yo and Michael Jordan. But parties, as crazy as they may be, are not the subject of this blog, that is unless they were dripping with diamonds! 

Photo : Denise Truscello/Getty

No, what we’re talking about today can’t dance, or sing, but they sure do shine. Of course, we’re talking about Fergie’s glittering birthday present from hubby Josh Duhamel. Ehem, boys, pay attention here, this is the kind of present a girl wants for her birthday, or Christmas, or the first Monday in April. Really, any day is a good day to give the gift of diamonds. Right girls?

Ok, but I’m getting sidetracked, so back to the diamonds. Fergie gushed over the blingy present, “I got some black diamonds from my man. Earrings,” She said. She also gave props to Josh for his gift giving prowess, saying that she didn’t even need to ask for the earrings. “He’s really that good. He knows me.” 

Well I just wish that Fergie knew me. Because if she did, she would not have left me hanging with NO pictures or details on these assuredly stunning earrings. Sigh, oh well, I guess we’ll all just have to imagine what they look like. And to help you all with your imaginings, we just so happen to have the world’s most beautiful black diamond earrings in our showroom right now. 

Aren’t they gorgeous? 3.09ctw of black diamonds accented with a delicate white diamond halo, and set in 14 carat gold drops, these earrings have such a lovely sense of motion as they gently swing back and forth. Now, these earrings would look incredible with any color diamond or colored stone, but there’s something about these black diamonds that really draws me in. Perhaps it’s the cut, so romantic and reminiscent of an antique rose cut. Or perhaps it’s the color, jet black, but full of life as the facets flicker and flash in the light. These earrings are glamor personified. 

I can imagine a bride wearing them on her wedding day. It’s a chic and sophisticated black and white themed wedding with the bridesmaids in black and the bride in a crisp and clean, unadorned white dress. Her only accessories are her veil, her engagement ring, and these black diamond earrings. 

Can’t you just picture it? It’s a lifetime movie ready image all right. But don’t worry if you don’t have a black and white wedding to go to. I have a scenario for you guys too. To set the scene, I’m at Publix, wearing jeans and a t-shirt. I’m browsing the cereal aisle and trying to decide between the honey nut cheerios and the cinnamon toast crunch. And then the fluorescent lighting catches something shiny peeking out from beneath my hair. And it’s the most beautiful black diamond earrings in the world.

Hey, so a trip to the grocery store may seem beneath earrings such as these, but I’ll let you in on my secret of jewelry happiness. I don’t care! I would wear these earrings in the frozen food aisle, at the Grammy’s, and at every cocktail party I can get an invite to, wouldn’t you? 

So tell us, aren’t these earrings fabulous? Where would you wear them?

Just in case I win the lottery...

Alright, hands up everyone that has bought a lottery ticket for tonight! I’m thinking that pretty much everyone has their hands up, because who wouldn’t pay a couple of bucks to have a chance at winning 500 million dollars. I mean, think of what you could do with that money, or more specifically, what you could buy with that money. This morning all of us at the office were tossing out ideas for what we would do if we won the lottery and the answers ranged from sleeping for a month, to buying an island, to buying out a jewelry store. I’ll just let you guess which one was mine. 

Ok, so it’s obvious, if I had millions and millions of dollars, one of my first purchases would be jewelry. And I thought it would be fun to show you which pieces, specifically I would buy if I won the lottery today. So here we go.

Just kidding! Although if I won 500 million dollars I might just buy out the whole showroom. You might think that it would be a bit redundant after a while; I mean who needs 25 wedding bands? I do. I could wear them on a bi-monthly rotation. Life would certainly never get old! Ok, ok, in an effort to keep this post under 85 pages in length, I’ve narrowed down the entire showroom to my favorite three pieces. However, be sure to keep in mind that this favorites list changes daily, heck even hourly, but these are my favorites as of today, right now. 

So let’s kick off the show with one of my favorite parts of the showroom, the engagement rings. There are so many styles, from diamond, to solitaire, to engraving; it’s so hard to choose. But, as usual, I found myself gravitating towards the diamonds, and this little beauty in particular. And when I took it out of the case, and slid it onto my finger, I was hooked. The first thing I noticed was how comfortable it was. This particular engagement ring is made with a metal called Palladium. A sister metal to platinum, palladium shares all of platinum’s strength and durability, but with half of the weight. This ring is effortless to wear, and yes, I’m still wearing it. It helps with the creative process you know. Well, that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it. Anyhow, I’m getting distracted, but with a ring like this it’s hard not to. I just love an engagement ring with a diamond band, and this one is really unique. The diamonds go all the way around the band which is edged on both sides with delicate milgraining. I seriously have a thing for milgraining. It gives pieces such a vintage feel and it really shows that special attention to detail that I love. So basically I’m completely in love with this ring, and then I check out the side profile, which is a huge thing for me, as I think a ring should be gorgeous from every angle. And boy does this ring now disappoint. Nestled under the center stone are two of the cutest little surprise diamonds, one for each side. They’re like the cherry on top of a delicious sundae, just the right touch to finish the look. So, before we move on, let’s just take a moment to enjoy the beauty that is this ring. 

Ahh, wasn’t that nice? I thought so too. But now it’s time to move on, and I’m so excited about this next piece. And yes, the tag goes around all three so I get to count it as one piece, yay! I have a bit of a thing for tri-color jewelry. If that tri-color jewelry also has diamonds and milgraining I might just die of happiness. Well, this piece only has two of the three so you get to keep me around a little while longer. I know you’re thrilled. Three diamond eternity bands, one white gold, one rose gold, and one yellow gold. This combination might not seem too interesting by itself, but these rings have a funky, modern twist that makes them really special. Take a closer look at the yellow and rose gold bands, notice anything unusual about them? No, they’re not misshapen; they’re square, which is just the coolest thing ever. And they look amazing on your finger with the round white gold band in the middle creating a really playful and unique look. And I know you all are wondering if they’re comfortable. But don’t worry, I’ve tried them on, (Are any of you out there noticing a trend here?) and they’re surprisingly, super comfortable. The square, outer rings have softened corners which make them completely friendly to your fingers. I could wear this set all day, but we’ve got one more ring to cover so I have to take them off. 

I had to take the other rings off, so that I could make room for this! Isn’t it magnificent? Photos never do any of these pieces true justice. It’s impossible to capture the sparkle of the diamonds and the true depth of color in the colored stones. For example, the color in the photo below is an excellent representation of what I see, but it fails to show how much life this stone has. It is the most stunning royal blue with its facets twinkling in the light from the windows. And that’s just the stone. I haven’t even gotten to the part where this setting completely swept me off my feet. There is of course the incredible face up view with its halo and split shank complete with my favorite, delicate milgrain detailing. But then you turn this ring on its side and you’re immediately struck by the sheer amount of craftsmanship. There is no surface that has been overlooked, from the lovely pierced design on the basket, the leaf engraving around the sides, to the beautiful flowers engraved down the shank. This ring could be pictured next to the definition of ‘attention to detail’, and it is truly a work of art. 

So you can see now, why I really need to win the lottery. However, I think I read somewhere that you were 50 times more likely to be struck by lightning than win the lottery. Hrm, well in light of that, I think we should make our own lottery luck. I’m not sure if any of you are keeping track, but this is our 100^th blog post. So, to mark that milestone, we’re bringing some of that lottery luck to all of you by offering all three of the pieces from today’s blog at 50% off! Since its Friday afternoon, this deal will be valid for the rest of the day today, and during business hours tomorrow. So who needs the lottery anyways, we’ve got gorgeous jewelry instead! So come on down and take a look for yourself. Try the rings on and be ready to fall in love. Happy 100^th post everyone, and here’s to 100 more!

Color is more than just a label

Since it’s Thursday and everyone is counting the hours until Friday, I thought that we could liven things up a bit with a game. Because everyone loves a good game right? Ok, so here’s the deal. I’m going to show you a picture, and I want you to guess what the color is on the scale from D to Z. You can guess out loud, as I obviously can’t hear you, but if you and a friend are in the same room you may want to write your guess down on a slip of paper. Then, whoever is the closest gets bragging rights, or a cookie; however it is you like to do things wherever you are. Ok, so here’s the picture. The diamond is 1.24 carats, VS1 in clarity and GIA graded Triple Excellent. 

Do you all have your guesses? Here’s the link to a video that I took of the stone earlier today if you need more help making your guess. Ok, now that you have your idea of what color this diamond is, sit tight a moment while we delve into diamond color a little bit. 

The vast majority of diamonds fit into what we call the Normal Color Range. This is the range of color from D – colorless to Z – Light Yellow. Each color grade from D-to-Z represents a range of body color or tint. To determine where on the scale a stone falls it is compared to special diamonds called masterstones. Each masterstone represents the absolute least amount of body color allowable in each color range. So, when a diamond comes in to the lab to be graded for color, the diamond grader will first determine the approximate category of color such as colorless, near-colorless, etc. Once he has narrowed that down, say for this example he has determined that the stone is in the colorless range. He will then retrieve and place the masterstones that correspond to that category, in this case D, E, and F in a specially designed box called a DiamondDock. This creates a consistent neutral background and lighting situation that ensures that each diamond is graded with the same conditions. He then places all three masterstones face down in a tray so that their pavilions are visible. All color grading in the normal color range is done from the bottom of the stone as cut quality can mask body color. Body color is also most visible from the side. The grader then takes the diamond to be graded and places it next to each master stone one by one until he thinks he has determined the stone’s color. If a stone has less color than the D masterstone, but more color than the E masterstone, the stone will be graded as a D color diamond. This is a highly specialized process and it is not uncommon for a stone to be graded by more than one person to ensure accuracy. 

So, now that we know the process, let’s get down to the more specific colors themselves. As I said before, it’s not based so much on what color a diamond is. Each letter actually is based on a combination of tone and saturation called depth of color. It is a measure of how noticeable this modifying color is. And within the normal color range from D-to-Z there are smaller subcategories. D-F represents the colorless range, G-J represents the near colorless range, K-M represents faint color. N-R is fairly light, and S-Z is light. 

Now, with that being said, it is important for me to reiterate that not all diamonds within the same color range will look the same. Some G color stones will look more tinted than others, etc. and this is due to a range of factors. Fluorescence, for example, can make a stone appear whiter. An excellent cut can also disguise body color. Things can also make a stone’s tint more obvious such as large, dark inclusions. Also, tint in a diamond doesn’t have to be evil or ugly, and whoever told you that a K color diamond was bright yellow was not exactly truthful as you can see from the photo below. Look how white that L color looks, even from the side. I have personally seen low color diamonds, even lower than L, which took my breath away. For example, think of your wedding gown. While a pure white dress may be lovely, ivory or champagne tones may suite your skin tone better and you wouldn’t think that either the ivory or the champagne dress was ugly just because it wasn’t white. Each dress is beautiful in its own way and none is worse than the others, they’re just different. It is important to choose a dress, and a diamond, not based on what you think they should look like, but by how much you love what they do look like. 

So how are you supposed to choose? Well, it’s simple, find a diamond vendor that you trust. We see hundreds of stones a month, which adds up to thousands a year. If you tell us what you you’re your stone to look like, we can find it. Just remember that sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in stats and color grades, but as we’ve just seen, it’s not that cut and dry. Even within the colorless range of D-F there is a perceived hierarchy, when in reality it’s an illusion. It’s just like the generic prescriptions that you buy at the drug store. They work just as well, but they have a different name. Would you pay three times as much for a product just because it had a name that you liked better? Of course not, nobody will know that you’re using CVS brand instead of name brand Zyrtec and it keeps you from sneezing, it’s a win-win. Well, the same technique applies to diamonds. If you can’t sleep at night without knowing that your diamond is D in color, then by all means, get a D color diamond. But if all you care about is that it’s white and sparkly, how about giving G or H a try. It will look every bit as white, and you will have saved a ton of money that can then go towards that amazing Diamond Halo Engagement Ring you’ve had your eye on! 

And now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for. What color is that diamond at the top of this post. Is it a G color? H, or maybe even I? Would you believe that it is an N color? It's true! 

So, were you close, way off, super surprised? It's a gorgeous stone isn't it?

Everyone wants to own a little piece of the Beatles, just not this little piece.

Here on this blog we’ve had a bit of a running series showcasing the stories of people who put diamonds in places that they just don’t belong. Today is one of those days, with a bit of a twist. This isn’t about putting diamonds or jewelry in places they don’t belong; it’s about putting things that don’t belong in our jewelry. Confused yet? I am. So let’s start at the very beginning, with a dentist, and a very famous tooth. 

Because all great blogs begin with teeth, didn’t you know? Anyways, up North in Canada, lives a dentist with two great passions in life, teeth, and the Beatles. It would seem that these passions would not mix well, that is unless he harbored secret dreams to clean Ringo’s teeth. But that all changed late last year, when he had an opportunity to become closer to a Beatle’s chomper than he had ever dreamed possible. In one of the strangest auctions since that grilled cheese sandwich with the picture of the Virgin Mary on it sold on eBay, a tooth was up for sale. And not just any tooth, the tooth of a legend, John Lennon’s tooth. And let us all say, ewwwwwwwwwwwwww! 

Photo : Omega Auction House

The tooth fairy himself would be loath to touch this molar. So how did this miraculous dental sale come about? Lennon, in a fit of obviously insane generosity, gave the tooth to his housekeeper Dorothy Jarlett as a “gift”. I put gift in quotes because I’m not exactly sure what was going on here. Did Lennon give her the tooth so that she could dispose of it properly? I’m pretty sure that he could have tossed the tooth in the trash himself without much effort which leaves the only other option, that he would give it as a gift. Which is really strange, and gross, and just plain wrong. I mean, what do you put on the thank you card? Although I could just be bitter as I never thought to save my own teeth to use as gifts for when I become famous. Think of the money I could have saved on those Christmas presents! But Dorothy had the last laugh, for as unique as this gift was, it was going under the hammer, the last word in re-gifting. 

This is where our friend the dentist comes in. When the auction was underway he bid, and bid, and bid, and finally won the privilege of taking the tooth home. And what did he pay for such a privilege? $31,200. $31,200?! It’s a tooth from crying out loud, not a relic of the Redeemer! But I guess, maybe, I could see it being a nice talking point in his office. Hey, kids, this is what can happen to you if you forget to floss! But it seems a nice display in the office wasn’t what our friendly dentist had in mind, which brings me to the main point of this piece. 

Photo : Ari Soffer

He plans to take a drill and remove small amounts of ‘tooth dust’. The dust will then be carefully harvested and placed in small capsules. The small capsules will then be placed into sterling silver pendants and sold as “John Lennon DNA Limited Edition” jewelry. I’m sorry, but, gross. However, if you are the type that is jumping for joy over the thought of wearing a piece of a musical legend, then you’re in luck! Each piece will retail for $1200 and some of the proceeds will go to a charity that helps treat children with cleft lips and palates, which is a really nice thing to do if you ask me.  But if you want one of these pendants you’ll have to act fast as there are only 25 being produced at the present time. 

So what do you all think? Is this DNA jewelry creepy or are you secretly harboring fantasies of using the DNA to clone Lennon and his mates to stage an epic return of the Beatles? How awesome would that be?!