Diamonds are famous for the brilliant sparkle that is uncovered when they are well cut. Of course color, clarity and carat are also quite important when determining the value of these precious gems. But if you have looked at diamond settings in the last few years you may be noticing something unexpected, rough diamonds set into jewelry. These diamonds aren't cut or polished, they are used in their natural state which has quite a different look than we are accustom to seeing.The AttractionSince ancient times rough or uncut diamonds have been prized for their beauty and not just by the masses but by kings and queens as well. Jewelry designers of today are appreciating them for their elemental, raw look and setting new trends with this earthy look that isn't so new.Some jewelers are creating designs with just the rough diamonds set into precious metals while others are mixing the rough versions with cut and polished diamonds to create a look of rustic elegance. Some designs have a feel of mixing the past with the present, as you can almost feel the ancient roots of the uncut diamonds mixed with the newer diamonds cut with great precision using modern tools.How .. more »

How easily can you find unusual gifts, today, uniquely popular? When you narrow searches to find things special in this new age of niches, you can also find experts. They will answer your every concern with a passion that spells dedication. Some merchants choose to gain a tight focus in only one area, to define expertise more and more and lead in their field, independence set apart and driven to excellence.Although they cater to smaller segments of the market, they win customers from storekeepers merely dabbling in the connoisseur's area. Experience dominates trade. The more experts define a niche, the more they will even pull away from colleagues in proficiency. Would you rather spend money with salespeople whose involvement in your purchasing affairs only slightly regard you due to volume, or other concerns; or with ones whose intense interest is palpable because they chose to immerse themselves in a particular area, and push on to expert status??Many seek after experts when they expect to pay for quality, like when you buy each other jewelry. When can jewelry become a niche? Selling rings, or bracelets, necklaces, pendants, maybe? Unless you added uniqueness to one of those, I'm afraid you wouldn't find .. more »

Earth Day gives everyone a chance to remember how precious our environment is and how many ways ordinary people can make the world a better place. Changing small things can have a huge impact on the future of the planet and the future of our children.Reduce the amount of resources you consume. When making handmade jewelry strive to get it right the first time. Planning and experimentation greatly reduce the waste involved when making handmade earrings and handmade bracelets. Carefully consider the correct amount of resources that are needed to have the least amount of waste.Reducing the waste by eliminating unnecessary packaging of handcrafted jewelry will help everyone in the long haul. Consider more environmentally friendly packaging alternatives such as jewelry gift boxes made from recycled materials.Reuse materials for your handmade jewelry as well as reusing the packing products to eliminate waste everyday. Try visiting your local recycling plant to obtain packing materials such as Styrofoam and shredded papers. Every time you reuse materials and supplies you make the world a better place for your children.Recycle your unused and scrap metal left over from making handmade jewelry. Many metal mills will buy your scrap metal to create new recycled metal .. more »

Both titanium and tungsten are considered "model metals" in the jewelry industry because they were not available to the consumer market as commodities until ten years ago. They have gained tremendous popularity since the introduction and become an integral part of the jewelry material spectrum.Due to the rather little exposure, many questions arise concerning titanium and tungsten when it comes to choosing jewelry. The followings are some points of consideration if you are seriously thinking about buying a titanium or tungsten wedding ring.1. HardnessTitanium and tungsten are both known for the superior hardness over traditional metals such as gold, silver and platinum. One thing worth noting is that it is not the metals themselves in a pure form that possess the hardness, it is their alloys that do. Roughly speaking, the hardest form of tungsten carbide is harder than titanium alloys, and only under extreme circumstances, such as abrasion from diamonds, can it be damaged.2. DuctilityTitanium is more ductile than tungsten in the common alloys used in jewelry. In other words, when a wedding ring is under high pressure, such as hit by a car door, a titanium ring would be bend out-of-round whereas a tungsten carbide ring would fracture .. more »