First let’s discuss the type of jewelry you are considering purchasing. Let’s start with the most meaningful. Anything that has a large diamonds in it, like diamond studs or diamond solitaire pendants are more committal. If the thought of buying diamonds is still too heavy for you consider a nice Swiss watch. You’re showing her you care with a high quality gift that’ll last a lifetime. But if you just in the beginning stages of “going steady” (does any one say this anymore?) and you want to keep it light, anything in gold or fashion jewelry with small pave diamonds or gemstones is a safe bet. That being said it’s still a good idea to stay away from rings because of the box your jeweler will put it in. Those little square boxes can be a doozy!

The next bit of advice is give some thought as when you are going to present this gift. If you do it in Aruba or at a candlelight dinner at the most expensive restaurant in town you better watch out! A better idea is to give her jewelry on an expected celebratory occasion such as a Birthday or Valentines Day. She probably wouldn’t suspect an engagement ring on any of these occasions because she would want you to make your proposal a bit more of a surprise! So the bottom line is don’t be afraid to give jewelry, it’s a powerful gift and it’ll show her you really care just use it wisely!

Best,

Ralph & Stanley*

*All names have been changed to protect the innocent.

[tag-tec]Engagement ring[/tag-tec],[tag-tec]Advice[/tag-tec],[tag-tec]Jewelry[/tag-tec]

Okay ladies, We are going to be pretty harsh on you with this blog.

We have seen women complain that they either don’t get any jewelry at all or their husband buys them the completely wrong thing. (Remember the “Sex in the City” episode when Aiden got Carrie the yellow gold pear shaped diamond ring? She cried!)

This can all be avoided by just going into your local jewelry store and filling out a WISH LIST! With this wonderful procedure you WILL AVOID THE FOLLOWING:

a. Crying

b. A husband not insecure about walking into a jewelry store.

c. Getting a gold nugget coin ring from the 80′s. (That he constantly is asking why you don’t wear). Or any other ugly out of date item of jewelry.

d. Getting an appliance or Victoria’s Secret Gift Card every year.

e. Getting a ruby ring when your birthstone is sapphire.

f. He always buys you yellow gold when you only like white gold.

You get the point.

THIS IS HOW IT WORKS!

Go into your local jeweler and tell them you want to fill out a WISH LIST. I suggest doing this before most birthdays or anniversaries, and then just before the holidays. Most jewelry stores get their newest stuff a few months before the holidays so you will have your best selection then.

Then spend the time trying on all the beautiful jewelry and the sales associate will make a list of your favorite pieces. It is best to pick all different price points, even the expensive stuff. He might not realize you would have worn it. And, pick a large selection because this gives him a nice array of items to choose from and it ends up being a surprise for you and he is happy and stress free because he got you something you like and enjoy. At this point let your husband know about your wish list or have your jeweler call or email him.

There is nothing better then having your significant other and your local jeweler on a first name basis!

Enjoy!

Rebecca and Katie

WARNING….. ADVERTISING ALERT- We have a great wishlist program on www.jrdunn.com if you want to get started right now! (Sorry we had to get that off our chest)

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Yes, this is ONE necklace, the necklace used

was an 14k white gold Diamonds By The Yard chain measuring 52 inches. Now, depending on your size, you can use a necklace that is a little longer or a bit shorter. The model used here is of a small frame and is 5’4″ tall. The pendant is a heart pendant created by our own designer Robert Pelliccia. We recommend when purchasing a pendant to create these looks, that the bail on the pendant opens so you can place the pendant anywhere on the chain.

Note the picture where our model is wearing the necklace over her shoulder. This might seem a little strange but it is actually hot look in Europe these days!

Stay tuned for more cool ideas.

Happy Shopping!

Rebecca

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~ Pearls should be the last thing you put on before leaving home, and the first thing you remove upon returning.

~ Put on your pearls after using perfume, not before.

~ Wear your pearls as often as possible; they will become hydrated by contact with your skin.

~ Love your pearls – by stroking them you will gently polish them and increase their luster.

~ Store your pearls in a soft pouch or separately lined box.

~ Wipe your pearls with a soft damp cloth after each wearing.

~ Periodically wash them with warm soapy water using a damp cloth.

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1. MYTH – To shake an automatic watch, while on your wrist, is all you need to do to keep it fully wound.

When you wear the watch during normal activity, this helps the watch maintain optimum power reserve.

2. MYTH – There is no way to manually wind an automatic watch.

You CAN wind an automatic watch! It is advised to do so once or twice a week for better accuracy.

3. MYTH – I’ve been told I don’t have to service my automatic watch, and haven’t done so in 10 to 15 years.

It’s recommended to service all fine automatic wrist watches every 3-5 years.

4. MYTH – My automatic watch never gains or loses time.

It is acceptable for finely tuned automatic watches to gain or lose approximately 30-60 seconds a month.

5. MYTH – Screw down crowns don’t always need to be fully secured to the case of the watch to be rendered watch resistant.

The crown MUST be screwed all the way down for water resistance.

6. MYTH – I thought my automatic watch needed a battery change every year or two.

No, automatic watches do not function with quartz and battery operated circuitry.

7. MYTH – Dropping a sapphire crystal wrist watch on a tile floor will not damage the crystal.

Shattering your crystal by dropping your watch on a tile floor is not covered by your warranty. Your watch then must be fully serviced and have the crystal replaced!

8. MYTH – Swimming in a pool, the ocean, or simply taking a shower with the crown open will not affect the watch.

Swimming in a pool, the ocean, or taking a shower with the crown open WILL allow water and or moisture to develop internally. At this time the watch must be FULLY DISASSEMBLED, cleaned and regulated to restore to original condition.

9. MYTH – A portable watch winding device is not recommended if you possess more then one automatic timepiece.

Preferably, a Watch Winder Box or similar device will actually maintain your watches’ accuracy when not in use.

10. MYTH – It’s not a bad idea to purchase fine timepieces from unauthorized dealers or sources.

Buying fine quality timepieces should always be through Authorized Licensed suppliers and dealers to maintain authenticity as well as applicable warranty coverage.

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Okay guys, I get asked this question all the time while working in customer service at JRDunn.com. HOW DO I FIND OUT MY BRACELET SIZE? And, this is the simplest way that I have found to find out what size bracelet to purchase.

1. Take a string and wrap it around your wrist. Mark where the string meets with your finger.

2. Now, place the string on a ruler and you will get your wrist measurement. Round up to the nearest 1/2 inch.

3. Most manufacturers recommend that your bracelets be anywhere from 1/2 to 1 inch larger than your wrist.

So, if your wrist measures 6.75″, rounding up makes it 7.0″…..we recommend that your bracelets are 7.5″. You could even go up to an 8″ for a bangle effect.

If you have any questions please contact us at JRDunn.com and “Live Chat” with one of our sales professionals.

I would love to hear other suggestions on how to get wrist measurements!

Happy Shopping!

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1. Applying Moisturizing Lotions

2. Applying Hairspray

3. Spraying Perfume

4. Washings Dishes

5. Showering

6. Gardening

7 . Applying Sunblock

8. Using Hair Gel

9. Painting

10. Stuffing a Turkey (baking or cooking)

FreebieTip: When you put on or take off your diamonds try not to touch the top of the ring, hold jewelry by the metal not the stone…the natural oils on your skin can dull your diamond.

There were quite a few others that almost made the list but I tried to have the decency to omit things like changing diapers and……well lets not go there!

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Here are a few ways to help you in your endeavor:

1. The BEST way to get a correct ring size is by having the person sized professionally by a jeweler, but that is not very subtle. So, if you cannot come up with a good enough story then don’t try this one.

2. Ask a family member or friend to see if they know the persons ring size. If they don’t know then they are in a better position to find out without giving away the surprise. Women sometimes try on each others jewelry.

3. Another is to measure an already existing ring. Printable Ring Sizer, a pdf file that you can print and place the ring on the circles to determine what ring size the ring is. You can always bring an existing ring into the jeweler to have them size the ring for the correct ring size too! Just be sure she is going to wear the ring on the same exact finger.

4. Feeling Brave? There is also another way to measure her ring size while she’s sleeping. Click Ring Sizer for a pdf file you can print to wrap around her finger. Now make sure you have an answer to “What the heck are you doing?” if you happen to wake her.

If you have any more suggestions on getting somebody’s ring size without them knowing drop us a line. We always interested in adding to our list!

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How to Sell a Diamond

Often times I get asked what is the best way to sell a diamond. The answer depends on many factors, but I can tell you the worst way to sell it is being in a hurry. So, my first bit of advice is take a deep breath and don’t make any quick decisions. Time can be your ally if you are not in dire straits.

The first thing I’d advise you to do is gather all your paperwork on the diamond and look it over. Hopefully the diamond will be accompanied by a grading report from one of the well known independent labs like AGS, GIA or even EGL. If you’ve got one of these certificates, you’re in good shape on your quest to understanding what your diamond is really worth. These reports are far more important than the original “bill of sale” and the “appraisal”. In fact, it’s best not to dwell on what you paid for the diamond and it’s “appraised value” because whoever is going to buy it off of you is going to value it for what it is worth to them. And in some cases, if you tell them what you originally paid and it’s significantly lower than current market value, you will probably hurt your negotiating position.

So, if you do have your lab report handy open it up and “Google” loose diamonds. (If you don’t have a lab report we’ll address it a little later on). The “Google” results should show you many online jewelers selling diamonds. You’ll need to find one with a good diamond search where you can plug in variables like shape, carat weight, color and clarity. Fill out the search fields matching the parameters of your diamond as close as possible. These parameters should all be listed on the lab report. Note: It’s important to put in a range when putting in carat weight. For example if you have a 1.03ct, enter 1.00ct-1.15ct so you don’t limit your results too much. When you get the results try to match up every parameter the best you can including table size, depth, fluorescence, type of certificate etc. When you find a few that match your diamond the best, take the average of the prices shown. We recommend using a couple of different websites to do this. This technique should give you a pretty good idea of what the replacement value, not the appraised value, of what your diamond is.

Now you know what you’re jeweler can probably sell your diamond for. And, don’t forget, he does need to make a profit to stay in business. If the jeweler thinks he has a client for your diamond you may be able to work out a consignment deal with him. This is usually the best way to maximize your sale if your not in a hurry because there is less financial risk for the jeweler. If you need the money right away you have to be prepared to take less. The jeweler has to put out the money for it on the spot and unfortunately it can be difficult for the jeweler to predict when your diamond will actually sell and free up his investment. So decide which option is best for you and then aim for as close to the replacement value as you can.

For those of you who don’t have a diamond accompanied by a lab report don’t despair. The first thing you should do is find the name of an accredited independent appraiser in your town. My definition of an independent appraiser is one who doesn’t sell, broker or buy diamonds. Ask for an appraisal on the diamond and then ask what is it’s replacement value. Once you have the grading you should still double check the value online using a diamond search described in the paragraph above. If you happen to have a large diamond or a very high quality diamond that’s valued at $10,000 or above, it might be worth skipping the appraiser and sending the diamond to GIA to get a lab report. If you don’t have a lab report, the jeweler that is considering buying your diamond will always protect himself by valuing the diamond a grade lower. This is not because he is trying to rip you off, it’s just that it is impossible to predict what grade the GIA will assign the diamond with 100% accuracy. The cost of having a diamond certified is around a hundred dollars a carat and can take about 2-4 weeks.

So, hopefully these tips will help you maximize the amount of money you’ll receive for your diamond. The above techniques are also the safest for you if your using a reputable jeweler. Speaking of safety, whatever you do don’t try to list it in the newspaper and meet with people you don’t know. This is very dangerous and you could be risking your life doing so. Again, the best advice I can give you in selling a diamond is don’t rush, take your time and get to know what your diamond is worth before you start. Happy Selling!

Sincerely,

Sean Dunn

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