Sterling Silver Signet Rings

With the price of gold hovering around the $1,000 per ounce mark, many men and women are taking another look at sterling silver, especially when looking for signet rings. With silver, you can get a nice, hefty ring that does not cost anywhere near what the equivalent weight in gold would be. Unfortunately, much of the silver jewelry that people are familiar with is that low-quality stuff sold at flea markets--that kind of jewelry is great if you like the primitive, informal look. But what if you want a signet ring that is just as well-made as a fine piece of gold jewelry? Well, you should check out our extensive selection of Signet Rings for Men and Women to find such a ring!

Two great examples are our Man's Sterling Silver Square Signet Ring, #1129 for that classic retro masculine look, and our Sterling Silver Woman;s Oval Signet Ring, #1167--and of course we can personalize these rings by monogram-engraving the top of the ring with your initials. All Sterling Silver jewelry at Viridian is .925 fineness, meaning it's metallurgical formulation is true "Sterling Silver", not a cheap alloy. This means that your ring will acquire that true silver patina that comes with age and use, and it also may require periodic polishing as all sterling silver does.

More Fleur-de-Lis Jewelry

The Fleur-de-Lis (French for lily flower) has been used as a symbol by royalty for hundreds of years, as well as a political symbol. Most recently, it has become popular as a symbol of recovery, both from the devastation of hurricane Katrina and from the scourge of breast cancer. It was adopted as a Louisiana state symbol in 2008. At Viridian Gold, you will find that the Fleur-de-Lis is available in several jewelry styles. For instance, our Gold Fleur-de-Lis Circle Pendants #5307 makes a simple, beautiful statement in either yellow or white 14K gold. This style is also available in Sterling Silver with gold accents.

If you would like your Fleur decorated with a gemstone, you will be interested in our Fleur-de Lis Birthstone Brooches #6008, available in 14K yellow or white gold, as well as economical 10K yellow gold. The stone may be selected as a birthstone, or simply as your favorite color to complement your wardrobe.

You will find many types of Fleur-de-Lis jewelry on our website: rings, pendants, brooches and more--to see them all, just Search Viridian Gold for Fleur-de-Lis.

Saint's Medals in Gold and Silver

One of our newest sections at the Viridian Gold website is our Religious Medals Collection. These medallions are popular for commemorating baptism, confirmation, and first communion, so we have many designs with the appropriate symbols for these occasions. Most of the medals can be engraved with names and dates if desired--of course, we can do this for you prior to shipping your order.

Our Religious Medallion collection also now includes Saint's Medals. Of course, we have several designs of Jesus Christ and His Mother, cherub and guardian angel designs (shown above), and we will be adding more saints to this section over time. For now, you can find medals of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel, St. Agatha, St. Agnes, St. Benedict, St. Francis and St. Christopher (shown at right). Most of these saint's medals are available in different styles, as well as both yellow and white gold, and sterling silver.

As with all pendants at Viridian Gold, we offer a select group of gold pendant chains that can be purchased at a discount from our normal price when they are paired with a gold pendant. Sterling Silver pendants either come with a silver chain, or you have the option of adding a free silver chain to your order.

Cool New Signet Rings

If you are looking for signet rings, you will find a great new selection for both men and women on our website! You will find styles in 14K and more economical 10K gold, as well as a many Sterling Silver signet rings. Signet rings are popular as pinky rings (a ring worn on the little finger), as well as the traditional position on your ring finger.

We have recently added many new designs, as well as more economical versions of the popular traditional, oval style, such as our Man's Gold Oval Signet Ring, #1134. You can now select from either solid-back or open-back versions of many designs. The open-back version looks the same as the solid-back from a top view, but the underside of the engravable top is scooped-out, so that there is less gold, and therefore less cost. Since we offer both versions, the choice is yours! Of course, both types are engravable. We can engrave your initials in Monogram style on any of our signet rings for you, or you can have the engraving done later. Monogram style places a larger, last name initial in the center, with the first initial on its left and the middle initial on its right.

Also, don't miss the new stepped and ridged designs for men, such as the Square Ridged Signet Ring #1127, presenting a masculine, hefty appearance. Also check out the several new scrolled, heart and filligreed feminine designs for women!

Quinceañera (15th Birthday) and Sweet Sixteen Birthday Jewelry

Depending on one's family background, the 15th or 16th birthday of a young lady is often celebrated by her family as a "coming out", her formal introduction to the social world. For a young Latina lady, Viridian Gold offers numerous Quince Años jewelry items, in rings, pendants and bracelets. For instance, our Two-Tone 15th Birthday Heart Ring, #1401, is a quality, 14K Gold ring with a 14K Red Gold heart in the center of an open, heart design. This same theme is also available in a pendant, earrings and even a bracelet!


We also offer Sweet Sixteen jewelry, like the Sweet Sixteen Heart Charm/Pendant, #8021, and many other heart designs that are just right for family gifting to a young lady on her special day! Check out our entire page of gifts appropriate for a young lady's 15th or 16th birthday, where you will find numerous jewelry items in gold and silver which are suitable for gifting as well as a few non-jewelry gift suggestions.

Blue: Cool, Clear Aquamarine

Wow, even the name connotes shimmering, coolness! Not just aqua, but also marine! A member of the beryl family of gemstones (the same family as the emerald), aquamarine ranges from light to deep blue, and is readily available in high-clarity specimens, unlike the emerald. Since the 1400's, it has been considered the March birthstone (but before then, it was the October birthstone!). Aquamarine is a fairly durable gemstone, having a hardness of 7.5 - 8.0 on the Mohs' scale (10 is maximum hardness). Legendarily, it is a symbol of health, youth and hope!

At Viridian Gold, we have recently added eleven new aquamarine pieces to round out our collection of jewelry featuring this beautiful blue gemstone. For instance, pictured above is our Contemporary Aquamarine and Diamond Pendant, #5456 which combines the striking beauty of a faceted oval aquamarine in 14K white gold with the brilliance of seven full-cut, quality white diamonds. But, if you like a more traditional look, consider this beautiful treatment of aquamarine in a detailed, round bezel setting, flanked by two full-cut white diamonds, also in bezel settings (right). In our Aquamarine & Diamond Scrolled Ring, #1027, this exquisite setting is suspended between full-relief, interlinked scroll designs on each side of the ring shank. The workmanship of this piece is truly remarkable, as you can see in the close-up photograph (click for larger view). And, as so many of our customers remark, "the piece is more beautiful 'in person' than in the picture!"

Don't miss our other aquamarine pieces in our Aquamarine Jewelry Section of our website. There, you will find necklaces, earrings (leverbacks, drops and studs), as well as more pendants and rings, all featuring aquamarine!

More on determining your ring size

If you don't already know your ring size, it is really not possible to determine it with any accuracy without actually trying on several different-size rings to see how they fit. Too bad it is not as easy as measuring your waist size with a tape measure! Check our our Ring Size Help Page on our website for more info.

On that help page, we offer a "Ring Size Guide" which contains a number of circles which represented ring sizes from small to large. The idea is to put a correctly fitting ring that you already have down on the paper to find its size. But, the problem with such a document (similar ones are offered on other jewelry websites) is that you must print it exactly right in order for it to be useful--if your printer setup is wrong, then the document will print at the wrong size, and all of the ring sizes will be wrong! And, even if everything is set up correctly, and the document prints at the correct size, there is still a lot of room for error. This is because it is difficult to see the circles on the inside of some rings because of they are tapered and don't fit flat on the paper, or they have a beveled edge which hides the circle. So, if you decide to use our guide, make sure you follow the printing instructions, and use a US quarter to make sure it printed correctly.

Instead of just printing the sizing guide, though, we highly recommend that our customers order our $2.00 ring size kit, (pictured) which contains a number of punch-out plastic rings, graduated in half sizes, so that you can actually try on different sizes. It is shipped via first class mail, and it will arrive just a few days after you order it--you don't even have to leave the house!

Another method is to go to a local jewelry counter in a department store to get help with sizing. We encourage you to evaluate their jewelry offerings while you are there--just remember to always look at gold quality and weight of their jewelry, and if it is a diamond piece, ask about the diamond quality (color, clarity, cut and weight). If you can't get that information from them, there is no way you can comparison-shop! Notice that on our website, we give complete specifications for all of our jewelry.

Finally, remember that if you do find that you ordered one of our rings in the wrong size, all is not lost! We will be happy to re-size the ring for you for a small charge--just email us to let us know what the new ring size should be, and we will respond with instructions. Or, you can take your ring to a local jeweler and have them re-size it for you--just call a few stores to find out what they charge, because it could vary considerably. Our charge will no doubt be less, but it will take longer because of shipping time. As always, feel free to call us if you have questions!

Gemstone Rings: Wear A Rainbow On Your Finger!

We have recently added some beautiful new pieces to our store--if you like color, you will love these! Blue Topaz surrounded by citrine, peridot and amethyst dazzle the observer in our Gemstone Flower Ring, #1026. These are all securely set in a quality 14K white gold setting, and like most of our rings, we can custom size it for you in 1/4-size increments. Or, if you want a ring with color that is not quite so wide, check out our equally dazzling Muliti-Color Gemstone Ring, #1078, which boasts amethyst, blue topaz, peridot, garnet and citrine gemstones for a stunning five-color effect. The stones are set in a fine dual-rail 14K white gold setting which can be sized just for you.

If you are looking for color, but not in a ring, consider our beautiful Multi-Gemstone Bypass Necklace, #2093. Fabricated in fine 14K white gold, this necklace is composed of a pendant of diamonds, blue topaz, peridot, citrine, garnet and amethyst, all suspended on an 18" 14K white gold rolo chain. Check out these and many other of our colorful gemstone jewelry pieces, grouped by stone type, in our Gemstone Jewelry collection!

New Star of David Pendants

We have just added an extensive selection of Star of David pendants in both 14K Gold and in Sterling Silver. For instance, our 14K Gold Two-Tone Star of David Pendant #5537, presents a strikingly elegant, modern design that is composed of both white and yellow gold. In contrast, our 14K Gold Traditional Star of David Pendant #5572 displays a more conservative design. Echoing the blue of the State of Israel flag is our 14K Gold and Blue Enamel Star of David Pendant #5543. Don't miss these new items, as well as many other Star of David pendant, lapel pin and ring designs, in addition to Mezuzah, Menorah and Chai pendants in gold and silver that you will find on our Jewish Religious Jewelry collection!

New Religious Lapel Pins

We have recently added some new Religious Lapel Pins to our religious jewelry selections. Lapel pins are perfect for both men and women who want to make a religious statement with their jewelry, but do not wish to do so with a ring. These pins are all high-quality 14K yellow gold, with many styles available in white gold as well. And, a few styles are also available in sterling silver.

Our Star of David Lapel Pin #6053 is a beautiful, detailed Judaic symbol, with the addition of the Chai for an affirmation of life and well being. And, our Classic Cross Lapel Pin #6047 is the timeless symbol of Christianity in a simple, elegant design. Many other styles are available, too, such as Footprints in the Sand, two Ichthus designs, and many other styles of cross designs. In addition, we offer two styles of Memorial Lapel Pins, available in both 14K gold and sterling silver. As always, if you do not find what you are looking for, feel free to call our toll-free number or drop us an email via our contact page on the website!

Tri-Color and Two-Tone Gold, what are they?

A recent email from one of our visitors asked me to explain what "Tri-Color Gold" means (as in our Flower Hoop Earrings shown here), and it occurred to me that a lot of folks may wonder about that, as well as "Two-Tone Gold". So here is an overview of what these terms mean--but first, an overview of gold colors.

Pure 24K gold is of course a beautiful deep gold-yellow color. But, pure gold is too soft to be used in solid form for most kinds of jewelry--for instance, a ring made of pure gold would be too soft to hold up under continued wear on your finger. It would easily get squashed and scratched in everyday use. In addition, with pure gold trading at around $900 to $1,000 per ounce (the highest prices in history), pure gold jewelry is too expensive for most folks.

All gold jewelry is therefore mixed with other metals to make it stronger and more economical--mixing metals together is called "alloying". When alloyed, the deep yellow of pure gold can be changed to other colors, depending on the type of metals used in the alloy. So, when pure gold is non-alloyed, it is called 24K gold, meaning it is 100% gold. Mixed with other metals, it becomes 18K gold (75% pure gold) or 14K gold (58.5% gold). The percentage of gold is called "fineness", and is often written as 750 (for 18K or 75%) or 585 (for 14K or 58.5%).

The alloy metals used to make 14K and 18K yellow gold are typically silver and copper, and to make white gold, copper and aluminum, as well as iron, are used. But other colors are possible, such as the now popular "rose" or "pink" gold--this color is made by using more copper than in the yellow gold color. Green gold is also possible by adjusting the ratio of copper and silver in the alloy.

So, when three of these gold colors are used in a single jewelry item, it is called "Tri-Color" gold, and this usually means yellow, white and rose. The individual colors are present in individually-made pieces of the jewelry item. For "Two-Tone Gold", the colors are usually yellow and white, such as in our Hand Woven Hoop Earrings shown here.

Either way, you can be assured that when you buy gold jewelry from Viridian Gold, you are getting solid gold jewelry--we do not sell gold-plated items--and all of our jewelry is marked with its fineness, such as 14K or 18K, which is your assurance of quality!

Platinum Power

Platinum has gotten a lot more expensive in the last year, but it's popularity as a jewelry metal continues to hold up--that's because folks consider platinum jewelry an investment, as well as a statement of lasting value! We have added some new platinum items which are still quite affordable so you can buy very nice pieces in the $300 to $800 price range, which make excellent Christmas gifts for that special person!

For example, you can purchase our Platinum Passion Cross Pendant (pictured) along with a specially priced platinum chain for a total cost which is under $500. Remember, whenever you buy a pendant or locket from us, you are offered the option of purchasing a selected pendant chain which is discounted an additional 20% from our regular, low website price! Just click the button that appears on any of our pendant or locket item pages, and you will be presented with choices which match the metal of the item you are purchasing. If you do not see a chain you like in our limited sale selection, you may choose from our hundreds of other chains in our Pendant Chain Collection in gold, platinum and silver, as well as leather, rubber and stainless steel designs.

You can see lots more designs in platinum for pendants, rings, necklaces and earrings on our Platinum Jewelry Collection page. And, by the way, ALL of our platinum items are "950 Platinum", meaning they are real, honest-to-goodness platinum, NOT palladium, or platinum plated, or low-fineness platinum! The US law says that if an item is less than 95% platinum, it cannot be called "platinum" without a modifier, such as "750 platinum", meaning it is only 75% platinum. So, keep that in mind when you shop the Internet, and always make sure to purchase only 950 fineness platinum--anything less will contain high amounts of other metals which can destroy the characteristic "hypo-allergenic" quality of platinum jewelry! As always, feel free to call or email us if you have any questions about our platinum jewelry items.

Ash and memento pendants

We occasionally have a customer ask us if they can place the ashes of their loved one, or soil from a special location, into one of our lockets. The answer to that question is, unfortunately, that we do not recommend it. This is because a locket is not designed to contain such granular materials--there is usually a small gap where the two portions of the locket meet, and any material such as ash or sand will quickly escape through that opening as soon as the locket is worn. And, when the locket is opened, more of the material would be lost.

But, we do carry pendants which are specially designed for just such uses. For example, pictured here is our Silver Heart Ash Memento Pendant, which is a solid sterling silver vial in the shape of a heart, accented with yellow gold plating. Because it is solid, it is also engraveable, allowing a short name or date to be inscribed--we can perform the engraving for you, just specify and order it on our website from our Engrave Your Jewelry page. This pendant includes an 18" silver chain as well as a small funnel (shown in the photo greatly reduced in size) which is used to place the material into the vial. We also carry cross and angel design themes, and all come with a chain, funnel and gift pouch. You can find all of these on our Silver Lockets and Pendants page.

So, if you want to wear your loved one's ashes, or soil/sand from a cherished location, please consider purchasing one of our pendants designed for that purpose. If you want to wear a photo, a lock of hair or a piece of cloth, one of our many designs from our Gold and Silver Photo Locket Collection would be perfect!

What is my ring size?

We strive to make it as easy as possible for you to determine the size of the ring which you order from Viridian Gold. We use standard ring size dimensions that are commonly used in the United States, so you can be assured of a compatible sizing system even if you have your ring finger measured at a local jeweler, or if you already know your ring size. But remember, the ring size of the same finger on your left and right hands will almost certainly be different--usually the dominant hand is a little larger in ring size.

So, how can you find your ring size? One way is to download our Viridian Gold Ring Sizing Guide from our website--it is a PDF document, and you should print it as actual size (do not "shrink to fit") on regular 8.5" X 11" paper. It will give you tips on how and when to figure out your ring size, or the ring size of a loved one. You will also find a chart of circles which correspond to common ring sizes, so you can place an existing ring on the paper and get a pretty close approximation of its size. Or, you can cut a paper strip to determine the circumference of your ring finger, and then place that strip on a sequence of bars on the page to find the equivalent ring size.

The most accurate way, though, is to order our $2.00 Ring Size Kit from our website at http://www.viridiangold.com/ring-size-page.html. We will ship this to you at our expense, and you should receive it a couple of days after ordering because it will come first class mail (US destinations only). Of course, our normal $50 minimum order amount does not apply! You will receive a plastic card with dummy plastic rings in 1/2 sizes from 2 to 14--just break out the ones that are close to your size and try 'em on! They are 4 mm wide, so they are a good approximation for most ring widths. Of course, you can also drop by any local jeweler to have them help you determine your ring size. Many of our customers also patronize their local jewelers, and we certainly support that practice!

Speaking of ring widths, on our Ring Size Page, you will also find a helpful visual aid which allows you to see various common widths of rings on a person's hand. We show simple wedding bands, but you can use your imagination for other ring styles! You can find the width of the ring you are considering purchasing from us in the specifications at the bottom of the ring's page on our website.

Jewelry for the walking dead?

I guess it's just too easy to poke fun at fashion-show models, because apparently some designers like to pick their models from the local morgue. This is no Halloween party photo, this is actually from a fall runway collection of a designer who outfitted his models with (appropriately) costume jewelry. I just had to share it with our readers. The "Bridezilla" ring in one of my previous posts would probably compliment her style quite well!

Click the picture for a larger version.