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Men’s Wedding Rings: More Choice than Ever!

admin — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 13:16:36 +0000

Wedding rings for men used to come in just two types of gold – yellow or white. While platinum is now a popular choice, men’s wedding bands, there are alternatives, including titanium, tungsten and palladium.

Titanium is lightweight yet strong, while tungsten is also known for its strength. It has a brilliant, scratch-proof finish that never needs polishing. Silvery-white palladium is actually a white gold alloy, hypo-allergenic and nickel free.

With so many rings wedding rings being made of hard metals, comfort has become more of a priority. Comfort-fit rings are curved on the interior edges to prevent unnecessary friction against the fingers.

Finally, black titanium and tungsten rings are increasingly alternatives to gold or silver-finished men’s wedding rings. For men who like to wear black, and appreciate the strength and durability of titanium and tungsten, these rings can make a great fashion statement. They can be worn as all-black or as a two-toned blend of black and silver metal. Either way, they make a striking statement.

Wedding Rings from Marlows Certified Diamonds

At family firm Marlows, we have an extensive range of rings to add sophistication and elegance to your special day. We promise never to be beaten on price if you find the same ring for a cheaper price elsewhere, and offer a comprehensive after-sales package.

With six decades’ experience under our belts, few people know wedding rings and wedding bands quite like we do, for men and women. See our website today.

Are Diamonds Really Forever? How to Maintain your Diamond Jewellery

admin — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 11:01:28 +0000

There’s a lot to be said for diamonds. They’re stunning, hard wearing, timeless, classic, and will give anyone an instant boost. But are they really forever? Here are a few tips on how to maintain your diamond jewellery to keep it at its best.

• Store it safely. Many people have an all-in-one trinket box where their pieces are simply thrown in together. While this is often the most convenient way of doing things it isn’t always the right way, because if you let your items scratch against one another they’ll soon become damaged. If you must keep them in one box then make sure it’s lined with soft materials, and preferably wrap each piece in tissue paper to keep it safe.

• Don’t expose it to harsh chemicals. It’s often recommended that you spritz on your perfume or hairspray before you put on your jewels, as although diamonds are resistant to most things the gold or silver settings won’t be. If you don’t want your pieces to become tarnished or past their best, always endeavour to keep them away from chemicals.

• Clean it when necessary. Diamond jewellery should be able to last for a long time without becoming too unclean, but tarnishing of the metal is always a danger. To keep your pieces looking pristine gently buff them up with a cloth from time to time, including the diamond settings, or for more thorough cleaning soak them in a solution of warm water and dishwashing liquid before cleaning and thoroughly drying.

These are just a few ways you can maintain your diamond jewellery, and if you spend the time to take care of it you can enjoy your pieces for years to come.

Getting The Perfect Diamonds

admin — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 10:48:47 +0000

There’s a lot of argument over what constitutes the ‘perfect’ diamond, with some people obviously having different preferences to others. Some like huge rocks while others prefer things a bit more low-key, so just how can you get the perfect diamonds?

A lot of the time, it comes down to spending the time to look. You probably won’t want to go for the first stone you see, so if you’re on the lookout for that perfect gift don’t be afraid to ask to see every piece in the store.

When you’re comparing your options, you need to bear in mind a few important points. The first one is carat. Carat refers to the size or weight of the stone, with higher carat diamonds being bigger and thus more expensive. You also need to consider the clarity, cut and colour of the stone, and always try to go for the best one that you can.

However, the perfect option will usually have a lot to do with budget as well. It’s always wise to go for the one that appeals to you the most, but at the back of your mind you need to remember not to break the bank! Unless, of course, you want to.

But, ultimately, getting the perfect diamonds will depend on the place you’ve gone to find them. Some jewellers will have a better selection than others, but if you really want the best you should come to us here at Marlows. We’re sure we’ll have the perfect diamonds for your taste and your budget, so take a look around and be prepared to find the perfect piece of jewellery.

Why Diamond Jewellery Makes The Perfect Gift

admin — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 09:58:41 +0000

There’s something about diamonds that makes everyone fall in love with them. They really are a girl’s best friend, and giving that special lady in your life some stunning diamond jewellery will certainly not go unnoticed. But just why does it make such a great gift?

The biggest reason is that it oozes a sense of class, style, luxuriousness and sophistication. It’s certainly not cheap so having a few key pieces adorning your body is one of the biggest ways to impress, and what girl doesn’t like being given a present that can light up the room? Diamonds catch the light and there’s something about the sparkle that’s truly mesmerising, anyone wearing them will always look the part.

This type of jewellery is also incredibly timeless and classic, and it can be passed down for generations and will still look great. It never goes out of fashion and with the proper care there’s no reason it can’t last for hundreds of years, so you can be sure your future generations will love it just as much as you.

As you can see, diamond jewellery really does make the perfect gift. Imitations simply aren’t the same and you’ll soon be able to notice the difference both in terms of longevity and quality, so if you want to impress make sure to invest in the genuine article. And, if you really want the best, make sure to see what we have to offer here at Marlows.

Buying Diamond Rings and Other Fine Jewellery from Marlows

admin — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 14:34:10 +0000

There are advantages and disadvantages to buying over the internet. It’s a competitive marketplace so good prices are easy to find and compare. A wealth of information is available at your fingertips to help you make the right purchase – we include as much as possible on this site – and you can view a much greater range in an hour at your computer than in a day going from shop to shop and looking at all their diamond rings, assuming there are the right standard of jewellers near you.

The downside is that you are handing over money and credit card details for diamonds you haven’t seen, to a company in a distant location. Many online shops are nothing but a warehouse, if that. At Marlows Certified Diamonds we certainly are not, and we do everything we can to put your mind at rest and deliver outstanding customer service any fine diamonds supplier would be proud of, online or on the high street.

All deliveries are made through Royal Mail Special Delivery. This is a fully tracked and guaranteed service. It is also next day and all deliveries are made before 1pm. Each item comes with a certificate of valuation and if any precious stones are purchased loose or as part of a wedding ring or other piece, a certificate of authentication is also included free of charge. Financial transactions are conducted through Barclay’s Bank through secure channels. If you would prefer to place your order and give us your credit card details over the phone rather than use the internet, we are happy to oblige. Please just give us a call.

Why Loose Cut Diamonds can be the Ideal Choice

admin — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 13:35:24 +0000

Choosing the perfect piece of diamond jewellery may not initially seem that hard, but if you’ve got a picture in your mind of what you want it can sometimes be difficult to find a piece that fits. That’s why loose cut diamonds can often be the ideal choice.

Going for loose cut versions allows you to specify exactly what you’re looking for. You’ll be able to choose the perfect diamonds, with everything from the cut to the colour and clarity being in your control. You don’t have to worry about the possibility of finding the perfect style of ring (or anything else) with a less-than-flawless stone, as you have complete control.

And, because you can specify the exact stone that you want, you can also specify the setting that you want to put it in. Custom-made jewellery is the ultimate indulgence and really shows that you’ve put a lot of effort in, and if you’ve got that perfect design in your head you’ll be able to see it come to life. Because there are so many styles of diamond to choose from as well, there’s bound to be one to match any taste.

Here at Marlows Certified Diamonds, we know important choosing the perfect diamond can be. That’s why we have one of the biggest selections of loose cut diamonds around, and are able to give you total control in the stone that you’re looking for. So, make sure to come to us to see what we have to offer, and you’ll soon see why loose cut diamonds really can be the ideal choice.

Things to Look For When Choosing Diamonds

admin — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 11:56:01 +0000

Choosing the perfect loose cut diamonds can often be harder than you might think, with numerous factors needing to be considered. So, here are just a few of the most important things you’ll need to look for to help you make your decision.

First up, you’ll need to consider the carat, or weight/size, of the diamond itself. Larger diamonds are a lot rarer than those with fewer carats and as such can be incredibly expensive, but a lot of the time that extra expense is well worth it for the sheer beauty you’ll be able to get.

The clarity is also essential to consider. Because diamonds are natural stones there are often mineral deposits (known as inclusions) in most of them, with flawless versions being incredibly rare. The fewer inclusions the pricier the stone will be, but going for one with the fewest inclusions tends to be the best bet.

The cut is also important, although this is largely a personal choice. You can get stones in all kinds of shapes but the post popular one has got to be the round brilliant cut, giving you a diamond with perfect symmetry to show its brilliance at its best. The colour is important too, with truly colourless options being incredibly rare and as such more expensive.

You should only ever choose diamonds that have been certified, as that guarantees the quality of the stone and specifies its characteristics. This can help with valuation and also ensures you can be confident in your choice.

These are just a few things you need to look for when choosing loose diamonds, and if you bear them in mind you’ll be well on your way to picking the right one.

Get The Best Setting For Diamond Solitaire Engagement Rings

admin — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 15:56:31 +0000

There is a massive choice when it comes to choosing a setting for diamond engagement rings. Solitaire diamond engagement rings are by type removed from the category of multi-setting, but are by no means limited when it comes to setting choice.

The most popular setting for the solitaire diamond engagement ring is that of the prong setting. This is the classic solitaire diamond look, but even here there are choices to be made. The number of prongs and the size of setting can be varied to accentuate the stone. Flush, tension, bezel and arch settings are also great choices for solitaire diamonds. However, channel settings are not appropriate due to the one stone. A channel setting can also hide some of the better qualities of the diamond.

More elaborate settings can be made to include engravings, words or filigree designs which can be placed along the band in the place where you find an arch on simpler designs. In this way you can customise your engagement rings making them more detailed, but avoiding the use of extra accent stones.

As you are choosing engagement rings with only one diamond, you need to be able to judge the quality of the diamond. If engagement rings are using several stones, it may be possible to get away with lower quality diamonds, but your solitaire diamond needs to be outstanding as there is much else to distract you from any imperfections.

At Marlows we can guide you through the selection process so that your engagement ring is perfect for you.

The Perfect Engagement Party Plan Continued

admin — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:29:13 +0000

You’ve just got engaged and have engagement rings with diamonds to die for. The next stage is arranging your engagement party. You have agreed your budget and the type of party and you know who will be hosting the evening. Now is the time to write down all the finer detail in a plan so that you can keep on track with everything.

It can be a great idea to come up with the list in a collaborative fashion. Sharing the list with friends or family can be easily achieved using email.

When writing a plan there are certain areas that should be covered:

• Guest list – who will you invite to the party? This can take some time as you may be limited on numbers if you are keeping to strict budget and it is easy to forget key people.
• The venue – you need to decide which venue will be ideal for your type of event. This may involve visiting several before you make a decision. Once you have decided, book it and secure your place with a deposit.
• The invitations – selecting the invitations can be fun and you can even design your own to make it extra special, just as you did with your engagment rings.
• Catering – choose the food, make plans for the bar and plan seating arrangements.
• Dress code – agree whether it will be formal, informal or fancy dress and then let everyone know in advance.

At Marlows we have a wide selection of diamond rings and engagement rings to choose from.

More About Perfect Engagement Party Planning

admin — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 15:25:05 +0000

To plan properly for an engagement party you need to work to a framework that will ensure the party runs seamlessly from start to finish. A good list will remind you when to send out invitations and when to buy the decorations for the venue. With a good plan you can forget fewer things and avoid any last minute headaches. It will also allow you to focus on the important job of searching for beautiful engagement rings.

In the past, it was the bride’s parents who arranged the engagement party. However, this is not often the case these days. Engagement parties tend to thrown by the couple to be engaged. While this is becoming something of a convention, arrangements are still sometimes made by people who are close to the couple. Making a decision on who will host the party and who will be paying a large percentage of the cost is the first step.

With a budget set and the hosts chosen you can start to put a plan in place. Making some scribbled notes on the back of an envelope may not be quite as effective as a full scale plan on a spreadsheet on the home PC. It can help enormously to share details of the plan amongst several family members who can help out with the arrangements. This way you will have more people keeping track and making sure nothing is missed.

At Marlows you will find a stunning collection of diamond engagement rings and wedding rings.