Best Buy and Luxe Candy Coloured Rings

What is the latest, hippest, luxe, affordable, and enduring style of engagement ring on the market today? To understand, we need to understand trends in the jewelry market and how they impact decision-making for that life-long symbol of love.

As I have been learning jewelry design, focusing mainly in sterling silver and just beginning to learn the gold trade, I have come to realize that the impact of the shift of the economy has been gargantuan in the area of precious metals - particularly gold and platinum.

When I started designing, my purchase of precious metals was guided by leading styles in the trending market. Today, my purchase of precious metals is guided not only by trying to understand what is the most sought-after jewelry design I can create, but also by trying to understand how people want to be investing their money.

All Photos and Writing are Copyright by Me - Teapixie! :)

All of the jewelry designs I photographed are mine and copyright by me, Teapixie, as well.

Historically, Roman men gave engagement rings with keys as embellishments - keys that were intended to represent the unlocking of wealth. Today, the engagement ring can represent something similar: an investment.

All this talk about investment can be intimidating. Don't get overwhelmed by thinking that you have to have a giant rock or a mountain of gold or platinum.

When I got married, I was specific that my engagement and wedding bands NOT have diamonds. Because of the 20th century history of promotion, and pressure that linked the size and value of the ring to the love and value of the relationship, I wanted none of that.

After years of marriage, and years of building our financial stability, I finally asked my partner to purchase the sparkliest diamond he could find.

Engagement-styled rings can be purchased for any reason, at any time in life. Use the search engine below to find all kinds of engagement rings, from affordable to pieces that you would only purchase for investment reasons.

CAUTION

Please note that there are very cheap engagement rings available on the market and you need to be extremely careful to learn about the "base" metals used. There has been concern about the inclusion of such elements as cadmium, lead and nickel in costume jewelry.

The Department of Toxic Substances Control in California reports that lead is used in jewelry design for a number of reasons, is a toxic metal, and is found in inexpensive jewelry, often designed for children. While concern has been focused on children 6 years and under, lead is a metal that accummulates in the body. Health issues associated with lead toxicity range from joint and muscle weakness to death. In my article Best Lipstick Recipe, Funky and Glam! I discuss lead toxicity further.

If you are interested in discussions of cadmium, take a look here.

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry reports that the most common reaction to nickel is an allergic skin reaction, and from 10-20% of people are sensitive to nickel. The best way to avoid discovering your allergy is to ensure you know what metals are in your jewelry.

The search I provide here is based on the word "Platinum." If you are choosing plated jewelry, examine the item's description to ensure that you know the metal or metals used as the base, or the metal(s) to be plated. This will help you to avoid potentially harmful metals. Buying jewelry on the internet requires knowledge and patience - buy affordable, but buy smart.

As is explained in the video link that I provide at the end of this article, there is a perspective that high end jewelry is immune to tough times, having maintained and increased it's value during international economic collapses. In October of 2008, I was very aware of the need to invest in gold, immediately - if anything was going to survive the bubble burst of the time, it would be precious metals - it's been proven over time.

But this video also suggests that beyond gold and platinum, jade, diamonds, and emeralds have preserved or increased their value. But it's not as simple as just having these gems, it's about building a portfolio of what are considered to be quality gems of rare and maximum size. Does it feel strange to be discussing this in relation to your engagement ring? It shouldn't. What appears to be a piece of adornment actually represents a contract: a formal agreement to future marriage.

Because rare gemstones are not becoming more readily available, if you've already got your hands on such stones, they are worth hanging onto. Colombian emeralds, Kashmir sapphires, and Burmese rubies are particularly desirable.

It is important to recognize that people who are purchasing for investment reasons, likely will not wear their jewelry - often, they may not even like the jewelry but will trust in advisors who determine which pieces are considered 'beautiful' within the investment industry.

When it comes to gold and gems, experts recommend that, if you are purchasing gold jewelry for glamour or as an engagement ring, you should consider

beauty,

quality, and,

rarity.

If you are only considering buying for investment, avoid the engagement ring and buy gold bars!

One of my fellow jewelry design colleagues, from Libya, while focused on learning design, her motivation is investment related. She explained to me that in her birth country, solid gold jewelry is how family financial legacies are retained.

She was wearing the largest gold pendant I have ever seen. Wedding traditions in Libya are steeped in the bestowing of karats.

As a Valentine's Day, wedding, or Christmas gift, you may consider an investment in gold for your loved-one. Investing in gold has been an incredible way to retain wealth during economic slumps and it will be resilient in the future. Imagine how it would feel to contribute to the start of someone's marriage in such a meaningful way? Imagine receiving such a gift!!!

In North America we have different approaches to interest in jewelry. A current trend is to evaluate the beauty of gold rings and decide whether the gold is worth selling. People are having gold parties where friends are invited to bring their buckets of 'out-dated' engagement rings to be evaluated and exchanged for profit.

It is important to understand that the precious metals are being evaluated based on weight - nothing more. If you are desperate for money, this is a reasonable avenue for liquifying your gold assets.

If you are interested in both the glamour and investment value of your engagement ring, you might not consider exchanging your gold, just yet. If you truly feel that your ring is out of date, or you have a stack of old gold jewelry, consider working with a designer to melt it down and have your jewelry custom designed.

Ensure you choose a designer that you can trust to use only the gold that you supply, to add nothing, and to avoid replacing it with other gold of different quality. Most jewelers will not consider working with gold that is less than 14 karats. In fact, I have been told that gold of less than 14 karats is, essentially, not gold!

Many jewelers will have cast designs that they can reproduce quite simply, which will help you to cut costs but still result in your acquisition of a contemporary piece. Using your own gold will save you money and give you the chance to have a uniquely designed piece of jewelry that represents the bond for which it was given.

Remember, you can do this over and over with gold.

a) Engagement rings can be designed with the input of both parties. I have seen engagement sets created with jewels from South America that are wrapped in gold and set off with design elements to reflect mountains and oceans. One wanted oceans, one wanted mountains. It was a wonderful way to weave their stories together in timeless design pieces.

b) If you are making new jewelry because old relationships have ended, this is the avenue for you. New jewelry can be crafted with gems from many old rings, combined together, along with the gold from these different rings.

c) If you are giving an engagement ring or a custom designed piece of jewelry as a gift, you should consider giving a certificate for a consultation with a goldsmith. Doing this will ensure that the resulting design reflects the character and personality of the wearer.

Picking out a ring for another person to wear for their whole life is a daunting job. In fact, it doesn't always make sense to do it alone.

Prior to marriage, we don't always know everything about our partners. Believe me, I know this very well. That that means is consulting with each other is incredibly important. Purchasing high quality jewelry is an investment activity and should be entered into with long-term returns in mind.

Is an engagement ring about investment or is it all about love? Can you separate the two? Why do you think the value of an engagement ring is so important?

If you are only interested in investment, let us know if you would consider investing in gold or gems.

Are you excited by the idea of getting a personalized piece of jewelry designed? Do you need suggestions for finding a designer? ASK HERE!

Or just let us know what you think about this article and topic! :)