Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Cruise Winners!

As part of our annual Anniversary Sale, we give away a Mexican Cruise. This year the winners were Jack and Renee Hodges!!! Congratulations!

Countersketch

As of November, we have a new program in the store for customers to use in order to create custom engagement and fashion rings and pendants! Check out the video above that tells all about it. The great part(s) (yes...parts) about this program is that you can show the ring on a hand before it's made. You can also take almost any design and craft it however you want. Come in to give it a whirl!

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Ideal Cut Diamonds

I find that most people who walk into the store know that when grading diamonds there some-thing called the 4 C’s. Color, Clarity, Carat, and the fourth is Cut.
What they don’t know is that Cut goes beyond the shape of the diamond. After all, if it was the shape we were concerned about, they’d be called the 3 C’s and an S.
In 1919 a mathematician by the name of Marcel Tolkowsky, wrote a Masters thesis on the facet proportions for round brilliant cut diamonds. His findings were the basis for what we now call the “Ideal Cut" diamond.

In stories passed down, it’s said that he asked people in the streets of London to select the most appealing diamond from a small group. From these casual opinions, and together with those of the diamond cutters in his family's Belgian business, he confirmed the proportions of the best looking diamonds. He then had to use his math and physics skills to prove why this was.

The proportions he chose produced a masterpiece diamond. However, it’s taken more than eighty years for the rest of the diamond industry to realize that his theories predicted a range of proportions, not just the single set of parameters. Tolkowsky was aware of a trade-off between the maximum brilliance and maximum fire that results from the many varying combinations of crown and pavilion angles possible.
It wasn’t until 1996 when AGS (American Gem Society) began proportion based Cut grading based on Marcel’s proportions.

Only one in twenty diamonds are ever cut to ideal proportions. The reason behind this being, diamond cutters want the maximum amount of carat weight out of the rough diamond.
When you start to look your first diamond, comparing color and clarity is not enough. You must also be comparing the perfection of the cut. Any-thing cut too deep or too shallow will lose the brilliant fire that it could have.
Here at Belliston’s, we specialize in only Ideal Cut or Near-Ideal Cut diamonds. Each stone is hand-picked by Dean Belliston and must meet certain standards. You can be sure when buying your diamond that you will be getting the absolute best stone for your money.

Monday, June 28, 2010

Pearls: Symbol of Purity

Care and Cleaning

For centuries, pearls have been considered ideal wedding gifts because they symbolize purity and innocence. These opulent gems can keep their rainbow lustre for centuries, when the generations of owners remember how these jewels of the sea differ from other precious gem material, and the proper way to care for them.
Proper care of pearls is not difficult, and it is merely a matter of remembering that these gems are organic by nature, grown in water from living cells of a mollusk. Like the oysters or mussels that formed them, they require moisture. Because they usually are worn on a silk string which will deteriorate when wet, the pearls will need to be re-strung more frequently if they are taken for a swim in salt or fresh water. Never expose to chlorinated water. Like their "organic" owners, pearls are prone to damage from pollution and injury. They can't stand the heat, and they should definitely stay out of the kitchen. After all, historically they were a gem for the wealthy and not the maid.
Here are some other tips to remember to keep your wedding jewelry elegant for years to come:

• Apply cosmetics, perfume and spray products first before putting pearl jewelry on.
• Wipe off your pearls after wearing by using a soft cloth. Avoid commercial jewelry cleaners unless specified on the label.
• Re-string pearls regularly for the sake of the pearls as well as to avoid a broken string. Makeup, powder and grime will form a soft, gluey paste on the string, attacking both the silk and the pearls.
• Store pearls separately from other jewelry, in a cloth bag or jewelry pouch.
• Avoid-
           o Perspiration.
           o Acids in the skin and elsewhere.
           o Makeup and skin creams.
           o Perfume.
           o Hairspray and insect repellent.
           o Talcum powder.
           o Dust and grit.
           o Ultrasonic cleaners.
           o Steam cleaning.
           o Soap and detergent
           o Chlorinated water in shower or pool.
           o Scratches from crystalline gemstones and metallic jewelry.
           o Dehydration
           o Heat

How to Care for Your Ring

White or Yellow Gold
Gold rings should be inspected by a trusted jeweler every six months. This includes checking for loose stones, and prongs that may be wearing down. To keep your prongs from wearing fast, take your ring off at night as the sheet fibers will pull on the prongs and rub on them, loosening up your center diamond. Gold is a precious metal and with normal wear will begin to shift and file down. With white gold, it is a naturally off-white color and will need to be Rhodium Plated every six months to a year to keep it looking as new as the day you said “Yes.” If you work with chemicals on a consistent basis, the frequency of rhodium plating will increase, so it’s recommended that you remove the ring while working with even simple cleaning chemicals. This is actually highly recommended for any metal. If chemicals get trapped between the ring and your finger, it can cause an allergic reaction.

Platinum
Platinum is softer than gold, and will scratch much easier. You will need to have it polished about every four months as it becomes dull and gray. Although platinum is a very strong metal, it’s recommended that you have stones checked as well. Do not wear your platinum or other fine jewelry when doing home cleaning, gardening, or other types of heavy work or manual labor.

Tungsten/Tungsten Ceramic
Tungsten ceramic is a little more vulnerable than and not as strong as other tungsten styles. We would advise that customers wearing a tungsten or tungsten ceramic ring take the ring off during physical activities where the ring may get damaged. Be aware that the ring should not be soaked in harsh chemicals for they will weaken the tungsten and especially the ceramic. Tungsten is a brittle metal and care is needed. To clean, simply wash with warm water and soap. If the band happens to break or if it simply needs to be exchanged for a new size, bring it back to Belliston Jewelry and the wholesale company will replace the band for free. A $20 fee is charged for shipping.

Titanium
Titanium is slightly harder than gold and therefore will scratch. It will need to be polished and refinished about every six months to a year. Titanium is also a very strong metal and so if it gets hit it will not break, but is also not very pliable. As with tungsten, bring the band into Belliston Jewelry and the wholesale company will replace the band if bent or if a simple size exchange is necessary. A $20 fee is charged for shipping.

Monday, June 21, 2010

HURRY FAST!

The first person to come into the store tomorrow morning with 5 referrals (Name, address, and phone #'s of those you know who are looking for a ring) will get a free set of pearls! Doors open at 10am!!!!!

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

How to find your Perfect Ring

How to find the ring you’ll fall in love with over and over…

Ring shopping can be just as selective as the process that you went through to find your significant love.
When I ask a couple what they are looking for, the majority of the time they say, “I’m not sure.”
Many times when couples are dating, they aren’t sure what they want until they find the right person. The same is true for your engagement ring.
Only, how are you supposed to find that one perfect ring in a sea of stores?
The majority of jewelry stores have no specific focus on what they sell. You walk in and see colored stone pendants, diamond ear rings, pearl necklaces, and then tucked into one or two cases are those special rings that you’re looking for.
I’ve had the chance to experience the selection and atmosphere of other jewelry stores and I’ve found that there are about 100 styles of rings in each store.
However, you find that your cousin Jen has that same three stone ring. And your ex-roommate, Carrie, has that other ring. There are 100 styles that continue to repeat themselves in every store.
Here at Belliston Jewelry we have over 1,000 styles of engagement rings in the store alone.
Each associate in our store are experienced in helping you navigate. We know the store, and we want to help you find the right one. We’re like your matchmaker, so to speak. And since our focus is on you as a customer, we don’t just try to sell you a ring, we keep it within your budget.
If you desire to have something unique and separate from Jen’s or Carrie’s remember that Belliston Jewelry has over 1,000 unique styles to choose from.



Congratulations to you in this great time of your life!

More Facets, More Sparkle??

A look into what makes your diamond more radiant…


I recently spent a Wednesday night going around to various jewelry stores in the Ogden area and looking at what they had to offer. Without pointing fingers, one particular store was trying to sell me a diamond that was extra special—it had more facets. Without rolling my eyes, I tried to look very impressed.
There is one big reason why diamond suppliers and stores try to pass off these brilliant “multi-faceted” round stones. The secret is that they aren’t the best. So they figure they can sell more by trying to make those diamonds different.
Let’s face it, the round brilliant stone has been around for an extremely long time; hence, giving stores more impressive ways to market their duds.
As a rule, these extra facets don’t create any extra brilliance.
In fact, I read a blog entry by Maarten de Witte, one of the team members that created the Hearts of Fire diamond. According to him, research has shown that extra facets actually create less facet contrast.
This minimal contrast results in less sharply defined bright-ness, fire and sparkle.
Let’s see, the last time I checked, we wanted more sparkle from our diamonds!
I want you to imagine a one carat round diamond with a million facets on it. To me, all it looks like is a large frosted ball. More facets=less sparkle.
To get that blinding oomph that you want out of your diamond, what you should be asking from your diamond is, “Are you cut right?”
Here at Belliston Jewelry, we specialize in the Ideal Cut diamond.
When the diamond is cut to the correct proportions with the right amount of facets, what you get is the most brilliantly blazing stone you can afford.







de Witte, Maarten. "Are More Facets Better?." Aug 2009: n. pag. Web. 11 Jun 2010..

Friday, April 16, 2010

Round vs. Princess

So, I've decided to tackle the issue of getting a round diamond or a princess. As a person with jewelry knowledge considering looks, and history...the Round is the BEST shape and cut to get. "Why?" you may ask. Well, here are the perks of a round:

-Rounds (if cut correctly to Ideal proportions--We here at Bellistons sell almost exclusively Ideal Cut diamonds) have the most fire and brilliance than any other cut. More sparkly for us girls!

-Rounds are classic.

-Rounds can be passed on to your children and children's children because of their classic nature. If a heart-shaped diamond had been popular with your grandma, would you want it?

Right now with diamond trends, your princess is the most popular next to the round. It's got more of a modern edge to it that a lot of brides are favoring at the moment. Got that? At the moment. Think back twenty to fifteen years ago. Many of the women who got married then most likely have a marquise shape diamond, huh? (Marquise cut is the one that looks like a rain drop, but is pointed on each end) That is, unless she was smart and got the classic round. But nowadays, we can't even sell the few marquise diamonds that we have, so we don't even keep more than two in stock. Here are some of the downsides of a princess:

-The edges of a princess are actually more vulnerable than any part of a round diamond. If the corners of that princess are hit, there is a very large chance that it will chip!

-It's a fad. In fifteen to ten years, it will most likely be out of style or nearly there.

-Princesses DON'T sparkle as much as a round.

-Princess diamonds are not necessarily square either. Good luck getting it to stay tight and secure longer than the round.

Okay, I'm not bitter against princesses. I actually really wanted one a few years ago. But now, I've been converted and I'm just trying to tell the world! What are your views?

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Best Friend

Due to my Musical Theater love, I thought that this might be fun! Who knew that Marilyn Monroe could sing more than just "Happy Birthday"! :)

Find Jethro

So, last week, we just completed the competition for the Weber County "Where's Jethro." I ended up finishing all the websites by three in the afternoon....and didn't win a thing cause I didn't do it earlier in the morning. Needless to say, I was a little bummed.

Trust Issues?

With so many dishonest jewelers in the world today, it's hard for consumers to enter a jewelry store and not feel like they are in a used car dealership. So often we have customers who are uneasy about letting someone work on their loved pieces without watching every step, or young couples with no knowledge into the diamond business get caught up in what seems like a "great deal". I was recently talking about my frustrations with the lack of general public jewelry knowledge with my friend the other day as we drove to Salt Lake. She and her husband got her ring at a jewelry store at the mall, and were ripped off (I looked at it and it looked like a (K) in color when they were told it was an (E). Yikes!). She kept saying how she wished she had known all of the things that I've told her about diamonds when she bought hers. 
That's one of the things that is so great about working at Bellistons. I actually can feel confident that I am selling something that I believe in. One of the things Dean was telling me recently was that we need to get our name out into the public. People who listen to the radio know the Shane Co. ad by heart (unfortunately we have to hear it from Mr. Shane himself who is very monotone and unexcited). So without spending bajillions of dollars on radio ads, we are finding new ways to tell people about us!
For past and present customers, come in and pick up a few referral cards! You could earn hundreds of $$$ for store credit!

Monday, March 22, 2010

Ideal Ring

Hidee Ho Jewelry Neighbors!

Today, I (Jernae) have decided to dedicate my blog post to what I like in an engagement ring. When I first started working at Belliston Jewelry, I knew exactly what I wanted. A 1.5CT princess cut diamond in an antique style ring that wrapped around the diamond. But as I've been employed at the store for nearly three years now, I find that my own tastes have changed--and simplified. I find that I try explaining the benefits of a round diamond to our customers over the princess (I might post about that later. It could take a while!), as well as what the ring looks like.

First of all, don't think I'm strange, but I LOVE rose gold. The bronze color of the gold is not as BOOM as the yellow gold (nor as old looking), plus you don't EVER have to have it rhodium plated like you have to do with the white gold. Also, I have absolutely fallen in love with the simply solitaire. The designer, John Bagley (love him!) has designed a solitaire that is gorgeous! It's the picture to the left.

Happy Ring shopping!

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Men's Engagment Rings?

Three posts in one day!? I must be on a roll.

I just had a customer in the store that asked me, "Why don't men wear their ring before the wedding like women do?". The only thought I had was, "Well, maybe it has to do with the 'KEEP AWAY FROM MY WOMAN' connotation that it implies." But at the same time, I wondered why women can't say "KEEP AWAY FROM MY MAN!"  So, I looked it up and what I found was this: A wedding band, is a wedding band. Women don't wear theirs till they are married, so neither do men. However, I did find that some men actually can do one of two things. In dutch tradition, the engaged men wear their ring on the right hand till they are married and then switch it over to the left hand. There is also the possibilty of wearing a men's engagement ring that is different from the wedding ring.

Whoda thunk?

Engagment Ring Trends

Hi, Jernae here! I'm the Office Supervisor here at Belliston Jewelry, and also the writer of this blog. From time to time, I will have others here at the store post their feelings and insights, but today you get to hear from me. People ask me often what our most popular style is, and I point them towards our channel set rings as well as the cathedral sets, but as I thought about that, I also wondered: What is the biggest Engagement ring trends of the year? So, I did some reasearch and I found a website that pointed out 6 different trends:

1. Colored Stones

I never would have thought! Everyone always associates diamonds with engagement rings, but then I remembered a yellow sapphire engagment ring that I saw last year. It...was...gorgeous. We even have a few blue Diori Diamonds (diamond substitutes) that we sell that would make such a beautiful center to a ring. If you are looking for something TRULY different, go with a colored stone!

2. Diamonds Around the Center (or what I like to call "Halo's")

My roommate, Eli Hernandez, comes into the store every so often to look at a diamond crusted oval Halo ring and she's just fallen in love with it. The Halo, to me, brings a sense of antique elegance that is missing from most rings. If you are someone who is whimsical and romantic...this is the ring for you!

3. Intricately Raised Center Stones

We have this one ring in the store that a customer once said reminded him of a ring that the elves from Lothlorian (I think that's how it's spelled) would wear. These rings bring a sense of fantasy to your engagement ring and take you right down into the elaborateness of Middle Earth.

4. Twisted Bands

This was the one setting that I felt that I always wanted when I was in High School (I'm such a girl). To me, the twisting of the bands can represent the uniting of two different persons. Because in a marriage, that's what you become...one.

5. Vintage

Heirloom styles for those who are truely classic. These are the styles that keep coming back. The ring that your grandmother wore, or your great-grandmother.

6. Eco-Friendly

Here at Bellistons, our diamonds are already conflict-free! Did you know that you were being eco-friendly by purchasing one with us? Not only that, but the gold that is supplied to us has also been recycled as well. You're such a green-thumb!

Ring Contest!

We have officially started our ring contest for the year! So make sure that you get your ring designs into us before the end of March! Good Luck! Here is our winner from last year:

Monday, March 1, 2010

The Invention of Lying

So, I was watching this movie the other day and the main character's last name is Bellison!! Not quite the same as Belliston, but I was completely flipping out!

Store Blog

Hello Readers!

We at Belliston Jewelry want to talk to you! On this blog we will be discussing the products that we sell, your experience with us, and most importantly to get to know you and become part of your lives. We will also occasionally be holding contests! Everyone loves free stuff, right?

Just as a reminder, we will be starting our annual ring design competition again this spring! So start thinking about your designs now, and visit our website to print off an application!