Acquaint yourself with the available options for diamond engagement rings. Though the task may sound simple, shopping for an engagement ring is actually a challenging and stressful process. You have to keep in mind that engagement rings made out of diamond come in all shapes, sizes, cuts, styles and designs imaginable. That being said, you will surely have a hard time selecting one that you would want to purchase. It will seem like every piece in the store is a viable option for you. To narrow down these options, it will help a lot if you are aware of your future fiancée’s taste in jewelry. Does she prefer round rings or one with a unique cut? Would you prefer to give her one with a common design or are you willing to shell out a big amount for a custom-made diamond ring?

If you are planning to have a surprise marriage proposal, you can enlist the help of her closest friend in choose the diamond partner rings that you should purchase. Or, you can take her to the store and see what kind of ring would greatly appeal to her. But of course, don’t let her notice that you are up to something since this will ruin the plan.

The truth is, regardless of the type of engagement ring that you plan to give her what matters is that she will feel your sincerity when you tell her that you want to spend a lifetime together.

The auction competition was fierce, as collectors competed to own a piece of economic history. One especially hot item—Madoff’s monogrammed bedroom slippers, which sold for $6,000. One man outbid the competition on a box of assorted menswear including socks and monogrammed boxers; he said he planned to give the socks out as novelty Christmas gifts.

Bernie Madoff, who pleaded guilty to a multi-million dollar Ponzi scheme and is currently serving a 150-year sentence, was not allowed to keep even the most sentimental items, like photo albums and frames, which were emptied and put on the auction block.

A Rolex watch that Madoff had worn often sold for $67,500, while his wife’s engagement ring was sold to the highest bidder for $550,000. The platinum solitaire engagement rings is set with a 10.5 carat emerald-cut diamond. The anonymous buyer did not comment on whether he planned to keep it or use it for a proposal. He told the New York Post, “This is all going to play out with the subtlety of a Dickens novel. This is just going to take time.”

This is the second auction of Madoff’s personal effects, bringing the total funds raised to $3 million. A sizable sum, to be sure, but nowhere near the estimated $18 billion Madoff swindled from his investors.

You can find the best loose diamonds on Whiteflash.com for all taste!

The neutral, earthy color of these gems is an ideal compliment for earthy or eco-inspired fashions. They lend a sophisticated touch to any outfit whether you are wearing something more casual or you are dressed up for an elegant cocktail party.

Jewelry designers are also enjoying the somewhat recent popularity of these fancy colored brown diamonds. This is a good thing for us consumers because it means new styles and designs are always available.

Before the term chocolate diamond was created and marketed the brown diamonds were often thought to be of lower quality and not as valuable. But these gems are now being appreciated for their warm tones. Plus they are diamonds so they have the same qualities as the traditional white diamonds like that magical sparkle when cut properly.

These beautiful brown diamonds can be cut the same way as a traditional diamond and they are just as durable. The main difference is their color.

The chocolate diamond ring is one of the more popular forms of jewelry made with this stone. You can find them in a variety of settings, the brown diamond may be either the main stone, or an accent stone. Another popular design is a mix of small white and brown diamonds blended into a swirling design or popular shape.

Other popular pieces of jewelry made with brown diamonds include necklaces, earrings, bracelets and pendants. You can find them at most jewelry stores or online. But to make sure you know what you are getting buy from a reputable jeweler.

The reason that these synthetic diamonds can be so similar to the real thing is that they are produced in identical conditions, from the same materials. Basically, a spray of carbon is injected into a chamber at very high pressure and temperature, which mimics the conditions found deep in the earth. Tiny seed diamonds are used as a base, and larger diamonds crystallize out of the carbon and other trace elements which are present.

Because of some of the trace elements found naturally in the atmosphere, which are hard to completely eliminate, Lab diamonds are very often yellowish. They are often sold in this form, as ‘champagne’ diamonds are quite desirable. Also if they are set into a yellow gold ring this color cast can be less noticeable.

If clear diamonds are required however, these initial synthetic diamonds can be subjected to a second process, called HPHT. The HPHT process can be used to change the color of diamonds (controversially, it can also be used on natural diamonds to ‘improve’ the color).

Because of the costs of the equipment, lab diamonds are still a significant proportion of the price of natural stones. If shopping for a synthetic, you can tell what you are getting from the price of the stone – if it is in the tens or even hundreds of dollars, you will  likely be getting a stimulant such as moissanite or cubic zirconia – fine if that’s what you are shopping for of course but not chemically identical to a real diamond.

By identifying and consistently marketing diamonds in a very particular color range, their diamonds remain distinct despite other jewelers also selling chocolate diamonds. But because of the increasing popularity of the chocolate diamond, Le Vian now has quite a few competitors marketing chocolate diamonds.

However, you must be vigilant when shopping for chocolate diamonds. Some less scrupulous sellers often will try to sell any murky brown diamonds as an authentic chocolate diamond.

So I encourage people to purchase their chocolate diamond pieces through a well-known and reputable jeweler. A good place to start would be Le Vian, the home of the original chocolate diamond. Wherever you choose to buy your diamond, always expect a certificate of authenticity to verify its origin.

But if you want to spend a little less money and you still desire rich, chocolaty jewelery, you might try chocolate pearls. Both chocolate pearls and chocolate diamonds have grown in recognition and sales in recent years. You may even see chocolate pearls on the wrists or around the necks of your favorite red carpet celebrities.

But unlike chocolate diamonds, it is much easier to not be a celebrity and still be able to afford chocolate pearls. So how are these tasty little pearls formed?

While a very few chocolate pearls might be natural, most of them are a blend of a natural pearl with some clever bit of manufacturing to bring out their chocolate luster. High end chocolate pearls derive from the Tahitian pearl.

Cultured within the black-lipped oyster, Tahitian pearls are inherently black. In fact, despite being the source of most high quality chocolate pearls, you’ll learn that Tahitian pearls are well known in their own right for their natural deep black color. Tahitian pearls are transformed into chocolate pearls with a cleverly engineered bleaching process.

While not an entirely natural process, it does succeed in eliciting a vivid, rich chocolaty brown from the pearl. You’ll find that chocolate pearls can integrate into almost any wardrobe.

If you can splurge, they do look fantastic with chocolate and white diamonds encircling them with the pearl as the focus. Chocolate pearls are versatile in their use and styles. You’ll find earrings, bracelets, rings and necklaces perfect for displaying your tasty, chocolaty pearl.

The economic turbulence of the last 18 months has left many families looking for cheaper ways to enjoy some of their favorite things without compromising on quality. This extends to all facets of life – food, entertainment, and of course shopping for jewelry along with that. As such, lab created diamonds are enjoying a resurgence in popularity!

The amazing thing about man made diamonds is that they are chemically identical to a real mined stone. They have the same physical properties such as hardness, and they can not be told apart by the naked eye! It takes a complex and dedicated piece of machinery to detect whether a diamond is real or man-made. These machines work by using UV light to analyze the invisible internal structure of the stone to identify the growth pattern and tell whether it grew in a machine or under the ground.

Lab diamonds weren’t always made with jewelry in mind though. They were initially produced for military use by the Soviet Union, so that international embargoes could not stop Russia producing tools and military equipment! This technology was perfected to the point that synthetic diamonds produced by the Russians were soon on the market in Europe, before anyone was able to identify that they weren’t the real thing.So next time you are shopping for a synthetic stone, think about the interesting and chequered history of the new sparkler that is about to be on your finger!