Are You Ready for Valentine's Day?

With Christmas and New Year's out of the way, it's time to start thinking about Valentine's Day!

February 14th is the second most popular day of the year to propose. If you're planning on popping the question to your Valentine this year, it is time to find a ring. 

Thankfully, JewelNet.com has stunning diamond engagement rings for your bride to be. Why not stick with the Valentine's theme and consider our selection of pink or heart shaped stones? Whatever cut or color you are looking for, JewelNet.com is sure to have the perfect ring. 

Cultured Diamonds Save You Money

Not that you didn’t know this already, but this article details just how cultured diamonds save you money


Jewelry is always a big seller for Valentine's Day, but for many "diamonds" are not in the budget.

Now there is a new 'type' of colored diamond not found in a mine but grown in a lab.

It's got all the brilliance of a 'natural' stone, but costs a whole lot less!If diamonds are a girl's best friend, a discounted diamond could earn them a spot in the family.

So, for those looking for a fancy colored diamond, cultured diamonds may get you more bang for your bling."

A cultured diamond has the same characteristics as a natural diamond. Same hardness, same refractive index, same brilliance."

But cost about two-thirds less. Why?

Gary Kleinhenz, who is the president of Kleinhenz Jewelers in Westlake says, these diamonds don't come from the ground. They are grown in a lab.

"It's created under the same conditions that diamonds are underneath the ground."

The Gemesis cultured diamond making laboratory in Sarasota, Florida are where the diamonds are made. The process starts with a tiny diamond seed that is placed in a growth chamber. The chamber is capable of generating the 850,000 pounds per square inch of pressure and 2,700 degrees of heat necessary to make one diamond every four days.

"It is just crystals that grow upon crystals to create a larger piece of rough. The rough diamond is sent to the cutter to be polished into what you see in finished jewelry." When you put a cultured diamond on a diamond tester- it registers as a diamond. And when we held it under a blue light, you could see the the seed the diamond grew from, right in the center."

The nucleus of a Gemesis diamond is a piece of diamond.

Right now you can only get them in yellow and orange. Other colors will be available soon. Industry leaders don't expect them to replace the white diamonds everybody loves.

"I think most people want the whitest diamond they can find and fancy colored diamonds are almost for a right handed ring or a cocktail ring, moreso than the engagement ring."

The Gemesis diamonds are certified by the Gemological Institute of America. The key here is to know when you are buying one. Make sure you are dealing with a knowledgeable jeweler who offers full-disclosure about where the diamond came from.

How To Buy A Valentine's Day Diamond

Here’s a guide on how to buy a diamond for Valentine’s Day from the Independent Jewelers Organization:

Valentine's Day is a day of giving to those we love. For many, it's a day for proposals: Valentine's Day is one of the most popular days of the year for "popping the question."

Valentine's Day is a day of giving to those we love. For many, it's a day for proposals: Valentine's Day is one of the most popular days of the year for "popping the question." And what better way to propose than with a beautiful diamond solitaire engagement ring?

With so many new diamond cuts and brands to choose from, however, those in the market for an engagement diamond might find themselves reeling. The Internet is filled with information about the best ways to make a diamond purchase, and that's the first place many start. But can an online source be better than a trusted local jeweler when it comes to making the final purchase? What are the distinct differences between a so-so diamond and one that's truly out-of-this-world? What constitutes a fair deal? And of course, how do you select a jeweler you can trust and buy from with confidence?

Buying a diamond on-line may appear to be painless. But when it's time to make the purchase, it can be difficult to buy a diamond that's never been seen from to an unknown source. "The one-on-one relationship between an experienced retail jeweler and his or her customer is the one that usually matters most when the purchase of an important diamond is made," says Richard Swetz, chairman of the Independent Jewelers Organization, a consortium and buying group of retail jewelers whose membership reaches across the United States.

Here are some tips from the IJO on finding a jeweler and buying a diamond--on Valentine's Day or any day--that should help navigate this sometimes difficult terrain:

Familiarize yourself with the basics: The four-Cs--cut, color, clarity and carat weight--describe the proportion of a diamond as well as other important physical characteristics which will effect its price. Understanding the basics will help you to understand the diamond's price.

Learn how to read a diamond grading report: All reputable jewelers sell diamonds with grading reports or certificates, which provide a third-party evaluation of a diamond and heavily impact its price. All Forever10 diamonds display 10 hearts and 10 arrows making it the world's most brilliant diamond. The Forever10 is available exclusively from IJO Master Jewelers and comes with grading reports from either the Gemological Institute of America or the American Gem Society Laboratories, two of the leading U.S. diamond gem labs. The grades include measurements of the stone, carat weight, color, clarity, finish, polish, symmetry and fluorescence. Additional comments may also be included as well as the diamond's plot or graphical representation.

Decide what you can spend--and where you want to put your money: A diamond engagement ring is a major investment and buying the best diamond you can afford is always good advice. With the expanding market for designer engagement ring settings, however, you should make an early decision about where your budgeted money will be spent: Would you rather spend more for a better diamond in a simpler setting or opt for a designer setting with a smaller stone?

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Visit renaissancediamonds.com and discover the affordable luxury of environmentally friendly, cultured diamonds in beautifully handcrafted settings for rings, earrings, necklaces and pendants.