Susan’s First Custom

It was Susan’s first time guess into Luisa Graff Jewelers​ and her experience here was more than exceptional! Susan came in with an heirloom that had been previously changed into a setting that took away from the elegance of the diamond. The heirloom came from her Great Aunt on her dad’s side of the family and Susan wanted to bring back the heirloom quality. She started the process with Luisa Graff Jewelers by trading in some old memories to make a new memory that would forever represent a “Happy Place” for her. Our amazing Team Members found the perfect band in our bridal section, to set the 2.5CTW diamond into. When Susan got the call to come back to the store to pick it up, she was ecstatic! “… bringing in old jewelry to return my Great Aunt Florence’s diamond back to its heirloom quality has been an awesome experience.”

We had a pleasure working with you Susan, and look forward to many more experiences with you!

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JEWELRY CLEANING – THE ULTIMATE CHECKLIST

Cleaning your jewelry is important. So much that you cannot expect the luster and finish to last a lifetime if you do not take measures to regularly maintain your jewelry.

When it comes to jewelry we wear everyday – like our wedding or engagement rings – maintaining the charm of a new product is impossible without.

Here is a complete jewelry cleaning checklist by Joseph Habbit

Before getting started with jewelry cleaning, here are a few tips:

• Never use or allow your jewelry to come in contact with chlorine or bleach. It is a good idea to take off your jewelry before swimming and also if you are giving someone a hair coloring.

• Jewelry will tarnish more frequently in humid climates so cleaning and polishing will be needed more frequently.

• Most of the time you will be able to clean your jewelry at home, but there are times when a professional should be the one cleaning the jewelry. If your jewelry is heavily tarnished or has soot from a fire, you should consider having it professionally polished and cleaned. The jeweler will be able to remove the stones to clean underneath. This will allow light under the stone so the stone will sparkle again.

• Before you begin handling your jewelry, check that the stones are secured on the piece by trying to wiggle each stone with your fingers.

• Loose stones will fall out while in an ultrasonic. This is actually a good thing. It is best for a stone to fall into the ultrasonic than to lose it. A jeweler can usually set the stone for you which is cheaper than having to purchase a new stone.

• Never clean your jewelry in a sink where it could fall into the drain.

There is an old wives’ tale of using toothpaste as a home remedy for cleaning jewelry. Toothpaste is abrasive and can harm fine jewelry by leaving scratches. There are You Tube videos where cheap jewelry is cleaned with toothpaste, but never use it to clean fine jewelry or anything which has a high gloss finish.

There are many articles on the internet which suggest using household items like Windex, alcohol, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, and a soapy water solution. These solutions may not be harmful to your jewelry and may clean your jewelry some, but here is a little secret about how professional jewelers clean your jewelry.

Cleaning your jewelry at home

1) Check that the stones are securely set by gently trying to wiggle each stone.

2) If there are scratches or tarnishing, use a polishing cloth to bring back the shine and remove light scratches.

3) Soak your jewelry like a professional. For best results use an ultrasonic. A small bowl can be used if you do not have an ultrasonic. Pour half water and half Mr. Clean into the ultrasonic then pour a small amount of ammonia. This is a mixture that many in the jewelry industry have been using for years. This is equal to using a professional jewelry cleaning solution and is safe for all types of jewelry including pearls, opals, and emeralds. Allow to soak for 15 minutes.

4) Take your jewelry out of the ultrasonic and lightly brush with a soft toothbrush.

5) Rinse in cold water.

6) Dry your jewelry with a soft towel. A paper towel can be used as long as you don’t rub the ring. Compressed air works great and drying with steam is how the professionals do it.

More professional tips

• If you have an old opal stone which has cracked over time, try soaking the opal in baby oil for one or two days. This technique can make the cracks seam to fade away.

• If you have a tarnished sterling silver piece a mixture of baking soda and water can be used to brighten the piece. Mix just enough water with your baking soda to make a paste. Then use a soft toothbrush to clean the sterling item with the paste. Rinse with water and then dry.

• You can also use a sterling silver dip instead of the baking soda paste. The dip is easier to use and is sold at most jewelry stores for about $5.00. Simply place your jewelry on the basket included in the dip bottle and lower into the cleaning solution for 15 seconds. Rinse then dry. One example of this type of dip is named “Hagerty”.

• Most jewelry stores will clean your jewelry for free. Just ask them to clean, but not polish. Keep in mind that stones may fall out in the ultrasonic if they are loose and the jeweler will charge a small fee per a stone to set them again.

 Polishing clothes, small home ultrasonics, and sterling dip can be purchased at most jewelry counters and nowadays there is a jewelry counter at most large department stores, in malls, and even at super shopping venues like Wal-mart. Read full post

Get your jewelry serviced and cleaned professionally at Luisa Graff Jewelers for a nominal charge. Browse through our collection of high quality, premium jewelry at accessible prices.

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The Affair of the Bracelet and the Statement Ring

A bracelet shares a special relationship with rings, especially those that venture out into the bold and blatant. Statement rings work especially well when their style is emphasized by the other most apparent jewelry item on the hands. It is true – rings and bracelets work together to bring out the best in each other. There is no doubt about the fact that both of these important pieces when paired well together may well form the most impeccable part of a complete ensemble.

Mark Schneider does a good job at explaining how to pair both of these together. Take a look

It can be challenging to create a cohesive look. From choosing a blouse that matches your shoes and earrings that complement your necklace, there are a lot of different elements to consider when creating an outfit. One of the most overlooked yet crucial combinations in an outfit is rings and bracelets. Because rings and bracelets share the same space on your body, it’s even particularly important to pay attention to the nuances of constructing a unified look. After all, your outfit is often your first impression. So why not make it fabulous?

1)Keep it Light

The key to wearing bracelets and rings is to keep it light. Avoid jewelry overload by being selective about your bracelets. Statement rings are bold and beautiful, and because of that they deserve to be the center of attention. Even beyond that, it’s important to allow them to be the center of attention. In other words, let your gemstone ring truly shine by choosing bracelets that are thin, subdued and complementary. Such choices will ensure that your hand and wrist don’t appear overwhelmed by accessories.

2)Complementary Colors

Sometimes, matching is fun. Finding bracelets and rings that are exactly the same hue can be an enjoyable challenge. But for the most part, combining bracelets and rings is all about choosing hues that are surprisingly complementary. Some of the best combinations include: pink and yellow gold or turquoise with white gold. Don’t be afraid to experiment and create your own color combinations though.

3)Different Hands

It can be fun to wear bracelets and rings on the same hand. In fact, the look can even feel edgy. However, in more conservative environments like offices or meetings, wearing rings and bracelets together may feel like too much. Or perhaps your style is more subdued. Either way, the good news is that utilizing both hands is an amazing option. Instead of wearing bracelets and rings on the same hand, opt for bracelets on one hand and rings on the other. By separating the jewelry items, the look is more conservative but still on trend. Although the pieces will be parted, it’s still crucial to create a cohesive look by choosing colors and styles that complement one another. Read full post

Find the best collection of bracelets and statement rings at Luisa graff Jewelers. The prices are unbeatable and the quality unmatched!

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Where to get Wedding Bands in Colorado Springs?

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Diamond Rings Colorado Springs, CO, (1 719-260-0100)

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Buying a Diamond Ring

Composite Diamond Rings are made with real diamonds, but with these styles, smaller carat diamonds are set together to create an impression of a larger carat diamond ring. A diamond solitaire has been the engagement ring standard for decades now and they are half the price of platinum rings. Nowadays White gold diamond rings are becoming an ever increasingly popular choice for as wedding bands. 

Diamonds are forever and Diamond rings symbolize a shared commitment or given simply because they are beautiful and significant and white color diamond rings are mostly admired and chosen for engagement rings and they are becoming popular and fashionable. Men wear diamond rings as wedding bands.

Looking for a Diamond ring? Knowing about diamonds and diamond rings is extremely important and will help you find exactly what you are looking before you make your decision. 

Vintage Diamond rings are trending these days and even being sold in department stores such as Liberty's and Selfridges London. 

A bridal diamond engagement ring proclaims a couple’s love for one another to the world: their joy, their commitment, their hope for the future.

Your final ring choice is governed by a number of factors, including: What metal your partner wants, the diamond size, diamond cut, diamond color and clarity. Even the diamond shape makes a difference to the cost.

What matters is that you pay for something reflecting your budget and shows your true feelings towards your beloved.

Browse our stunning collection of diamond rings @  http://www.luisagraffjewelers.com/

Categories: Buying a Diamond Ring

Learning All About The Custom Jewelry Design Process

The last time I had any interaction with learning all about the custom jewelry design process I was 12 years old, we were at summer camp and our materials with leather straps and sea shells. Since then, the thought of custom jewelry design never really crossed my mind. I don’t buy a lot of jewelry in the first place, I don’t think I’m the most creative person in general so I wouldn’t be too hot at creating custom design jewelry and if weren’t leather and shells, then it would be diamonds and pearls, all of which sounded far too expensive for my tastes.

It was actually while visiting my son’s middle school that I first heard about jewelry design again. He was enrolled in a computer lab that focused on computer aided design. His teacher was listing off a range of services that computers provided, and he caught my attention when he said custom jewelry design. I didn’t interrupt him at the time but later when the tour was over, I asked him, just to be sure I had heard him right.

He said that it was because of computers that custom design jewelry had made such a comeback. Instead of having to build models of the custom jewelry, which took time and cost money, an artisan could create a 3-D model in just a matter of minutes. Once the design was done and it was clear the piece could actually be made, the artisan would get started. In the end, all of the advances of computer aided design in the world of custom jewelry design has made it almost as affordable as regular mass produced jewelry.

I kept thinking all about the custom jewelry design process for a while, not really sure why it kept coming back to me, when one of my nephews told me over lunch that he was thinking about proposing to his girlfriend and was having a hard time deciding on the type of ring he should get. I mentioned custom jewelry design and when he said he had never heard of the process before, I just smiled and said, “Well, let your Aunt tell you all about it.” By the time lunch was over, he decided that the engagement ring was going to be one he designed specifically for his girlfriend.

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