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Jewelry

5 Most Famous Engagement Rings

June 18, 20140

Are you an antique inspirer?

Do you like to explore or buy antique and expensive jewelry?

Are you a jewelry fanatic?

Are you a ring collector?

If the answer to any of these questions is yes, you have definitely landed on the right page. This info-graphic introduces you to the five most popular engagement rings in the world. Now this is something of real interest! You must have heard about Kim Kardashian; who hasn’t! Did you know her engagement ring is worth £5.1 million? This may hold you in shock for a while, but yes this is true! And this is just one example of the awestruck facts on this page.

After wedding bands, engagement rings are perhaps the most cherished piece of jewelry that a woman gets in her entire life. And with an engagement ring being that popular, it becomes the most precious item too. Here, have a look at these five lucky ladies and their priceless famous engagement rings. What is more amazing is the fact that not all these ladies belong to the royal gentry. Some are celebrities too, who once belonged to the general public category.

The facts presented here may put you in a trance for while, but it may also give you a beautiful fantasy to relish.

5 most famous engagement rings

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How to Clean Diamond Jewelry

June 14, 20140

how to clean diamond jewelry

Diamond is the hardest substance found on earth and it also has the tendency to attract grime and dirt. Whether your diamond jewelry is brand new or old, you will want to keep it sparkling for many more years to come. With continuous usage of diamond jewelry, the gems will start losing its shine. This especially happens in the case of diamond rings. Products like lotions and creams along with other grime can create a thick layer of dirt on your precious jewelry which blocks the light and as a result the diamonds becomes lifeless and dull.

 

You must know How to Clean a Diamond? and How to Clean Diamond Jewelry? The good news is, with a few cleaning tips; you can make your diamond sparkle as good as new.

 

Ways to Clean Diamonds

Diamonds lose their brilliance with everyday dust and with the usage of soaps, powders, lotions and creams. Additionally, the chemicals present in the air result in the discoloration and oxidization of the diamond’s mountings. Here are a few ways to clean your diamonds and retain the beauty and sparkle of your precious jewelry:

 

1.     Detergent Bath

In a bowl filled with water, add a mild liquid detergent (without chlorine). Mix it till warm foams are formed. Use a soft brush to clean your diamonds till some lather is created around them. Wash off with warm water. Afterwards, place your jewelry on a soft towel and pat it dry.

 

2.     Soak in Cold Water

In a bowl, make a mixture consisting of 1 part mild liquid detergent (without chlorine) and 4 parts cold water. Place your diamond jewelry in the bowl and leave it for 10-20 minutes. Take the jewelry out of the water and using a soft brush, tap all the mounting sides. Rinse the jewelry in the same solution and pat dry with a towel.

 

3.     Quick-Dip Technique

Use a branded jewelry cleaner liquid to clean your diamonds. Make sure it is suitable for the types of metals and gems used in your jewelry. Dip your items in the liquid and take them out immediately. Brush the gems and the mountings with a soft brush and pat dry with a towel.

 

4.     Ultrasonic Technique

There are several jewelry cleaning machines available in the market today. You will be able to clean your jewelry with this machine in just a few minutes. Majority of these machines include a metal cup for filling with detergent and water. They ensure that your jewelry comes out as good as new.

 

Few Tips

  •  Protect your jewelry from harmful chemicals. You always protect your hands from any kind of chemicals, so why not your precious jewelry too? The chemicals can take the shine and brilliance away from your diamonds.
  • When you are doing your daily housework tasks or gardening or any other rough activity, make sure you remove any diamond jewelry you are wearing.
  • Protect your diamonds from exposure to chlorine or bleach.
  • Never clean the diamonds with your fingers as the oils in your skin will leave residue on your gemstones.
  • If you have doubts about cleaning your diamonds yourself, ask your jeweler to clean them for you. Majority of them clean the jewelry without charging anything.

Diamonds, How to, Jewelry

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The Dos and Don’ts of Jewelry Appraisal

May 19, 20141

jewelry appraisal

In the current economic climate, selling jewelry can provide instant cash to ease your financial woes. However, jewelry appraisal in New York is as difficult as it gets. With so many pawn and jewelry shops around the city, it becomes next to impossible to get a fair value of how much your precious metals are worth. You may end up selling your jewelry for far less than its actual worth. However, with the right mindset and some homework on your part, you can get the best value for your jewelry. Before you head down to the closest jewelry appraisal service or online jewelry appraisal, consider these few dos and don’ts to make sure you don’t end up earning less money than you should

DO – Check the Latest Rates

Precious stones and metals like diamonds, gems, and other jewelry material tend to increase in value overtime. However, you may end up selling your jewelry on a day when the market is down. Hence, it is advisable to check the latest market rates for your jewelry. If your jewelry has embedded diamonds on gold, then check the price of gold and diamond. Similarly, if your jewelry has gemstones with precious metals, determine their value as well. Expect a slightly lower value for your jewelry than the market price, but don’t sell it for over 10% lower!

DON’T – Sell To the First Jewelry Appraiser

This is the most common mistake that people make when getting their jewelry appraised. The fact is that every jewelry appraiser is looking to buy from you for less and sell it for more. Entering into a jewelry appraisal shop with this in mind will help you in avoiding the temptation to sell immediately.

DO – Check With At Least Three Jewelry Appraisers

Remember the three-rule! Visit at least three different jewelry appraisers to get a fair estimation of your jewelry’s worth. If you feel that you have the best quote from one based on the current market price, then go ahead and sell. But if you believe you are not getting fair rates then you can always visit another appraiser. The key is to be patient and good money will come along eventually!

DON’T – Sell In Bulk

Never make the mistake of selling your jewelry in bulk. This often leads to getting an under appreciated value of your jewelry. Different jewelry will have different age, cut, and karat value. By mixing your jewelry together, you are basically mixing high value jewelry with moderate value ones. And what’s the result? You end up getting a moderate value for your jewelry. Hence, make sure that you separate your jewelry and get them appraised accordingly. This will provide you with a better estimate of their worth.

Conclusion

A great way to get your jewelry appraised today is to look for online jewelry appraisers. AGI New York can provide you with the best value of your jewelry by using AGI instruments and other modern methods to determine their value. With our help, you can earn maximum cash on your jewelry!

 

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Appraisal, Jewelry

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Antique Jewelry Appraisal

May 14, 20141

antique jewelry appraisal

Are you wondering how much your grandmother’s antique diamond necklace is worth? It may be worth a lot more than you think. If you have antique jewelry, you realize how precious it is to you and your family. They are priceless assets, but in these difficult financial times, they can provide you with more than enough to ease your woes. Here at Accreditation Gemology Institute (AGI), we provide comprehensive antique jewelry appraisal that can provide you with best replacement cost in New York. This can allow you to establish an insurance replacement value on your jewelry.

Antique Jewelry Appraisal and Vintage Appraisal

While you may believe that antique and vintage jewelry are more or less the same thing and used interchangeably, there are differences that separate them from each other. For instance, antique jewelry is any jewelry that is 100 years or more in age. On the other hand, vintage jewelry is for items that are less than 100 years of age, but are not reminiscent to the current or recent styles and trends. For this reason, antique jewelry appraisal is employed to establish an estimated insurance replacement value, whereas antique jewelry may even be sold at the current market price.

Never Assume the Value

The most common mistake that people make with antique jewelry appraisal is assuming a value for it. For instance, let’s say that your great grandmother bought a diamond ring back in 1909 worth $500 at the time. Now obviously $500 for that necklace today is criminally under appreciating its value. But to assume that it would be less than the current market value of diamond necklaces can be negligent. Antique jewelry carries a lot more value based on the age, cut, and karat value. You may be entitled to a better replacement value than you actually think. Hence, before assuming the value, get your antique jewelry appraisal from one of antique jewelry appraisers near you. Go to at least three different antique jewelry appraisers to get a fair idea of how much the jewelry is worth. This will help you in getting the best replacement value and insurance for your piece of history.

Never In Bulk

Getting your antique jewelry appraised in bulk may lead to receiving a lower value of their worth. This is because different jewelry has different cut, karat value, and age. If you mix antique jewelry with vintage jewelry and get them appraised, then the chances of getting a lower replacement value are high. Hence, it is best to get your antique jewelry appraisal separately. Again, this will provide you with an accurate estimation of its worth.

Why Us?

When it comes to diamond, gem, and jewelry appraisal,diamond valuation AGI New York is your one stop solution. We incorporate the latest methods in jewelry appraisal with GIA Gemological instruments and high quality digital camera and photo light box. As a full time gemological service, we can provide you with antique appraisal, grading, identification, and insurance. With our services, you can rest assure that you are getting the best value for your historical jewelry in New York!

 

Appraisal, Jewelry

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What Happens in a Ring Appraisal?

May 1, 20140

diamond ring appraisal

Choosing an engagement ring is always exciting, but before you spend your hard-earned money on the ring, you need to make sure you have a ring appraisal. While the ring might look great to you, unless you are a jewelry expert, you might not know if you are overpaying for the piece or not. You might not even be able to tell if the metal and the gem are real. Instead of buying an overpriced ring without real value, you should make sure that you do the right thing and get a ring appraisal. You will have peace of mind when you do.

 

 

 

Why is Ring Appraisal Important?

 

When you buy a large diamond – one that is greater than one carat – you should receive a diamond grading report. However, this is not an actual ring appraisal. The ring appraisal will be able to back up and verify that the report was accurate though. Having an appraisal will give you an actual value for your ring, and you will need that value if you plan to insure the ring, which you should.

The diamond ring appraisal will also include specific information about your particular ring, which could prove helpful in the event of a theft. If someone steals your ring and the authorities find a ring at a pawnshop or on a suspect, they can compare the information on the appraisal about your ring to help identify it.

 

Find Appraisers You Can Trust

 

Since you are dealing with a valuable item, it is vital that you only entrust it to those you can trust and those who can verify their skills. You should only trust the best appraisers to evaluate your ring. Always check the credentials of the company doing the appraising and make sure they have not had any issues with customers in the past. They should have great customer service and a knowledgeable, professional staff that can let you know more about the process of appraisal.

Ask how much experience the company has had in appraisals and what type of formal training they’ve had. You should also ask if you could watch the appraisal. While the vast majority of appraisers are entirely trustworthy, you do not want to find yourself doing business with a shady company that could switch gems on you. It does not happen very often at all, but it is a risk you do not want to take. Finally, ask the appraisers about the cost of their service.

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Top 5 Retailers of Jewelry Sales in US

March 26, 20140

Are you looking for something good to wear this Christmas? Or your beloved’s birthday is nearby and you have not yet decided on what to present her? Well, how about a nice delicate ring? Or a sparkling necklace with emeralds on it?

There is not a single woman on earth who does not like jewelry, which makes it the safest thing to present. By safest we mean you should be aware of your girl’s taste in jewelry and this is all you need to get her the best present.

Well, talking about jewelry, there are several jewelry retailers in the U.S. As a matter of fact, this industry is quite on the roll. The U.S. jewelry industry for retail has experienced a considerable growth in sales from the previous year. While there are a lot of jewelry retailers that are part of this growth, the major contribution is made by these five. They hold a large pie in the jewelry industry market share.

Now this piece of information gives you a headstart in your jewelry shopping expedition. Whether you are buying it for yourself or to gift someone, why not look at these places. The fact that they hold the top five positions in the U.S. jewelry retail industry implies they must have something unique to offer.

 

Courtesy of: Agi New York

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Appraising Vintage Jewelry

March 14, 20140

Appraising Vintage Jewelry

When someone is buying new jewelry, she will often want to have an appraisal done, as it can give her a value for the jewelry, which she can then use when she is buying insurance. Getting an appraisal before buying can also ensure they are not overspending on the items before they buy. However, in some cases, people might not be buying new jewelry at all. She might want to buy older vintage and antique jewelry instead. This can sometimes be more difficult to have antique jewelry appraisal simply because finding someone who knows about the older jewelry and Appraising Vintage Jewelry .

 Starting the Journey on Your Own: Appraising Vintage Jewelry

When trying to find the value of the jewelry you buy, you might have to begin on your own. Look over the jewelry and look for marks on it. Look at the scratches and imperfections and make note of them, but also look for any marks that might identify the jewelry maker. It could be a full name or a simple mark. Make note of that as well. Take photos of the jewelry from various angles as well, and make sure you have some close up, clear shots of the pieces.

 Finding an Expert

Once you have the photos and as much information about the jewelry as you could find, you can begin looking for an expert. Look for names of appraisers in your area, as well as online appraisers. Research the companies and make sure that they have a good reputation and that they are actually experts in the field. For those who are in your area, you can contact them and set up an appointment. Ask them if they want you to send over digital copies of the photos so they can see the piece.

You do not have to work only with those in your area though. Since you have the digital photos of the jewelry, you can find some experts who can look at the photos and who can give you an appraisal.

 Two or More Appraisers

When you are having older jewelry appraised, you might want to have two or more appraisers look it over, just so you can get a good and honest assessment. The values should be close, but each expert may have a slightly different opinion. Having at least two appraisals should give you a better idea of the actual value, which can be helpful if you hope to sell the piece.

Jewelry