Viridian Gold Nuggets

National Hispanic Heritage Month

2011-09-27T10:21:00.123-05:00

September 15 - October 15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month. During this period, people recognize the contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans to the US, and celebrate their heritage and culture. September 15 is important as the beginning of this observation, as it marks the anniversary of independence of 5 Latin American Countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Mexico celebrates its independence days on September 16, Chilie on September 18.

The Hispanic/Latino contributions to American society can be found in all aspects of life: literature and journalism, music, theater and film, sports, business, technology, and government, to name a few. And Hispanics and Latinos have served in the US military in every major military conflict from the American Revolution on up to this day.

For these reasons, we at Viridian Gold are proud to carry Hispanic style jewelry. See, for example, Our Lady of Guadalupe jewelry. Our Lady of Guadalupe, known as Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe, is the Patroness of Mexico and the Continental Americas, and is an important part of the faith of Hispanics and Latinos. We are please to offer medals, pendants, earrings and rings of the Virgin Mary, such as Our Lady of Guadalupe Marquise Pendant #5038, a customer favorite, and Our Lady of Guadalupe Tri-Color Oval Ring #1407. See also our Primera Comunion Pendiente #5512 (Our Lady of Guadalupe First Holy Communion Pendant) for Hispanic and Latino young ladies.

We also carry a selection of Religious Lockets, as well as Quinceanera Jewelry ~ rings, pendants, lockets and more, for La Fiesta Quinceanera, such as our Sterling Silver "Mis Quince" Locket #5719.

Crucifix and coss pendants for both men and women are popular items, for example, our Hispanic-style Floral Cross Pendant #5522, available in 14K yellow, white or rose gold, and our Large Sterling Silver Cross Pendant #5266. Our Gold Crucifix with Shroud #5438, a customer favorite, is designed from 14K tri-color gold with a yellow gold cross, a white gold corpus and a rose gold shroud. For further browsing, see our Crucifix Pendants and our Cross Pendants.

If you still have not found that special jewelry item you are searching for, check back with us, as we are constantly adding new items to our website. Or better yet, give us a call and we will do our best to help you with your search. And to all our customers of Hispanic descent, we thank you for shopping with us!

Gifts for Bridesmaids and Groomsmen

2011-08-18T12:27:00.000-05:00

Looking for that perfect gift for those special members of your wedding party? We at Viridian Gold are pleased to offer a selection of gifts to honor your bridesmaids, maid of honor, best man and groomsmen. Make your selection from affordable items of pearl jewelry, sterling silver jewelry, and non-jewelry gifts, such as small jewelry cases. For pearl gifts, we suggest our Freshwater Pearl Station Necklace and Earring Set #2092, pictured on the left, or our Pearl Bracelet #3036, which is available in six, pearl color combinations. For sterling silver bridesmaids' gifts, two of our most popular items are the Bridesmaid's Pendant #5520, specifically created for wedding attendants, and our Friendship Heart Necklace #2064 (shown below), a designer original by Deborah Birdoes, which comes with a poem about friendship.

You may also choose from a selection of sterling silver lockets and necklaces, bracelets and earrings. Charm bracelets with an engraved heart make wonderful bridesmaids' gifts, or view our CZ Drop Earring and Necklace Set #2179. For a comprehensive view of our sterling silver collection, see our Sterling Silver section page, and don't forget to check out our Bridesmaids' Gifts page for even more suggestions, including small jewelry boxes and jewelry travel bags.

Cross Pendants also make memorable, wedding party gifts for both bridesmaids and groomsmen ~ choose from a selection of both men's and women's crosses in sterling silver and stainless steel. For men, may we suggest an engravable money clip, such as our Sterling Silver Money Clip #9055, or a pair of men's cuff links, such as our Ion Plated Stainless Steel Cuff Links #9091. As always, if you need assistance with your selection, please give us a call ~ we're always happy to help!

Rosary Rings and Bracelets

2011-08-11T13:48:00.001-05:00

The Rosary, "rosarium" in Latin, means "garland of roses", and is prayed in honor of the Virgin Mary, since the rose is one of the flowers that symbolizes her. A set of specific prayers, the rosary begins with introductory prayers. Between those prayers and the closing prayer of the rosary are what is known as the decades. Each decade consists of the Lord's Prayer, 10 prayers of "Hail Mary...", and a single "Glory be to the Father". A meditation of one of the "Mysteries of the Rosary" (there are 15 Mysteries, each of which recalls an aspect of the life of Christ) accompanies each decade. For most people, "praying the rosary", consists of praying five decades.

To help those who pray the rosary keep count of their prayers, rosary beads ~ in necklace, bracelet or ring form, are used. At Viridian Gold, we have a sampling of both rings and bracelets. Each of our Rosary Rings is available in 14K yellow or white gold, 10K yellow gold and sterling silver. Some of our customer favorites are our Rosary Ring #1010, which is available in two different millimeter widths, 2.5mm and 4mm, and our 5mm Rosary Ring #1059. Or you can view all of our Rosary Rings in Gold and Sterling Silver. Each ring is designed with braille-like prayer beads and a single, small cross on the band, representing one decade of the rosary. All rings can be custom sized.

We also offer a sampling of rosary bracelets, such as the one pictured at the beginning of this blog, Pearl Rosary Bracelet #3093. This is a single decade rosary bracelet that is designed with 14K gold and pearl prayer beads; it comes with a crucifix and either a miraculous medal or a communion medal. If you are looking for a sterling silver rosary bracelt, we carry rosary wrap bracelets, such as our Gemstone Rosary Wrap Bracelet #3090. This is a five-decade rosary bracelet that includes a sterling silver crucifix and a miraculous medal. This bracelet is available with black onyx, rose quartz, or mother of pearl prayer beads. For further browsing, see our Religious Bracelets.

At this time, we do not have rosary necklaces on our website, but we are constantly adding new items that our customers express an interest in. Please check back with us again, or better yet, send us an email with your request.

Purity Rings and Chastity Rings

2011-08-03T11:47:00.000-05:00

Purity rings, chastity rings, abstinence rings and promise rings ~ all names that symbolize a young woman or young man's vow to remain chaste until marriage. This vow is made by the wearer to him/herself, to the presenter of the ring, and for Christians, to God. This type of ring can also be worn by anyone who wants to change their way of life. Two of our most popular purity rings are the "Unblossomed Rose" Purity Ring #1318 and Diamond Link Purity Ring #1073. In this pretty ring, the two links represent the wearer and the one she will eventually marry. The diamond symbolizes Christ, the foundation of her commitment to purity, and the foundation of her marriage to her future husband.

We also offer chastity and purity rings in sterling silver, such as our "Love Waits" Daisy Purity Ring #1086 and the Covenant Hearts Chastity Ring #1039, a designer original by Evan Trinkle. This ring is fashioned with three hearts that symbolize the presenter's commitment to the wearer, the wearer's devotion to God, and the wearer's devotion to life vocation or the one she will eventually marry ~ all three interwoven to represent purity before God. The cross that sits atop the hearts is a visual reminder of Christ's victory over sin through His death and Resurrection.

For young men, there are numerous cross and crucifix rings in both sterling silver and 10-14K gold that can be worn as either as purity ring or proclamations of faith, such as our Young Man's Cross Chastity Ring #1329 and "Rugged Cross" Ring #1310 (both rings available in sterling silver, 10K or 14K gold). Chastity ring gift sets that include a navy blue ring box and pouch, as well as a gift card with a poem about virtue, can be purchased for only $2. Visit our Gold Cross and Crucifix Rings to view all our cross rings, and Sterling Silver Religious Rings to view all our religious rings in .925 sterling silver.

Abstinence jewelry does not have to be a ring ~ it can also be a necklace or pendant, a cross pendant, or even a bracelet. See our Abstinence Pendants for a selection of purity and chastity pendants for both young ladies and young men. And check out our selection of religious bracelets, and our many Cross Pendants. If you need assistance in making a selection, please give us a call ~ we are always happy to help!

Blessed Affirmations

2011-07-26T17:12:00.000-05:00

Blessed Affirmations pendants and necklaces, all originals by designer Deborah Birdoes, are beautiful ways to express your sentiments toward those you love. For example, our Blessed Affirmations "Friends" Necklace #2147 is fashioned with an angel on the front; the message on the pendant back reads, "Friends are angels in disguise." One of our most popular Blessed Affirmations necklace is the Blessed Affirmations "I Love You" Necklace #2138. Designed with a moon and a small star on the front, it reads, "I love You to the moon and back" on the back of the pendant.

See our Blessed Affirmations "All Things Possible" #2141, a reminder of hope for a loved one or friend who is struggling, or a celebration of answered prayer; or check out our Blessed Affirmations Necklaces for our complete selection. If you still haven't found that special item you are searching for, take a look at our Symbols of Faith and our Marriage, Family and Friends Pendants.

All Blessed Affirmations necklaces are .925 sterling silver and are rhodium plated to help prevent tarnishing. Each pendant is adorned with a small diamond and comes with an 18" sterling silver chain. Packaging includes an Inspirational Blessings gift box with a message and two verses of scripture: "For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" (Matthew 12:25), and "Kind words are like honey - sweet for the soul and healthy for the body" (Proverbs 16:24).

New Diamond Cross Pendants in 14K Gold and Sterling Silver

2011-07-18T15:59:00.000-05:00

At Viridian Gold, we are constantly updating our inventory, and we have just recently added some beautiful, diamond cross pendants in 14K gold and sterling silver. For example, our Diamond Infinity Cross Pendant #5757 is crafted from 14K yellow gold with an infinity-style design and is adorned with 11 full-cut diamonds that form a cross in the center. We have also added some 14K cross pendants that are colored with enamel, such as our Enamel Diamond Cross Pendant #5760, and this stunning, True Vine Cross Pendant #5252, pictured at the right, which features both yellow and white gold, full-cut diamonds and a dramatic background of black enamel.

Some of our new, sterling silver cross pendants are also set with diamonds and gemstones, such as our Sterling Silver Citrine Cross Pendant #5733, and our Sterling Silver and Anodized Titanium Trefoil Diamond Cross Pendant #5747.

Our customers purchase crosses for a many different occasions - weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, deployment, holidays, baptisms and Confirmation, and funerals. Whatever the occasion, we offer a wide variety of cross pendants in platinum, 14K gold, sterling silver and stainless steel, with and without diamonds and/or other gemstones. If you don't find what you are looking for on our diamond and gemstone cross pendant page, please browse our Gold and Platinum Cross Pendant selection and our Sterling Silver and Stainless Steel Cross Pendant selection. If you need assistance, feel free to call us - we are always happy to help!

Summer Fashion in Affordable Sterling Silver!

2011-07-11T17:07:00.000-05:00

Depending on whom you ask, you might be told that summer jewelry trends for 2011 continue to be bold, bright and colorful, or you may be told that loud jewelry is being toned down for a simpler, more classic look. Whatever your style and fashion preference, Viridian Gold offers summer styles in affordable sterling silver. If bold and colorful suits you best, take a look at our gemstone rings, such as our Black Onyx Ring #1014 in sterling silver, or our Lime Quartz Ring #1444 in sterling silver and 14K gold. For dramatic neckware, check out our Black Onyx Jewelry section for items such as our Tear-Shaped Black Onyx Necklace #2191, pictured on the right.

For classic summer looks, you might consider our Brushed Sterling Silver Hinged Huggie Earrings #4093 (one of our best sellers!). Want to add color? Have a look at our Gemstone Dangle Earrings #4059.

For classic neckware in sterling silver, visit our Sterling Silver Necklaces, and don't forget that pearls never go out of style! For a wide variety of pearl strands and station necklaces, see our Pearl Strands and Necklaces.

Happy shopping!

Sterling Silver is perfect for Wedding Rings!

2011-06-29T10:16:00.000-05:00

With gold and platinum prices at outrageous levels, sterling silver is becoming popular for those who want white, precious-metal wedding rings. Here at Viridian, we have watched the costs of our jewelry items double in the last few years because of huge gold and platinum price increases. Yes, you read that correctly! A gold ring that cost $150 a few years ago is now priced at $300. So, it is no wonder that couples are turning to sterling silver for high-quality wedding rings which will endure forever! A popular seller is our "Joined by Christ" Wedding Ring, pictured at left, which is a fraction of the cost of the white gold version, yet just as beautiful! Sterling silver is 92.5% silver, mixed with a small amount of other metals for strength, hence the marking "925" that you will find on some silver jewelry. It may also be marked "STER".

But, doesn't silver tarnish? Yes, it does, but for most people, a silver ring will not severely tarnish if it is worn continuously, because the natural friction on your finger, handwashing, and body oils will keep the silver from tarnishing. In fact, silver will develop it's natural "patina", which refers to the glow of the aged silver surface which softens in appearance over time due to tiny surface abrasions and oxidation. Recessed areas of the ring will also develop an oxidation layer, or slight tarnish, which serves to highlight the design of the ring. Sometimes the ring may develop a layer of tarnish if the wearer swims in a highly-chlorinated pool, or allows the ring to be exposed to some other caustic chemicals, but this tarnish can be easily removed by rubbing between the fingers with non-gel toothpaste!

At Viridian Gold, we offer a number of 925 silver rings that are identical in design and construction quality to our gold rings. For example, our "Crown of Thorns" Wedding Ring, pictured at right, is available in 925 silver, as well as 14k gold. And even more attractive is the fact that raw silver prices recently dropped about 30%, which has allowed us to actually reduce our prices for all of our silver items! See more rings in our collections of Sterling Silver Fashion and Designer Rings, and our ever popular Sterling Silver Religious and Rosary Rings.

New Quinceañera, "Sweet 15" Rings and Pendants

2011-04-28T12:10:00.000-05:00

We have recently added several new Quince Años items! Check out our selection on our Quinceañera and Sweet 16 Jewelry page, to see pendants and rings designed specifically for this important occasion, even a few bracelets, earrings and lockets! And, on that page, we also suggest a number of other jewelry items which would be appropriate for Quinceañera and Sweet 16 occasions.

For 15th birthday, consider our new Diamond Cut, Two-tone Gold 15th Birthday Heart Ring. This delicate, open-work yellow gold ring features a rose gold heart in it's center, surrounded by a radiating heart design. All of this is accented with diamond-cut ridges which capture and reflect the light, giving the ring an extra sparkle! Also check out our new Gold Quince Años Heart Pendant, which features a large "15" inside a cut-out heart, with the words Quince Años around the heart itself. These items are both crafted in high-quality 14K gold!

You can also find more jewelry suitable for teens and pre-teens on our Children's and Teen's Jewelry page!

New Ceramic and Tungsten Rings

2011-01-24T15:04:00.000-06:00

Looking for rings made from contemporary, alternative materials? Then take a look at Viridian Gold's new ceramic and tungsten rings! Titanium carbide, better known as high tech ceramic, has qualities that make it desirable in jewelry: hypoallergenic properties, durability (ranking a 9 out of 10 on Mohs Scale of Hardness), scratch resistance, style and affordability. Our new selection of ceramic rings includes a wide variety of styles: smooth ceramic rings, beveled ceramic rings, and faceted ceramic bands such as our Black Ceramic Faceted Bands #1494. We also offer ceramic bands with inlays, for example, our Black Ceramic Bands with Carbon Fiber Inlay #1489. Color availability? Several of our ceramic rings come in multiple colors, such as our Domed Ceramic Band #1503, which is available in black, white and pink ceramic.

For ceramic rings paired with tungsten and other metals, check out our Flat, Black Ceramic and Tungsten Bands #1501, and our Domed, Black Ceramic Bands with Tungsten Inlay #1508. All of our ceramic and tungsten rings can double as wedding bands, for example our Black Ceramic and Tungsten Diamond Wedding Band #1512. To view our entire selection of tungsten and ceramic rings, see our Tungsten and Ceramic Rings for Men and Women.

New Religious Rings and Wedding Rings

2011-01-03T14:21:00.000-06:00

To keep up with the ever-growing demand for Christian jewelry, we have added several new rings that can be worn as purity/chastity rings or as expressions of faith. For example, see our Twisted Cross Ring #1195 in affordable sterling silver and our Carved Holy Spirit Dove Ring #1196, also in sterling silver (and a great gift for for Confirmation!).

Two popular rings for men, our "Jesus" Ring #1194 in antiqued sterling silver, and our "Faith" Ring #1193, also in antiqued sterling silver, create statements of faith for the wearer.

And don't forget to check out our other Sterling Silver Religious Rings, our Purity and Chastity Rings, and our Cross and Crucifix Rings.

We are also pleased to offer a new selection of Christian wedding rings. Weddings are especially joyous occasions, and for those of you who are contemplating marriage, we have added Christian wedding rings in both 10K gold and sterling silver. See our Crown of Thorns Wedding Band #1200 in both men's and women's sizes in sterling silver, and our Joined by Christ Wedding Bands #1197 in 10K gold. To view our complete selection of Christian and religious wedding bands, be sure to visit our Religious Wedding and Engagement Rings section.

Angels and More Angels!

2010-11-26T19:09:00.001-06:00

This Christmas, delight someone you love with an angel! Found in our Religious Jewelry section, you may choose from a collection of angel charms, earrings, medals, lapel pins, pendants and lockets. For example, in our Religious Charms section, you will find cherub and angel charms, such as our Birthstone Angel Charm #8002. Or check out one of our angel lapel pins, such as the Praying Angel Lapel Pin #6036, in our Religious Lapel Pins section.

We also offer angel lockets, such as the Angel/Cherub Heart Locket #5078, and our Angel/Cherub Oval Locket #5110, And don't forget to browse our angel pendants, such as the Fancy Angel/Cherub Pendant #5568, the back of which reads "Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God's love commits me here, ever this day be at my side to light, to guard, to rule and to guide. Amen."

With the variety of angel jewelry we carry at Viridian Gold, the most popular angel selections seem to be angel medals, appropriate for all ages, such as the beautiful, Cherub/Angel Medal #8067 in yellow or white gold, and our Guardian Angel Medal #8086 in yellow or white gold (also available in sterling silver). Find these designs and more in our Religious Medals section. Happy holiday shopping!

New Rona K "The Kids" Charms and Pendants

2010-10-25T15:10:00.001-05:00

We at Viridian Gold are now pleased to offer our customers a selection of Rona K's "The Kids" pendants! A delightful way to show off your own children and grandchildren, or as a gift for your favorite new mom or grandmother, these adorable little boy and little girl pendants come in several styles and sizes that can be worn as either bracelet charms or pendants. For example, our Boy "Kiss" Pendant #8231 is available in 3 sizes, with or without a hat. You may choose from Rona K's Kiss, Hug, Joy and Love styles.

Rona K "Kids" with diamond accents are also a popular choice, such as our Girl "Love" Pendant #8238 and Boy "Love" Pendant #8235. All Rona K "Kids" are 14K gold, original Rona K designs and come with a bail. To view our entire collection of Rona K "Kids", as well as other little boy and little girl charms, see our Charms and Charm Pendants page.

New Patriotic Lapel Pins

2010-08-25T17:11:00.001-05:00

Now you can wear more than just an American Flag lapel pin to express your patriotic feelings about our country! We have added several colorful new pins with flag motifs, as well as pins with traditional written expressions of God and Country. For instance, an old-fashioned American shield design echoes the stars and stripes in a unique, enameled 14K Gold lapel pin, the #6073 "American Shield of Honor" pin, shown to the left.

Another design is our "One Nation Under God" Lapel Pin, which allows you to wear the sentiment expressed in the words of our Pledge of Allegiance to our flag: I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." It is available in 14K white and yellow gold, as well as a more economical 10K yellow gold version.

Find these designs and many, many more in the Patriotic Lapel Pins section of our Viridian Gold website.

More Sterling Silver!

2010-07-28T17:15:00.001-05:00

Gold just doesn't seem to want to go down in price, so more folks are looking to sterling silver as their precious metal of choice. Sterling silver is an outstanding jewelry metal--on most people, jewelry made of silver acquires a beautiful, mellow patina as it ages. Some silver jewelry, though, is plated with rhodium to retard tarnishing, and this plating will prevent that patina from developing--it also will mean that you should not have to polish the item. At Viridian Gold, we always indicate if an item is rhodium plated.

We have added lots of new silver items in the last several months. Like our #1187 Princess-Cut CZ Silver Ring, shown above, and the matching CZ Necklace and Earring Set, item #2183 shown to the right.

Check our our huge Sterling Silver Collection, and find your perfect locket, earrings, ring, pendant or pin!

On some folks, their body chemistry just won't allow them to wear silver--it will turn black after only a few hours of wearing! And, some swimming pools will discolor silver, too. So, if you happen to have this reaction, you will need to stick to gold, stainless steel or platinum for your jewelry.

The Magic of Opal

2010-03-06T13:27:00.004-06:00

The opal is unique among gemstones because of its composition; it is made of hydrated silica spheres. These spheres reflect the light striking the opal like tiny prisms, creating thousands of rainbows which change in color as the stone is moved. Historically, the opal has been a symbol of fidelity and assurance, and at Viridian Gold, you will find it paired with diamonds or other gemstones in beautiful jewelry pieces. For instance, our classic White Gold Opal and Diamond Pendant #5145 is composed of a cabochon polished white opal, set in a white gold design embellished with three high-quality brilliant-cut white diamonds.

Opal comes in other base colors besides white. A good example is our Yellow Gold Pink Opal Briolette Earrings #4060, which is one of several opal earring styles we offer. See all of our Opal Jewelry at Viridian Gold, and while you are there, explore the hundreds of other items in our Gemstone Jewelry Collection!

Cool New Stainless Steel Diamond Pendant Necklaces

2010-02-08T11:34:00.005-06:00

These multi-layer, high-quality stainless-steel pendants include an 18" stainless-steel chain and are available in butterfly and heart designs! In addition to a glistening diamond accent, the sleek stainless-steel coloring is also selectively enhanced with gold and black colorings, which are applied through a durable ion-plating technique, to give a striking, 21st century look.

For example, the Stainless Steel Diamond Butterfly Necklace #2187, also includes a unique dual-bail design which splits the chain between the two black-enhanced wingtips of the gold-studded butterfly. One of our heart-shaped designs, the Diamond-Accent Heart Pendant in Stainless Steel #2184, includes rose, gold and black ion coloring in its multi-layer design. See these styles, and more, in our Sterling Silver & Stainless Steel Necklace Collection at Viridian Gold!

Sterling Silver Signet Rings

2009-10-06T11:51:00.004-05:00

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

2009-09-23T16:51:00.007-05:00

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

2009-08-13T17:03:00.006-05:00

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.

Dramatic New Signet Rings

2009-08-05T16:27:00.008-05:00

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

2009-06-25T16:38:00.006-05:00

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

2009-04-24T14:15:00.004-05:00

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

2009-04-21T13:15:00.005-05:00

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!

2009-04-01T14:32:00.008-05:00

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

2009-02-17T13:59:00.006-06:00

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

2009-01-26T13:16:00.005-06:00

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?

2008-12-30T10:37:00.010-06:00

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

2008-11-26T12:20:00.004-06:00

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

2008-11-17T09:59:00.005-06:00

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?

2008-11-11T17:02:00.006-06:00

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?

2008-11-03T12:43:00.005-06:00

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.

Onyx jewelry for men

2008-10-16T14:43:00.006-05:00

Black Onyx, that mysterious deep black gemstone that is so popular in men's accessories, is available in many styles in our store! Accessories in this style go well with formal attire, of course, but also blend with any clothing color scheme--so they make for a quality gift for any occasion. Even though onyx comes in many colors, folks just tend to think "Black" when they hear onyx. For instance, our Sterling Silver & Black Onyx Cufflinks, #9047, pictured here, are a dramatic combination, offering the contrast of the whitest metal known to man, with the blackest gemstone! Yes, silver really is the whitest metal--that is why it is used as a backing for mirrors.

Stainless Steel also makes a great masculine setting for black onyx, such as our Black Onyx & Stainless Steel Link Bracelet, #9085. It's even available with genuine 14K yellow gold accents as our #9084 Onyx & Stainless Steel Link Bracelet with Gold Accents, as shown in the picture. These items, as well as other men's accessories that utilize black accents in the form of rubber or carbon fiber, are available in our Men's Jewelry and Accessories section.

Religious Designer Wedding Rings

2008-09-10T16:27:00.006-05:00

We have recently added some really beautiful new religious wedding rings to our store--check out these stunning two-tone, Carved Cross Wedding Rings with a design which is at once both ancient and timeless. They are comfort-fit style, meaning the inside of the ring is slightly rounded (inside round) to make the ring easier to slide over the knuckle and also more comfortable over the years. The ring pictured here is also available in a White Gold Carved Cross Wedding Ring, #1052 as well as our the reverse two-tone, our #1069, where the cross pattern is yellow gold and the rest of the ring is white gold. Both of these rings feature a repeating Maltese cross style design.

Another attractive cross design is our Cross/Circle Comfort Fit Wedding Band, #1070, in which the design is "diamond-cut" into a matte-finished white gold surface. The contrast between the reflective edges of the recessed crosses with the non-reflective ring surface make for an especially elegant look!

Now you can get beautiful Promise Rings at Viridian Gold!

2008-08-22T13:45:00.007-05:00

Guys have always wanted to give their girlfriends some piece of jewelry to show their commitment to the relationship. And, when the couple is ready to take the Big Step, that event is traditionally accomplished with a diamond engagement ring. But what about a relationship that isn't quite to that point yet? Well, that is where the promise ring comes in, and more often than not, it is a diamond promise ring. We have recently added a collection of Diamond Promise Rings to our website to help you find that special, beautiful ring which says "I Promise!" A great example is the popular 14K White Gold Intertwined Hearts Diamond Promise Ring #1303 shown here. It's affordable, too, because we understand that this purchase is just not the same magnitude as an engagement ring would be! The diamonds in our rings, by the way, are not cheap, "dirty diamonds" that you find in department store jewelry. These are quality, white, good clarity stones that are worthy of a ring that is given as a promise! We always specify the diamond quality for our jewelry items, so you will always know what you are paying for!

Not all of our promise rings are diamonds-only, though. We also offer several gemstone-only, and gemstone-diamond rings, for example our 14K White Gold Heart-Shaped Garnet & Diamond Promise Ring, #1079 shown here, and it's companion, the Heart-Shaped Pink Tourmaline & Diamond Promise Ring, #1078 in 14K Yellow Gold. All of our gemstone rings are fitted with genuine gemstones, not imitation or colored glass. And, almost all of our rings can be customized with alternate gemstones of your choice, so be sure to call us if you would like to substitute another stone!

What to look for when buying a traditional wedding band

2008-08-14T13:47:00.014-05:00

First, we are using the word "band" to mean a simple ring which has little or no adornment. Like, for example, our traditional high-polish (shiny!) Gold Domed Wedding Bands, which are also available as genuine Domed Platinum Wedding Bands. A simple rule of thumb: When you buy a plain wedding band, you are paying for the weight of the gold or platinum. So how can you compare wedding bands when you don't know the weight? You can't! That is why we always tell you the weight of the precious metal in our jewelry--many Internet stores don't even tell you how much gold or platinum is in your ring, so it makes it impossible to tell if you are getting a cheap, thin ring. Even if their price is similar to ours, and the rings look similar, there is no guarantee that the ring is the same weight! And, remember that the weight will increase with the size and width of the ring, so you should expect to see a different weight as those factors change.

What about the style of the ring--you have probably heard about domed "half-round" and "comfort-fit"--what does all that mean? You can read more about that in my earlier post called "Wedding Band Basics", but basically the "comfort fit" slides over the knuckle easier because the inside is slightly rounded rather than flat, and this makes the ring a little thicker. Our 14K Gold Domed Comfort Fit Wedding Bands are available in Yellow or White gold, as well as genuine Platinum.

Then, you need to decide on the ring width, which is always specified in millimeters (mm). Most of the time, the groom's ring is wider than the bride's, such as 6mm and 3mm. If you want the rings engraved, it's best to not go any lower in width than 3mm so that the engraver will have room to place a readable inscription! How much is a millimeter? A good comparison is the US Nickel--it is 1.95mm thick. So, three nickles stacked would be pretty close to 6mm. A US Penny is 1.55mm thick, so a stack of two would be about 3mm. This enlarged photo of our #1213 Platinum Wedding Bands shows a 4mm and a 6mm ring, both in finger size 10.

You might see some rings described as "tapered". This means that the ring is not the same width all the way around, so it might be 6mm on the upper portion of the ring, and 3 mm on the lower portion, meaning that it will look funny if it rotates on your finger--this photo shows a tapered band, the left of the picture is the "bottom", or narrow portion of the ring. Tapered works best on rings that have stones mounted on their top, that is, they have a defined "top" and "bottom", but a simple band's elegance is in the fact that it is the same all the way around.

Check out our new military jewelry!

2008-08-05T16:40:00.005-05:00

Looking for something for that loved one who is in the military, or whose spouse is? Some of our newly-added military jewelry might be just what you are looking for! The Military Cross Collection, #5501 is available in both 14K Gold and Sterling Silver. There is a version of the cross for each of the branches of the armed services: US Army, which is a two-tone design, and all-yellow gold designs for the Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Navy. And, these designs are also available in more-affordable Sterling Silver.

Our American Flag Dog Tag Locket, #5089 is available in either 14K Yellow Gold, or Sterling Silver, pictured here. The locket will hold two photos, and could also keep a lock of hair or some other memento of the loved one. Remember, whenever you order a locket or pendant from Viridian Gold, you can add a chain at a reduced price! Just click on the green "Add a Chain" button above the item's description.

Divorce rings?

2008-07-25T11:01:00.008-05:00

No doubt, for a handful of people a divorce is a freeing moment, and a cause for celebration. But, this is not the major emotion felt by the majority of those who experience this life-changing event. Divorce is the second-most stressful life event for an adult, scoring a 73 on a scale of 100 in the Holmes-Rahe Stress Scale (the most stressful event, at a score of 100, is the death of a spouse).

Since the wedding ring is the symbol of the union with the spouse, the removal of that ring is also symbolic of something now missing. Many people elect to replace the wedding ring with another ring which also holds symbolic meaning, using it as a constant reminder of hope which works against feelings of despair. At Viridian Gold, we do not have any rings that are specifically "divorce rings", but some of our customers have apparently considered some of our rings to be good for that purpose. Recently, a friend of ours in another state ordered the Filigree Rope Cross Ring, #1403 in the weeks prior to finalizing her divorce from her husband of almost 30 years--suffice it to say that we know for a fact that this event is very traumatic for her, and there is absolutely no hint of "celebration" in her emotions. Instead, this ring will serve as a reminder to her of the One who is "the same yesterday, today and forever," even when all else is falling apart.

Many of our religious rings can serve this purpose for men and women who are experiencing the pain of divorce, even many of those rings that we have labeled as "wedding rings." Unbeknown to us, I suspect that a few of the religious rings that we have sold over the years have been used for just this purpose. As long as the ring reminds the wearer of the bedrock of their faith, then it will serve it's purpose of assisting it's wearer in the process of becoming single again. And, if the wearer remarries, the ring can be re-sized and moved to the other hand or given to a friend who is going through a divorce. We have collected a few of our ring styles which could be used as "divorce rings" for those of the Christian faith, to fill that "empty finger".

Ask us about custom jewelry!

2008-07-18T11:29:00.003-05:00

Recently, we had a phone call from a customer who was interested in our beautiful 14K Gold Ginkgo Leaf Brooch. She said that she had one exactly like it years ago, but it had been stolen. Except, hers was a pendant and not a brooch--that is, it had a bail in the back instead of a pin. Could we modify our #6007 to make it into a pendant, she asked? Absolutely! Our expert jeweler removed the gold pin and used it to form a bail on the back of the stem of the leaf, as the customer had requested. As usual, a photograph just cannot do justice to such a beautiful and delicate work of art as this piece, but, still, click on the picture to see a larger view of this lovely brooch!

So, the moral of this story is: If you see any jewelry item that you wish you could modify, please give us a call! Wen will be happy to discuss this with you, and provide you with a detailed quote for any modifications. That is because we are a full-service jewelry store, not a "drop-shipper!" Every item we sell, custom or standard, is personally inspected by us before we ship it to you, so you can be assured of our concern for product quality and superior customer service!

Renewing vows at the Edna Theatre

2008-07-14T13:47:00.011-05:00

Wow, this is the kind of story that really makes my job a lot of fun! Tuesday of last week, we had a phone call from some folks in tiny Edna, TX who wanted to purchase a pair of our Gold Christian Cross Rings, #1001. They were to celebrate their 32nd wedding anniversary in a special way that they did not tell me about until later!

So, after we answered lots of questions that they had, they placed their order and we fixed up their rings for them, sizing them with the specific sizes they requested (13-1/2 for him, 6-3/4 for her), and shipped them out. This afternoon, they called to tell me that they received their rings on Saturday, and really liked them, and that they had renewed their wedding vows last night (Sunday).

Where did they renew their vows? On the stage at the Edna Theatre where they had their first date! This theatre closed in 1977, and is now being restored to it's former glory. The neon sign has already been completely restored, and was re-lit in a special ceremony on June 30, 2008. They have assured me that they will be back to shop with us, and will tell their friends about our store. So congratulations, Mike and Belinda, on your happy 32nd anniversary--we are truly honored to be a part of your special celebration!

Yummy Chocolate Pearls!

2008-07-09T19:52:00.006-05:00

Well, they DO look good enough to eat, but since these are real pearls which are dyed a rich chocolate brown, they really would destroy your teeth if you tried to eat one! Quality cultured pearls make up our new Chocolate Pearl jewelry pieces. Each pearl shows its rich lustre through an equally rich chocolate hue--our 6-foot long Chocolate Pearl Rope Strand, #2040, combines darker brown color pearls with other earthy hues of golden browns and tans! Yes, you read that right--it is 72" long, so it can be looped several times for a dramatic look, especially when paired with matching 14K Yellow Gold Chocolate Pearl Lever Back Earrings, #4360! We have also added a more subdued, but still beautiful, matching 14K Yellow Gold Chocolate Pearl Station Necklace and Bracelet, #2106. And these pearls make a great addition to your jewelry box, because they are great for blue-jeans casual occasions, as well as casual-dressy and all-out glamour ones!

Breast Cancer Awareness Jewelry

2008-07-04T09:11:00.005-05:00

Most of us who are over 30 know someone who has suffered from breast cancer, the second most common cause of death among women in the US after lung cancer. In fact, in the US, women have a 1 in 8 chance of developing breast cancer in their lifetime. To call attention to these serious statistics, many survivors of breast cancer, or friends of those afflicted, choose to wear jewelry carrying the symbols of the fight against this tragic disease. We have recently added some new items to the Viridian Gold Awareness and Causes collection, available in both 14K gold and sterling silver, which call for awareness of breast cancer.

The pink ribbon has become the world-wide symbol for breast cancer awareness, and is the basis for new additions to the our store. For instance, the Pink Sapphire Awareness Brooch, #6004, is constructed of pink 14K gold, and covered with radiant pink sapphires. Our 14K gold Fleur-de-Lis Breast Cancer Awareness Lapel Pins, #6013, can be worn by men or women to show their solidarity with this cause. And, if your budget is more limited, you can choose from several beautifully-made sterling silver pieces such as the versatile Breast Cancer Awareness Ribbon Brooch/Pendants, #6030, which can be worn either as a brooch or a pendant!

Emerald? Yes, but......

2008-06-29T18:07:00.005-05:00

From time to time I will be writing about jewelry quality, or lack thereof, with actual examples from my files of jewelry items which illustrate quality issues. For this post, I have selected an emerald and diamond ring which was part of an evaluation shipment we received from a potential supplier. This supplier, by the way, was rejected because even though most of their jewelry items were of acceptable quality, there were quite a few that just don't make the grade, in our opinion. So we figured that if the supplier was OK with sending us this kind of junk, then there was no way we could trust them!

Anyway, this item illustrates several important points to look for in a gemstone ring. First of all, the emerald is genuine, but it is absolutely terrible in quality. "Clean" emeralds (that is, gemstones with few internal flaws, or inclusions) are very rare nowadays, so they command a high price. This particular gemstone is completely "occluded", that is, it is opaque, because of all of the inclusions. Well, that is understandable because of the rarity of a "clean" emerald . But, this stone is also very poorly cut--notice that its oval shape is distorted on the left side where part of the stone is missing or chipped off. Also, the mounting prongs are misshapen, so that they are not symmetrical around the stone. This is a tip-off that the manufacturer just did not take care in assembly of the ring.

Secondly, the diamonds that surround the emerald are not matched in color--some are darker than others. This photograph does not clearly show the diamonds due to the limited depth of field, but you can see enough to tell that they are also of very poor quality because of inclusions and chipping.

Since the late 20th century, natural emeralds have become very difficult to find, because natural deposits have been mostly depleted. So, folks looking for these gemstones in a reasonable price range should be interested in "lab grown" versions which have become available in the last decade. Yes, these lab-created specimens are actual gemstones, but they are manufactured under controlled conditions, and therefore are almost perfectly clear--that is, they have almost no inclusions. At Viridian Gold, we will tell you if the gemstone is lab grown, and we think that many folks will actually prefer those over the more rare, natural stones because they are much more beautiful! You can read more about gemstones on our Gemstone Information page, which is part of our extensive Jewelry Terminology information section at Viridian Gold.

What is a "Charm Pendant"?

2008-06-17T15:34:00.005-05:00

We have recently added quite a few highly-detailed family-oriented gold charm pendants to our store. These are actually small pendants, and are fitted with a pendant-like bale. But, because they are approximately 3/4" square, they can also be worn as charms on one of our charm bracelets or charm-holder pins. There are quite a few "message charm" designs, which communicate sentiments of affection for Mom, Grandma, and Sister, as well as general heart-shaped designs! And, we also have some special Children and Teen Charm Pendants, suitable for expressing friendship, parental and Godchild relationships.

The charm pendant can also be worn around the neck on a pendant chain, making a beautiful necklace suitable for all ages! Since these are also considered pendants, their purchase qualifies for a 20% discount on one of our select pendant chains--just click on the button on the item's description page.

Tarnish-resistant sterling silver?

2008-06-03T19:28:00.007-05:00

In an earlier post, I discussed the care of sterling silver jewelry. Here, though, I wanted to expound on the virtues of a common modification of sterling silver--rhodium plating. For years, rhodium has been used to plate white gold items to make them even whiter--the plating does not change the gold content. In fact, rhodium is many times more expensive than gold, and even more expensive than platinum, on a weight-basis! Since sterling silver is white, but tends to tarnish, the rhodium plating, which is also white, serves to block the oxygen in the air from attacking the silver (which is what causes tarnishing). One example of a rhodium-plated piece is our Sterling Silver Friendship Heart Necklace, #2064, which includes a sterling silver chain.

But, not all sterling silver items will benefit from rhodium plating, because sometimes the patina that the tarnish lends to silver is highly desirable, especially when it is allowed to darken the recesses of a design in a piece of sterling silver jewelry. For instance, the Sterling Silver Spiritual Promises Bracelet, #3035, has a rhodium-plated bracelet, but the sterling silver charms have an antiqued finish, and they are not plated.

So, it depends upon the design of the piece, and the preference of the designer, as to whether it will be rhodium plated or not. At Viridian Gold, we will always tell you if a piece is rhodium plated, and provide you with instructions for its care.

Diamond Purity Rings

2008-05-23T19:15:00.004-05:00

We have recently added some beautiful new rings to our collection which couple the cross and heart symbols as a dramatic statement of a woman's committment to abstenance prior to marriage. One of these, our Diamond Purity Ring, #1390, displays a beautiful budded cross in which is contained a heart. Within the heart glitters a tiny diamond, symbolic of the life of the Spirit within it. A similar ring, our Diamond Hearts/Cross Purity Ring, #1421, can also be paired with a matching pendant. For more chasitity and purity ring styles, in both silver and gold, see our Religious and Purity Rings section!

Late Gift? Let us send an E-Card for you!

2008-05-15T12:09:00.002-05:00

It happens a lot here at Viridian Gold--folks sometimes do not place their gift order in time for their recipient to receive it in time for the special occasion. This Mother's Day, for instance, we had several orders that did not get delivered in time for Mother's day, just because they were placed too late!

So, we created a brand-new, free feature to help with this problem!

If you place an order with us for a gift, and you want the recipient to know that the gift is coming and when to expect it, then be sure to use our new E-Card service! Just go the Viridian Gold E-Card page and fill in your name and the recipient's email address, and put the E-Card item into your shopping cart along with your gift. When we receive your order, we will use your information to complete the E-Card along with the expected date the gift will be delivered, and email the E-Card to your recipient. It will cost you nothing extra! Your recipient must have an email address for this to work, of course!

And, it always helps us to process your order if we know when you actually need the gift to be delivered. You can do that by explaining your needs in the optional "Comments" section at the very bottom of our checkout page. Then, when we process your order, we will read your comments and if we think that your order may not make your expected deadline, we will contact you to discuss options.

More Memorial Pendants

2008-05-09T16:12:00.007-05:00

A while back, I introduced you to a couple of our memorial pendants, and now we have added more of them! Our Small Gold Memorial Tear Pendants are elegant in their simplicity, with the symbol of the tear and the rose. They are available in both yellow (pictured) and white 14K gold, as well as affordable sterling silver.

Another unique 2-piece memorial pendant is our rhodium-plated sterling silver "A Tear to Treasure" Pendant. This comes embossed with a moving quotation from Isla Paschal Richardson: "Grieve not, nor speak of me with tears, but laugh and talk of me as if I were beside you. I loved you so--'twas heaven here with you." The Cubic Zirconia stones are mounted in a separate, open-design, tear-shaped pendant attached to the same ring as the larger solid pendant which contains the quotation.

You'll find these, and other beautiful pendants, in our Religious and Family Pendants section!

New Birthstone Jewelry

2008-04-29T11:31:00.007-05:00

We've just added some cool new birthstone jewelry items to our store! You can select birthstones to add to the jewelry, and even have laser-engraved names added on the Heart Charm Pendants! The Mother's Key Brooch pictured here is priced as fully populated with birthstones (imitation variety). You just have to pick the colors for each location--the heart-shaped handle of the key is for the birthstone of the mother, and the center stone at the end of the key is for the father's birthstone, surrounded by the children's birthstones. The Birthstone Heart Pendants, pictured below, can be populated with a specific number of birthstones, up to six, as shown in the diagrams on the item page.

You can choose from lots of other designs on our Birthstone Jewelry page! And, if the process of setting up the stones and locations is just to complicated for you, feel free to call us and we will be more than happy to walk you through the process.

Wide rings and skinny rings...

2008-04-16T12:09:00.005-05:00

If you have ever clicked on our Ring Sizing Help link, and/or ordered our $2.00 Ring Sizing Kit, you may have noticed that we recommend ordering one size larger in wider rings. So, what is a "wider ring" anyway? A great example would be the wider styles in our Domed Gold Wedding Bands. In our ring size kit, the "rings" that you can try on are about 3.5 mm wide, so that could be a big difference compared to, say, a 7mm band.

So, why do you need to order the wider bands a little larger? It's because the ring must slide over the knuckle of your finger, and the knuckle is wider than the rest of the finger--but that is good, because it keeps the ring from slipping off the finger (unless the ring size is too large)! The wider the ring, the more it must compress the skin that surrounds the knuckle as it passes over it. A narrow ring does not have to compress as much skin. This is one reason why many rings are "tapered", that is, the bottom of the ring is narrower than the top of the ring. The narrower portion makes it easier to put on, but it retains the wider appearance on the top of the ring where it is most visible. Our Triumph Wedding Band, #1398 is a tapered design, about 7 mm wide at the top of the ring.

Also, you should always measure your ring size when your hands are warm and are at their largest size, which is usually in the late afternoon. Women should keep in mind that their finger size will also increase during their monthly cycle. And, finger and knuckle relationships can vary from person to person--so make sure your ring is snug enough so that it will not slip too easily over your knuckle, or you risk having the ring fall off your finger without you realizing it!

Hollow Jewelry: Cheap or smart?

2008-04-06T16:02:00.004-05:00

Gold prices, like crude oil, have skyrocketed--see my previous post. One way that jewelry manufacturers have attempted to address this is by making some jewelry designs that use less gold. For instance, we carry lots of crucifix pendants, and one of these, our Byzantine-style crucifix, #5441, is made with a unique, hollow construction. The front of the crucifix carries an intricate design, and the back is flat, with a delicate, "engine-turned" finish. But, the pendant only weighs just over 2 grams in the 1 5/16" size. If you compare this with some other cross and crucifix pendants we carry, you will notice that it is lighter in weight than some other styles that have similar dimensions. That's because this crucifix is hollow--if it was solid, it would probably cost about twice as much! You see, a piece of jewelry that is labeled "14K Gold" must be 100% 14K gold--it cannot have any other metals as part of its construction. So, if the inside of this crucifix was filled up with lead, for instance, to make it heavier, it could not be labeled as 14K gold. Some designs are hollow just so that the piece will be affordable!

We recently had a customer return one of these crucifixes. The problem is that we all have expectations of the "heft" of a piece of gold jewelry of a particular size, and this item was disappointingly lightweight to her. Even though the description on our website of this crucifix did mention that it was hollow, and of course we also provided the weight of the item in our specification table, we went back and added a more obvious reference to this fact so that it will be more noticeable. If there is one thing we wish at Viridian Gold, it is that our customers always feel that the item they receive from us meets or exceeds their expectations!

What's happening with Gold prices....

2008-04-02T16:49:00.002-05:00

When you are in the jewelry business, you have to keep up with the price of gold, because the majority of the items you sell are affected by that. And, lately, gold has soared in price. Why is that? Mainly because the US Dollar has declined in value as compared to other currencies, especially the Euro. And, the price of crude oil has been rising steadily. Coupled with the shaky US economy (according to some folks), these trends cause investors to run for cover and put their money into something that they feel will have lasting value--Gold. As you can see from the chart (courtesy of Goldprice.org), gold has tripled in value over the last 5 years, and since September of 2007 it has risen about 50%! You can click on the graph to get a larger view.

Gold prices have receded in the last couple of weeks after peaking at $1000 per ounce, but it remains very high compared to historical levels. Don't be surprised to see it resume an upward trend in the near future as crude oil continues to rise due to demand from newly-developing countries, such as China. Gold has always been regarded as a beautiful and precious metal, and will probably continue to be so for centuries to come!

What is an "illusion" setting?

2008-03-27T20:24:00.006-05:00

Diamonds are just plain beautiful! Let me qualify that statement, though: GOOD diamonds are beautiful. Just because a stone is actually a diamond, that fact alone doesn't make it beautiful, or valuable! That's why the old "4 C's" are so important when describing a diamond. A 1-carat diamond can vary in price from $10,000 (for a VS-clarity, E-color) to $1,000 (for an I2-clarity, J-color), so quality is absolutely the most important factor to understand when buying a diamond--it's what determines a diamond's beauty. So, it really is better to get a smaller stone that is of higher quality, than to have a big "rock" that is off-color and/and full of inclusions!

If you want to buy a good quality diamond, but can't afford anywhere close to that amount, what should you do? One approach is to have the diamond mounted in a setting which shows off the diamond by making it appear larger than it really is. The light that is collected and reflected by the diamond is also reflected off the shiny white surfaces of the setting, giving the appearance of a larger stone--hence the term illusion setting. We offer several rings with illusion settings, for example, our Diamond Solitaire Engagement Ring, #1229 (pictured), or our Cross and Diamond Wedding Ring Set, #1020, both available in either yellow or white gold. Click on the photograph to get a closer view of the setting--notice how the top-down view of the stone appears larger--it is a 1/3-carat diamond, and the yellow gold version in the background holds a 1/4-carat diamond.

Most of our solitaire diamond rings can be fitted with an illusion setting if that is your preference. Just drop us an email or give us a call to find out if the ring that interests you is available in that style.

How to buy jewelry online

2008-03-20T10:22:00.003-05:00

I recently wrote an online article, Buying Jewelry Online? Here Are 7 Checkpoints To Make Sure You Don't Get Ripped Off!, which describes some common failings of online jewelry stores. You should not have any problem finding reputable online stores, but it is amazing to me how many fly-by-night stores there are out there! So, if you are new to this market, please read the article (click on the title to go to the link) and hopefully it will help you avoid some of the worst offenders.

But, some of our otherwise reputable competitors are nevertheless guilty of shady practices when it comes to advertising "sale" prices. If the store is a member of the Better Business Bureau, they must not advertise fake sale prices. In other words, the advertised "original price" must be the price at which the merchant actually sold the item before, and the "sale price" must be temporary, just like a real sale would be. This is one reason why you do not find the BBB seal on some of our competitors websites!

We have some items which are really on sale, because the are being discontinued, and you will find those bargains on our Clearance Sale Page. Notice that all of those items cannot be returned, however. That's because we are wanting to get rid of them, not because they are flawed or poor quality! We will occasionally run a sale on items which are fully returnable, too.

If you ever have any questions items on our website or our competitor's, please call or email us and we will be happy to help you!

Debit Card "bank holds"

2008-03-18T10:50:00.003-05:00

Sometimes we have customers who are surprised at the way banks handle their online debit card purchases--it is very different from a credit card transaction! When you place an order using a debit card with us, or with any online store, your bank immediately puts the entire amount of your order on hold. You cannot spend that money, but it does not mean that we have your money! So, if you cancel your order or make a change to your order which changes the original order amount, the bank "hold" for the original amount will still be present in your account! This is because the bank has no other way of making sure that the funds are available when the online merchant actually "charges" your card, and we don't do that until we ship your order (unless it is a custom order). This is only a problem when customers cancel or change their original order. If you use a credit card, a similar thing happens, but it only affects your credit line.

If this happens to you because you used a debit card with us, please call or email and request us to fax a letter to your bank explaining that the order was cancelled or changed and they should lift the hold for the original amount. Its part of our commitment to excellent customer service!

How are rings sized?

2008-03-13T13:18:00.006-05:00

In an earlier post, I talked about ring sizing but did not go into details about how that is done. So, here are a few highlights.

Most rings are manufactured in a standard size, but it is not exact. The majority of rings are made for women, in a nominal size 6. If a specific style for a man is offered, it will usually be a nominal size 10 (recently, some manufacturers have begun using 7 and 11 as nominal sizes). If you require a size 8 in our Diamond Heart Ring, #1357, for instance, it will have to be "sized up" by 2 sizes from a nominal size 6. Sizing up, for most ring styles, requires that the jeweler cut the ring's shank, open the gap, and insert more metal. The metal must then be soldered to the original ring and smoothed and polished so that the modification is invisible. If the ring is 14K gold, then 14K gold is used for both the new metal insert and the solder, so that the ring is still composed of all 14K gold.

If the nominal size 6 ring was required to be a size 5, then it would be "sized down" by 1 size. This is done by cutting out the required amount of metal from the shank and re-joining the gap with matching solder, and polishing the joint.

Many rings have designs which completely encircle the ring, such as our Rosary Ring, #1391. These styles usually cannot be sized by cutting and soldering as described above. Instead, they are either manufactured in many specific sizes, or their sizes can be slightly altered by stretching or compressing the ring using special tools and equipment which does not deform the design.

As you can see, sizing a ring requires a jeweler with great skill and a keen eye for quality. It should be impossible for you to see where the ring was sized with the naked eye, if the work was done properly. At Viridian Gold, our jeweler is a veteran craftsman with many years of jewelry design, creation and repair--and, we also inspect his work prior to packing your ring! In addition, most of our rings are also offered as "unsized", so that you can take the ring to a local jeweler for sizing if you wish.

Engraving the old fashioned way!

2008-03-11T15:23:00.007-05:00

We offer our customers an engraving service--many of our items can be engraved, such as rings, crosses and other pendants. But there are some restrictions because of very practical considerations. For instance, some pendants may be "hollow" on the back, meaning that its surface is not flat, but is molded in such a way that the back is concave (this is done to reduce the amount of gold used to make the pendant, thereby keeping the cost down). Or, the size of the item may be too small for engraving--gold wedding bands, for instance, need to be no smaller than about 3mm to leave room for readable text! Usually, if an item can be engraved, we will state this in the description, but if you have a question, please feel free to call or email us!

Some items, such as lockets, do not have flat surfaces and are easily dented by too much pressure during the engraving process. So, using a computer-controlled engraving machine would probably damage most lockets! That is why all of our engraving is done by hand, by an expert jeweler who takes great care to avoid deforming the jewelry item. It's the old-fashioned way, but it also gives you the best results. And, engraving is a personal thing, so we will always call or email if we have questions about your engraving instructions!

Omega Chains: Flexible or Inflexible?

2008-03-04T12:59:00.008-06:00

Ever wonder about the types of Omega Chain that we describe on our website? Well, here are some answers:

Omega chain comes in several types--there's reversible omega (it's cross section is a "flattened oval", white gold on one side and yellow on the other like our 6mm #7124 shown here), flexible omega (it's round and "soft", flexible like a snake chain) and "round omega" which is round also, but more stiff than flexible omega. Then there is "solid, or domed, omega", which is really a round omega that has been flattened into a crescent cross section, so that the top is domed and the back is concave. Round, domed and reversible omega chain are by design rather stiff--they form a circle when worn around the neck, rather than drooping down the chest like a pendant chain. Some domed omegas can even be "graduated", meaning they are wider at the front, and narrower at the back of the neck where the clasp is.

You can hang a pendant or slide on one of the smaller diameter omega chains, from 1 mm up to 3mm, or just wear it by itself for understated elegance. Wider omega styles are designed to stand on their own, without the addition of a pendant.

Just call or email to get special service!

2008-02-29T17:32:00.004-06:00

Normally, we tell our customers that they should allow up to 5 days for custom-sized rings, but sometimes they just can't wait that long! We had a California customer call after 5:00pm two days ago, and he needed a "stand-in" ring because he was planning to propose on Friday (today)! Apparently, he was experiencing some unforeseen delay in purchasing a diamond ring (from another jewelry store) because of the rarity of the colored diamond. But, he needed a nice ring so he could propose! He had selected the white gold Joined by Christ Wedding Band, #1018, and needed it shipped immediately. He preferred a size 5 1/2, but the quickest we could get that one to him (because it required custom sizing) would have just cut it too close, so I suggested he purchase a size 6, which is a stocked size for that item. And, though we prefer to not do this, we also arranged to have the ring and gift box shipped overnight directly from our supplier. He got it on Thursday, in plenty of time for his proposal!

So, the moral is, always call or email us (this was done through email) if you have an emergency--we will do everything we can to help you!

Dear Abby and diamond rings: What affects cost?

2008-02-27T14:50:00.007-06:00

Today "Dear Abby" had a letter from a woman whose fiancé had given her yellow gold jewelry, which she does not like--she is asking if it is OK to return it because she has always preferred white gold. For some reason, her finacé got the impression that he could save money by buying yellow gold instead of white gold! I was trying to figure out how that could be possible. One possibility is that his jeweler was pricing the white gold stuff higher than yellow gold--however, most pieces at Viridian Gold, if available in both colors, are priced the same (there are a few small exceptions). Is there maybe another reason, other than just pure fraud on the part of the fiancé's jeweler?

Well, you probably already know that for a gold, diamond solitaire engagement ring, the biggest cost swinger is the diamond itself (unless it is a very small diamond). And, diamond cost goes up as the quality goes up. One big measure of quality in a diamond is its color. It is well-known in the jewelry trade that in a yellow-gold setting, a diamond can be a little less white (that is, a J color rather than F color, for instance) and still look white. That's because the yellow gold color is very similar to the slight brown tint in an off-white diamond, so the gold "conceals" the diamond's tint. The savings could be realized because a 1/2 carat SI1 diamond with a good cut could retail for around $3,000 in an F color, but around $2,200 for a J color--a difference of about $800! The two diamonds would appear identical in a yellow gold setting, so that would be a huge savings for the fiancé if he opted for the lower-quality diamond, hoping she would not notice! Our Diamond Solitaire Engagement Set, #1230, pictured here in white gold with a 1/2 Carat diamond, is also available in yellow gold (with white gold setting).

At Viridian Gold, you can see the diamond quality right on the item's page. And, most of our diamonds are mounted in white gold settings, even if the rest of the ring is yellow gold, so that we can show off the whiteness of our diamonds!

Ancient Christian rings

2008-02-26T18:00:00.004-06:00

My wife, Josie, and I recently went to the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth to view the exhibit "Picturing the Bible: The Earliest Christian Art." The exhibit featured artwork from the catacombs in Rome, carved sarcophagi from the 4th and 5th centuries, and miscellaneous religious artifacts used the sacraments of the Church. Some of the most interesting displays, however, were of rings worn by Christians in the 3nd and 4th centuries (200-300AD). Most of them were made of carved carnelian stone, a variant of chalcedony. Unfortunately, I have been unable to get any photographs of any of those items (no photography is allowed in the exhibit), but I am working on locating some photos to put here soon! The rings typically were caved with the ichthus symbol, the chi-rho symbol, or sometimes a crucifix or "the good shepherd". Watch the blog for more information about these artifacts!

Another happy customer...

2008-02-25T09:12:00.004-06:00

Gee, I know I just wrote about one of these, but we just got another unsolicited "thank you"! This one from a customer of our Christian Jewelry Shop:

"Just wanted to let you know we have received our rings and we are very pleased. Thank you so much!" Pam W., Harrisburg PA

These folks had ordered our 1/4-Carat Diamond Cross Wedding Ring Set, #1381, and had the matching woman's rings joined together (an option we offer). It's a beautiful set of rings, and notice that the diamonds that we put in this set are very nice--clean & white, not a cheap off-white diamonds filled with inclusions. You should always check the diamond quality when comparing rings, whether it is on the Internet or in a store! Pay special attention to the largest diamond, because it is the most costly and because its size makes imperfections more visible.

It's always gratifying to hear from a customer!

2008-02-23T11:33:00.006-06:00

This morning when I checked email, I found this unsolicited note from one of our recent customers (in South Carolina), sent through the contact form on our Viridian Gold website:

"I just wanted to tell you how pleased I am with the two crosses that I purchased from you. They are beautiful and your price is reasonable. I will order from you again in the future." Olga T.

She had ordered two crosses, one of the yellow gold St. Olga Orthodox Crosses with Enamel Inlay, #5216, and the sterling silver Enameled St. Olga Orthodox Crosses with Chain, #5217. We are glad she liked those, because we quit carrying another similar type of the St. Olga cross, because although it was less expensive, it was too thin, and felt "cheap". That's just another example of why we are so selective in the items we carry in our store!

What is ring sizing, and why charge for it?

2008-02-21T14:54:00.004-06:00

You will notice at Viridian Gold that our rings are available in sizes. Many jewelry websites will sell you a ring, but in an unspecified size, and it's easy and cheap for them since they don't have to do any work! You see, rings are manufactured in non-exact sizes--usually around a size 6 or 7 for a woman's style ring, and 10 or 11 for a man's style ring.

At our store, some rings are stocked in whole and/or half sizes, such as the first row of our Gold Wedding Bands page, and some are also available in sizes, or "unsized", meaning the ring is just like what "the other guys" sell, as described above (like the Crown of Thorns Wedding Band #1397, on the second row of that page). The bottom line is that we size the ring for you, and our charge for that varies depending on the ring size and style. So, our rings will show a drop-down menu in which you select the ring size--the added cost for sizing, if any, is shown in parentheses, such as (+24), which means that $24.00 will be added to the cost of the ring when it is put in the shopping cart (when you click the "buy now" button). We can have the rings sized in other increments, such as the 7 1/8 size which one customer recently requested. Just let us know in the comments section of the order page, or call us, or send us an email with instructions.

Don't miss our Clearance Sale page!

2008-02-20T10:42:00.005-06:00

Our suppliers constantly introduce new designs and close out old ones. It doesn't mean that the old designs are "out-of-date", it just means that they weren't selling well enough. When that happens, they reduce our cost, and we pass the savings on to you by putting those super deals on our Clearance Sale page. We are constantly amazed at some of the beautiful items that get discontinued, but that creates a great opportunity for you! Just the other day a customer called us inquiring about a pair of rectangular hoop earrings from our extensive hoop earring collection--it turns out that the very pair she was interested in was put on clearance that very day, and she saved about 30% over our regular, already-discounted price! There is a catch, though--all clearance items are subject to prior sale (meaning they can sell out before we have a chance to remove them from the clearance page), and all clearance items are non-returnable.

Platinum is going through the roof!

2008-02-19T14:34:00.005-06:00

Most folks never think about the price of raw metals, but when you are in the jewelry business, those "spot price" changes can make a big difference in your cost! Today we noticed that our platinum goods are under priced by about 15%, so I checked the latest platinum market and got the last 60 days of history. That chart is shown here, courtesy of Platinum Price. Notice that in the last 30 days or so, platinum has increased from about $1,500 per ounce to $2,100 per ounce--up by 37% in only a month!

We have left our prices alone for the time being, but if platinum continues to rise at this rate, we will have to raise our platinum jewelry prices. Remember, if you prefer white metal jewelry, we have lots of white gold items, as well as a broad array of Sterling Silver jewelry!

Gold as 14K or 18K?

2008-02-18T13:19:00.006-06:00

Most of the gold jewelry items we carry at Virdian Gold are 14K gold, and many are available in either yellow or white gold. One of the calls I took today was a customer asking if our Two Tone Bypass Ring, #1305, was available in 18K gold. I checked with our supplier, and indeed it is available in 18K, but it would be a custom item, and would likely cost about double the 14K version! Needless to say, the caller was not interested!

So, what is the difference in 14K and 18K, anyway? As described in an earlier post, it has to do with the gold-alloy mix. So, 18K is 75% gold, and 14K is 59% gold. 14K is stronger and less easily scratched because of this. Both types of gold appear as yellow (for yellow gold), though, so why pay more for 18K? There really is no reason, except that 18K is perceived as higher quality by some folks, because it has more gold content. But, what a waste of money when you cannot tell the difference! White gold, for instance, is more difficult to obtain for 18K, because the alloys have to be "stronger" in white color to overcome the yellowness of the gold. And, even then, natural 14K white is "whiter" than natural 18K white. I say "natural", because both white gold jewelry items will be plated with rhodium--they will look and wear exactly the same! The only difference is that the 18K will cost much more.

To be fair, some people believe that 18K yellow gold is more "yellow" than 14K yellow gold, but that really depends on the lighting and on the actual alloy that each item contains. Bottom line--it is more about perception and personal preference.

That's why Viridian Gold carries mostly 14K gold items--it is the best value for your money. But, the quality of our jewelry is superior to many other stores' 18K jewelry. And, we do make a few of our items available in 18K gold on our website (such as our 6mm Gold Lightweight Omega Chain). So remember, when you are buying gold jewelry, 18K does not necessarily mean higher quality workmanship. But if you prefer 18K gold, please call us and ask if the item you are interested in is available in 18K--often it is a stocked (non-custom) item at our supplier, and we can therefore get it for you at a significant savings.

Faith, Hope & Love

2008-02-17T20:37:00.004-06:00

Wow--everybody likes those words! People used to name their children with those! And, of course, St. Paul said "So faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love."

We recently added this beautiful Faith, Hope and Love Necklace to our store(yes, it is shown as a pendant, but it includes a chain!)--it is so affordable because it is Sterling Silver, and it's striking design is one of the loveliest by Deborah Birdoe. Click the link to see it on our website--we have other designs by Deborah, too!

Keep those Engagement and Wedding rings together!

2008-02-16T16:05:00.005-06:00

Here at Viridian Gold we sell so-called "Bridal Sets." That's just a handy name for a matching engagement ring and wedding ring, such as our Interlocking Diamond Wedding Ring Set, #1380. Even though the petite wedding band interlocks with the engagement ring at the top, that still does not keep it from moving around on the finger, because the interlock still allows the rings to be separated. And, some of our sets, such as the Tiffany-Style Diamond Solitaire Engagement Rings with Matching Bands, #1230, (also shown here) do not interlock but simply match in appearance.

So, if you really want the convenience of having your rings stay together, we offer the option of joining the rings together with gold solder. That means that our jeweler will join the two rings on their lower halves with 14K gold. Unlike some jewelers who just put a couple of dots of gold solder, he makes a continuous joint of gold in about a 90-degree arc to join the two rings together, permanently. Though we call it "spot soldering," it is actually a continuous bead of gold solder which is buffed to a gloss to match the rings, and it is virtually invisible, since it is applied between the rings. If required, though, the rings can still be separated by an experienced jeweler without damage. Just click the "Buy Now" button for "Join Woman's Rings" on the ring's page to add that additional service to your ring order!

What is "white gold" anyway?

2008-02-15T11:35:00.006-06:00

Isn't gold yellow, after all? So what is "white gold"? Back before World War II, folks really like wearing white metal jewelry because it looked so good with diamonds--so diamond rings were commonly made of platinum. For instance, this beautiful Victorian diamond ring would probably have been made of platinum back then, but now you can get it in 14K white gold (or yellow, if you prefer!). But, when WWII broke out, platinum was restricted to government use, so jewelers introduced "white gold." Now, as you recall, gold used in jewelry is always mixed with other metals for strength. So, 14K gold means that the piece is about 59% gold, and the rest is other metals. Those metals can be chosen to make the piece take on a different color, and for white gold, those alloy metals are varied combinations of copper, zinc, nickle, aluminum or palladium.

There are many variations of alloys of white gold used by various jewelry manufacturers, but until recently, all of them have required a plating of rhodium to make them look truly "white". Without the rhodium plating, most white gold has a slight yellowish tint (not surprising, eh?). However, lately a few jewelry manufacturers have produced new white gold alloys which do not require rhodium plating, a real break though, given the astronomical price of platinum nowadays. For instance, Stuller (a highly respected wholesaler and manufacturer of jewelry) has introduced their so-called X-1 14K white gold alloy which does not require rhodium plating. Stuller, by the way, is one of Viridian Gold' suppliers, so we are proud of their accomplishment!

One thing that white gold is NOT: It is not just yellow gold with rhodium plating! So, a jeweler cannot take a yellow gold item and simply plate it with rhodium, and then legally claim it is "white gold". I have read of unscrupulous jewelers who have attempted this, but it is fortunately uncommon! Of course, all of our white gold jewelry at Viridian Gold is real white gold! Like the beautiful #4180 love-knot earrings shown here. And, many of our items can be ordered in either white or yellow gold versions!

Really Ugly Jewelry

2008-02-14T16:01:00.008-06:00

Being in the jewelry business, we get to see all of the newest jewelry fashion, and we find that there are some really beautiful designs out there, and that most jewelry designers strive for beauty and good taste. Regularly, though, we run across some really good examples of fashion gone bad (in our humble opinion, anyway). So, for some comic relief, I thought I would show you a couple of examples of jewelry that pass for "fashion".

First, check out this model, showing off her pearl waterfall. Pearls are beautiful, and so are flowers (like the giant magnolia), but give me a break! This poor girl must be trying not to laugh behind her ridiculous get-up! Even if you wore this to a party, you couldn't have a conversation with anyone if they were standing to your left: "Speak into the flower, please". If you tried to sit down at a table and eat, you would really have a hard time getting food into your mouth! And can you imagine the looks from your fellow table-mates?

Next we have Bridezilla's wedding ring. Or, perhaps Bat Woman's engagement ring. I suppose it is made out of some blackened gold, with diamonds that probably are very expensive, because they are very-very brown? Some would say the diamonds would pass as throw-aways, because of their color, but who am I to question fashion? That's a moonstone, by the way, and not a pearl. A lovely stone in an ugly setting--what a waste!

At Viridian Gold, we try to find jewelry that is truly beautiful and well made. So, each item on our website is hand-picked by us for it's beauty, and the descriptions and specifications are also composed by us. We would NEVER just download a bunch of items from a wholesale supplier and stick 'em on the website (this is actually the method used by many Internet sellers!). Instead, we strive to give you as much information about the piece as possible so that you can make an informed buying decision. And the pieces we select always represent good taste, even it it might not be something we would personally wear. Check out our Viridian Gold store, and see if you agree!

That darned Post Office!

2008-02-13T16:46:00.010-06:00

We offer several shipping options here at Viridian Gold, but one thing never changes, and that is that every order is eligible for free shipping. (That's the main reason we have a minimum order amount of $50). Our free shipping method is US Postal Service (USPS) First Class Mail, insured, with delivery tracking and signature required. We try to make sure everybody knows that a signature is required--that is for your protection and for ours!

But, what happens when you are not home to receive the package? This happens with FedEx, too (our other shipper). Well, with the USPS, they supposedly leave a note, and you have to go to your post office and pick up the package. They won't try to deliver again, at least not officially. And, they are not supposed to get a neighbor to sign for it, either!

Each and every order we ship (except for our $2.00 ring sizer kit), is assigned a tracking number. When you place your order with Viridian Gold, an order confirmation email is automatically sent to the address you give us on your order form (that's why you shouldn't use a fake email address!), and that email contains a link to our website where you can view your very own order status. When we ship your order (most non-custom orders ship within a couple of business days), we enter that unique tracking number into our system and it shows up on your order status page as a link. When you click that link, it will show you the status of your package as it moves through the USPO or FedEx system. Tracking data is updated nightly.

Sometimes our customer is not home when the USPO tries to deliver the package. When that happens, the tracking number inquiry will show that the package delivery was attempted, and that a notice was left, and that the local Post Office is holding the package for pickup by our customer. Supposedly, they will only hold for a week, but our experience is that they will keep the package around for much longer, so if this happens to you, don't hesitate to go to your Post Office and ask for your package, no matter how long it has been!

So far, the USPS has never lost one of our shipments (knock on wood!). We have had some scary situations (once, an Express Mail package, containing wedding rings, was misrouted to the Cayman Islands instead of California--so it ended up being delayed by about a week!), but those have happened with FedEx, too! And, when you live in a rural area, the USPS is by far the most economical method of shipment.

You can upgrade your shipping, however, to FedEx ground which is fully trackable, as well as other FedEx air options. And, the USPS offers a very reasonable Overnight Express Mail option, which is actually overnight to most locations (but NOT Alaska or Hawaii!)

So, all in all, we think the USPO does a pretty good job, and that's why we trust them with virtually all of our shipments! If you ever have a question about a shipment or status of an order, don't hesitate to call us.

Sterling Silver--a great choice for jewelry!

2008-02-12T09:19:00.004-06:00

Because of soaring gold and platinum metal prices, lots of folks are re-thinking sterling silver jewelry. Since silver is the standard by which metal whiteness is measured, a sterling silver ring will look great on your finger, and no one will know it's not platinum! Because silver is much less expensive than gold (and is only slightly less dense than 14K gold), a silver ring can be made with more of the metal, giving it good "heft" and feel. At Viridian Gold, we also have many items which combine sterling silver and 14K gold, such as our Silver & Gold Cross Ring and our Silver & Gold Amethyst Cuff Bracelet, just to name a few!

Silver items will tarnish, of course, but many silver jewelry items are worn close to the skin, such as pendants and rings, and these items tend to stay tarnish-free on most people. If not exposed to harsh chemicals (such as pool chlorine or sulfur), these items will rarely need polishing. Other types of silver jewelry that are not worn daily, such as earrings or pins, will need to be polished periodically (unless they are plated with rhodium, see below)--they will also benefit by being stored in a tarnish-inhibiting cloth or jewelry box. And, some folks seem to have a skin chemistry that just does not agree with silver, perhaps because of diet or general body chemistry, so they will need to polish their silver jewelry more often.

But, tarnish actually adds that rich look that silver jewelry is so famous for, because it darkens the recesses of the jewelry (where silver polish does not easily reach), and adds a dramatic contrast to the piece!

It's easy to polish a silver neck-cross or silver ring: simply use your own toothpaste, rubbing it over the item with your fingers and then rinsing it off. It's quick and cheap! The same materials that polish your teeth will gently remove the tarnish, leaving alone the darker recesses of the design. But, don't ever polish any sterling silver items that are rhodium plated! That's because the polish will remove the rhodium (which does not tarnish) and expose the silver, allowing it to eventually tarnish.

Bridal wedding ring sets

2008-02-11T10:15:00.005-06:00

We really like helping folks prepare for their wedding! We understand how critical the wedding rings are for them, and that's why we offer so many services to help get those rings just right.

First, you need to select the style. Viridian Gold offers several styles of traditional and religious rings, many of which you will not find anywhere else on the Internet! Most of these styles can be customized with a particular size and quality of diamond for the engagement ring, and we can help you with that decision.

Second, rings have to be sized--we can size in 1/4 size increments from the smallest to the largest fingers. Even though the average finger size is about 6 or 7 for a woman, and 10 or 11 for a man, we have had customers who had the exact same finger size (size 6) for both the man and woman! And, just today we had an order for a man's ring in size 7. So, "non-average" sizes are not unusual!
After those two big decisions, some folks might want to modify one of our religious wedding ring sets (such as #1023 above) that features recessed black enamel crosses by removing the black accent, so that the ring is all gold. The crosses are still there, they are just not as pronounced. We offer the option, for an additional fee, of shipping the rings to you without the black accents on the crosses.

And, if the engagement ring includes a petite matching wedding band, such as our 1/4Ct. Diamond Cross Wedding Ring Set #1381 (shown to the right), for a small fee we can attach the two rings together so that they are more comfortable and convenient to wear. Some bridal sets have an interlocking design, and some are just "matched" (like the ones shown), but either way, you can have the rings joined.

And, finally, we can help our customer get the rings on-time! It always helps us to know when you actually need the rings, so that we know if you are in a time-crunch. But, for a good rule-of-thumb, don't wait till the last minute to order your rings! Give yourself and us a comfortable margin of error so that if your order encounters an unexpected delay, it will not affect your wedding plans. A good rule-of-thumb is to order your rings about 40-60 days before the wedding date. But, if you are in a hurry, please let us know and we can advise you as to how to best make your deadline!

Memorial Jewelry: Remembering loved ones

2008-02-09T09:59:00.004-06:00

Every day my 91-year-old mother picks up her morning newspaper from the front door of her apartment in her Mississippi retirement home and the first thing she does is turn to the obituaries! It's not a morbid fascination, it's just because she is at that age where most of her friends and peer-relatives (her husband of 55 years, her only brother, etc.) have passed on. Last year, my wife's father died at the age of 93, and she is still finding acquaintances and distant relatives who were unaware of his passing.

Many folks like to remember deceased loved ones with a piece of jewelry--typically a pendant or locket worn close to the heart. One customer recently ordered a gold locket, which she had us engrave with a friend's husband's birth and death dates--she was buying it on behalf of a group of friends who were going to present it to the widow as a memorial gift.

Photo lockets make it easy to keep a picture and perhaps a lock of hair from your loved one. We also offer several silver and gold memorial pendants and necklaces in our Religious and Family pendants section. A beautiful example of such a pendant is the expressive "Wings of Remembrance" design, symbolizing the release of death. It's pictured here and is available in white and yellow gold, as well as affordable sterling silver.

What about religious jewelry? Some news....

2008-02-08T11:30:00.003-06:00

We have started a sister site, http://www.christian-jewelry-shop.com/, to help spotlight some of our more specifically Christian jewelry items, with product descriptions that are written with a more theological bent. You can find specifics about types of crosses and crucifixes, for instance, with many historical and scripture references in the descriptions. Also, there is a resources page which provides some helpful links (IMHO!) to socially and theologically responsible sites. All of the items on that site are also on our Viridian Gold site, but the descriptions are a little different to accommodate different audiences, 'cause we think folks who browse the Christian Jewelry Shop are more interested in those details!

And, you will find and ever-growing pot load of gold Religious Jewelry on our Viridian Gold site with a more extensive selection than our Christian Jewelry Shop site. For instance, dangle cross earrings with both post and hook styles, religious charms and religious medals, with many of these items available in silver versions, too!

On both sites, you will find some beautiful wedding rings with Christian religious themes, both with and without diamonds. And we can even build up these rings to your specifications, with your ring sizes. Many of these styles are available in specially-prices sets, meaning you can buy two or three rings (engagement and 2 wedding rings) for less than buying them separately. And, don't forget that most rings (those 3mm and wider) can be engraved!

Whew! What a year!

2008-02-08T11:26:00.001-06:00

Yes, lazy bum that I am, no postings since spring of last year???!!!
Well, I do have some excuses--death in the family, and responsibilities that follow such things have helped contribute, but really I could have done better! We have kept the store running through all of this, so now it's time to get back to a reasonable routine. So, hopefully posts will occur on a fairly regular basis from now on!

Wedding Band Basics

2007-04-20T11:30:00.003-05:00

Do you know the difference in "Half-Round" and "Comfort-Fit" wedding band styles? This is a common point of confusion for those in the market for genuine Platinum or Gold wedding bands--the difference in style may not be apparent at first glance, but the cost difference is apparent! This price difference is due to the weight of the precious metal, as well as the extra complexity of the comfort-fit style.

It all boils down to the difference in the cross section of each style. As the illustration shows, the half-round style is flat where it contacts the finger, but domed on the top of the ring. However, the comfort-fit style is slightly domed against the finger, as well as on the top. Because of this slight domed-effect on the inside of the ring, the comfort-fit style will slide more easily over the finger joint than the half-round. This difference translates into a ring whose cross-section is thicker in the comfort-fit style, making the ring heavier: the result is more weight of precious metal, and therefore higher cost.
In addition, Viridian Gold offers both a standard weight, and a heavy-weight version of each style. The diagram shows that for the standard version, shown on the left side of each cross-section, the ring thickness is less than for the heavier version. Again, this translates into a difference in weight--the standard version contains less precious metal and is therefore less expensive than the heavier style. Most people will find that the standard comfort-fit version offers added comfort over the traditional half-round style, but still provides a ring with "heft" and quality thickness. You can find both 14K Gold and genuine Platinum wedding bands on our website.

Hand Engraving: Best for Lockets

2007-03-21T12:21:00.000-05:00

Did you know that some engraving machines are completely computer-controlled? Like many other machines that used to be hand-operated (sewing machines and embroidery machines, for instance), engraving can now be done completely by machine with virtually no human intervention. This is great for items that are thick and solid, like the inside of a wedding band, or the plaque on a trophy--and it can produce very small text which is precisely positioned.

But what about a locket that is made of relatively thin gold (compared to the thickness of the ring), and usually domed, also? Even a heavy locket that has a thick shell can be deformed by the pressure of the engraving tool. That means that the potential exists to permanently dent the locket where the engraving is placed! A computer controlled engraving machine does not have the ability to give "tactile feedback" needed to properly engrave hollow and domed items--it is fine for use on a plaque or a ring. This is the reason that locket engraving requires the skills of an experienced jeweler who uses an "old-style", manually operated engraving tool. That way, the engraver can control the amount of pressure on the locket to insure that it is not damaged.

When your locket order with Viridian Gold specifies engraving, your locket is skillfully engraved by our expert jeweler, using a hand-operated engraver.

Jewelry Photographs and Jewelry Size

2007-03-07T15:44:00.001-06:00

Jewelry Photographs are Almost Always Magnified

In general, jewelry items are small! This is because the components that make up the jewelry are costly--gemstones and precious metals--and the more there are, the more expensive the piece. Often, a person who is not familiar with jewelry may be surprised at how small a piece actually looks in "real life." Why? Because the photography that we use to show our jewelry virtually always shows the piece as a close-up. So, if you have been poring over photographs of diamond pendants, for example, you are seeing the items with much more detail than you would see if you examined the piece with the naked eye. For example, our 1/2 Carat Princess Diamond Scroll Pendant is shown to the left. That is the full size of the photograph, but the actual item is only 3/8" high by 1/4" wide, as per our specifications. On my computer monitor (set for 1280X1024), the pendant appears as about 3X actual size. If your monitor's resolution is less, it could appear much larger, say 4X actual size. Even though the item is small, it sells for around $1,300, primarily because of the size and quality of the diamond.

We provide close-up photographs so that you can inspect the piece visually, in addition to consulting our detailed specifications which we provide for each item. We always provide you with the dimensions of the item, usually both in millimeters and in inches, as well as the weight in grams of the precious metal. You might wonder why we do not provide an "actual size" photo for each item--the reason we do not is because the size of the photography will change depending on the settings of your computer display! So, if we were to size a photograph to be "actual size" for one screen resolution, it could appear either bigger or smaller on another computer, depending on how its screen resolution was set up.

So, whether you are shopping on our site or one of the may other Internet jewelry stores, always consult the physical dimensions and the metal weight of the items you are interested in, and use that information along with the photograph to form your opinion. If a merchant does not provide you with dimensions or weight, and especially information about the quality of the diamonds or other gemstones, you would do well to avoid purchasing from them!

Comparing costs of Gold or Platinum Wedding Bands

2007-03-05T15:04:00.002-06:00

You probably already know that you should make sure that any rings that you are comparing are the same material, ie, both are 14K gold--obviously, there is a difference in cost in 14K and 18K gold rings of the same gram weight! But, you should also make sure that when you are comparing Platinum rings, that your compare the same "fineness" of Platinum. In the US, a jewelry item is allowed to be labeled solely as "Platinum" or "Plat" if it is at least 95% Platinum, that is, it has a fineness of 950. Even so, you will often see an item marked "950 Plat", even though the "950" part is not required by law. Beware of rings that are labeled "900 Plat", because as you might guess, they contain less Platinum than 950, and should be discounted accordingly.

Besides the fineness of the gold or platinum, the shape of the ring is vitally important in determining the cost. As the illustration shows (click for a larger view), the half-round style of ring is flat on the inside of the ring, next to the finger, but rounded on the top. The comfort-fit style ring is also slightly rounded on the inside, which makes it easier to slide onto the finger and over the knuckle. But the comfort-fit style is also thicker in the cross-section, which means that it will weigh more than a half-round design.

Finally, the quality of the construction of the ring will have a significant impact on price. The more highly polished the finish, the more labor is required to make the ring, and therefore the cost will be affected. In addition, the quality of the surface of the ring is impacted by the quality of the molding of the ring during the manufacturing process. If the surface of the ring is deeply pitted, then no amount of polishing will remove those defects. Your ring should be perfectly smooth inside and outside, with absolutely no evidence of pits, cracks or ripples in the metal surface.

You can find several styles and price ranges of men's and women's Gold Wedding Rings and Platinum Wedding Rings on Viridian Gold's website, all available in full and half sizes.

Hinged Hoop Earring Tips

2007-03-02T16:26:00.001-06:00

Some women like hinged hoop earrings because they are so easy to open and close. For the earring hinge to be well made, though, it is usually required that the earring be solid, rather than hollow. Otherwise, the hinge at the bottom of the earring cannot be concealed very well (you want it to virtually disappear when the earring is closed).

But solid earrings will weigh more, and cost more, than hollow ones. So, if you really like that pair of 24mm hinged hoops, make sure you check the weight of the pair! Many women find that anything over 3 or 4 grams per earring (we always give the weight for the pair, so divide it by two) feels too heavy on the ear piercing. In fact, we have stopped carrying large hinged hoop designs because our customers did not like their weight! The solution is to go with the hollow designs that use a snap-post closure, such as our #4127 1.4mm Round Tube Hoops, shown in the picture to the right.

Hinged huggie designs, which fit close to the ear, will wear more comfortably, even though they are solid, because they are much shorter and therefore do not "swing" as much, which makes their weight less noticeable. Our #4237 2.5mm Gold Huggies (left) are available in white or yellow 14K gold, are 2.5mm wide and weigh only about 1.5 grams each. Wider huggies are proportionately heavier, such as our #4238 6mm Hinged Huggies, which are also available in either yellow or white 14K gold--they weigh about 3.2 grams each. You can get help with earring terminology on the Viridian Gold website. We carry hundreds of styles of earrings, so be sure to check out our Earring Section to find that perfect pair!

Watch our Blog for the latest Viridian Gold News!

2007-02-26T17:07:00.000-06:00

We will post all the latest info here--new products we have recently added to Viridian Gold, as well as tips on jewelry purchasing and spotting quality problems in jewelry!