Titanium, the hardest natural metal in the world is stronger the steel and yet is very lightweight. Also it is known for its lustrous natural grey color and 100% hypoallergenic traits which make it safe for everyone because it will not react with your skin. Because of these human friendly traits titanium is increasingly becoming a more popular metal used with different types of body jewelry. Unfortunately, titanium is expensive due to the fact that it cannot be soldered and because of its strength, high-tech machinery and equipment is needed to process titanium.

Titanium is a great metal to use for jewelry because of its strength and greater scratch resistance compared to gold, silver and other metals. Pure titanium will not react to oils in the skin, sunlight and salt water. Not only this but titanium can be colored with a wide array of exotic colors where most other metals suitable for jewelry cannot.

Be aware that if you do have colored titanium jewelry like with any metal the colored titanium can be scratched off. The color is caused by oxidisation which only affects the surface of the metal not the entire depth. Oxygen tends to cause a structural change in the metals surface therefore creating an oxide. By using electricity for certain periods of time, the oxygen is forced onto the metals surface and causes it to change colors similar to putting oil on water.

If you purchase a colored titanium ring it is a good choice to get a ring with the satin finish because it will help keep the ring looking great for a longer period of time. Another option is to purchase a colored titanium ring with the color part in grooves for added protection.

One problem with titanium rings is because of their strength they cannot be resized. Sometimes titanium can be stretched up in size, but not down. Make sure when you purchase a titanium ring you give the correct finger sizes to the jeweler.

Another quality trait about titanium is its non-magnetic properties, which makes it ideal where electromagnetic interference is a problem. The most common type of jewelry made with titanium is rings, bracelets and pendants. Men tend to be more attracted to titanium jewelry then women because its durability and strength make it last longer.

Clean titanium jewelry simply by using a soft cloth and warm soapy water. Never use strong detergents or chemicals. Although titanium rings are scratch resistant like any metal they will scratch and show signs of wear. It is a great idea to get your titanium jewelry polished at least once a year to help keep its lustrous looking properties.

A gemstone carat is a type of measurement used to describe the mass or weight of a gem.

Initially only applied to diamonds, the term carat now applies to most precious and semi-precious stones.

There must not be any confusion concerning gold karats and gemstone carats. There are two distinct types of measurement. Gold Karat is referring to gold purity and does not apply to mass. To learn more about the types of gold please read our previous post on Gold’s Purity.

When the term carat refers to a gem’s mass, it does not refer to the quality of the gem. Evaluating cut, clarity, and color, as well as carat, is the best way to select a gem. Carat size or weight can be measured on the metric scale. One carat is the equivalent of 0.2 grams.

Gentlemen prefer buying diamonds online

A good looking jewelry website makes it easy for men to learn about diamonds before buying because they may be slightly intimidated when they go into a jewelery store to buy their first diamond.

A important reason why men choose to buy diamonds online is that the World Wide Web has risen to be one of the most powerful tools of modern technology. And boys just love anything that has to do with technology. It has evolved as modern man’s treasure trove of valuable information and an indispensable hub for trade and commerce. As a matter of fact, almost all of our shopping nowadays can be taken care of by just pressing a few buttons on our computers!

Although the majority of visitors to the JR Jewelers site are women, the majority of purchasers are still men. JR Jewelers was one of several diamond or jewelery sites launched in 2001. The traditional approach is for a retailer to buy a diamond which then sits in its inventory awaiting a buyer, often for months or even years.

However, if you really think things over, you can see that buying diamonds online does have its advantages over buying from a traditional jewelry outlet. Consider these benefits:

• You can choose among a wider selection of quality diamond pieces. Feast your eyes on the almost endless selections available online. There simply are no limits!
• You get a better value for your money. Wondering why diamond pieces in online jewelry stores are priced much lower than those in traditional jewelry stores? Online operations require lower overhead and inventory costs. This is the main reason why online merchandisers can afford to give you a better value for your chosen piece.
• You can shop almost effortlessly! If you find your mall or department store shopping exhausting enough, you will definitely appreciate buying your precious diamond online. In shopping online, you do away with the traffic, the parking issues, the crowds and everything else that makes traditional shopping an almost unbearable task. Plus, you can make speedy transactions. Just type in a little information in the appropriate places, press a button and you’re done!

So, how do you buy diamonds safely online? Here are some helpful tips that can guide you in making your online diamond shopping an enjoyable and safe experience.

1. Learn as much as you can about diamonds. Be knowledgeable about the 4C’s (cut, color, clarity and carat weights) of a diamond. The more knowledgeable you are, the less your chances are of being conned by all those scams lurking in the internet!

2. Do your research well. Now that you are more knowledgeable about diamonds, go around and look for diamonds that interest you. Do not just grab the first thing you see that piques your fancy! Instead, do some comparison-shopping and look for the best deals in town. There are a lot of credible online jewelry stores so take your time.

3. Understand the merchandiser’s store policies. So, you have found the diamond piece that you love. It is so perfect! You have looked around and found the best deal there is. All that is left for you to do is the actual purchase and you can have that valuable piece. But wait! Have you asked about the store’s policies yet? Here are some things you need to know before you make the final purchase:

• Ask for the merchandiser’s credentials: Do they belong to a professional jewelry association?
• What are their policies regarding return, refund and upgrades? Go for those with a 30-day return policy and be sure to read the fine prints to avoid any confusion.
• Do they have a Customer Service available? Have their phone numbers ready. You do not know when you will need them.
• How will the purchase be shipped? Are they willing to replace or refund any item that are lost or damaged in shipment?
• Do they have certifications, or diamond grading reports, for the individual diamond pieces? To be sure about your purchase, buy only from sites that provide diamond AGS or GIA certificates. These two independent laboratories are considered to be the world’s premier diamond grading laboratories.
• Have you checked their BBB Online rating? Are there any complaints filed against them?

4. As much as possible, use an escrow service. This is especially important in purchasing very expensive diamonds. Look for an escrow service that also has the capability to appraise the diamond. This way, you can be sure that your purchase is safe and sound.