Planning the Perfect Proposal?

Posted on April 5, 2013 by helen

Planning the perfect proposal can be tricky, not to worry, as Rocks Jewellers and our in house Diamond Expert is on hand to help you along the way.

The Do’s and Dont’s of popping the question:

Involving the right people: think of involving her family and friends on the magical moment, or have an intimate setting just for the two of you with a surprise engagement party for her after the almighty YES!
Consider whether she would prefer private or a semi private affair. Just because you are a big sports fan it does not mean she would like to be proposed to in the middle of Croke Park during the All Ireland final!
Choose your location wisely as it set the mood. Maybe start with how you are going to propose then where – the ideas will come to you.
Keeping it a surprise is essential! If you aren’t typically romantic don’t plan a special date out of the blue, she will be rushing off to get her nails done! Instead obtain the help of her best friend that way she genuinely will be surprised.
Pay attention to detail. Make the proposal about her and her favourite things! Make sure to personalise the proposal to your relationship!
Get a female perspective. Again get advice from her best friend or mum.
Keep the proposal speech short and sweet! Just explain why you love her and why you want her to be your wife!
Use your personal resources. You have just spent a pretty penny on the special ring! The anticipation of what’s inside the pretty box makes the moment more memorable. So don’t be afraid to ask friends and family to carry out small tasks to help you create the perfect setting.

Now for some locations for that magical moment!

Engagementcation: the growing trend of getting engaged on a romantic getaway! If the bank balance allows splash the cash and whisk your lucky lady away to a beach resort and pop the question over a candle lit dinner on the beach!

For more practical proposals that are just as lavish and memorable try one of the following location ideas!

Dublin Botanical Gardens

Inveagh Gardens Dublin

If you’re the crafty type, put together a scrap book of all your special moments in your relationship then suggest a stroll around the Botanical Gardens. While settling down for a beautiful picturesque picnic present your loved one with the book of memories, and while laughing and reminiscing slyly pull out the ring and propose!

Make your special lady a princess for the day!

Lough Eske Castle, Donegal

Whisk your lucky lady to Lough Eske castle in the heart of Donegal and escape into a luxurious world of relaxed elegance, treating her to a pampering package in the lavish spa. Giving you time to get a great romantic setting for the perfect proposal – whether it be over a romantic candle lit dinner or evening stroll after dinner or rose petals leading her to a private drawing room with a roaring fire.

For the more outdoor type.

Howth Hill

Take a romantic stroll on Howth Hill with the picturesque scenery surrounding you, it will be the perfect setting for that magical moment.

Or simply make it a special occasion!

Do something that you wouldn’t normally do like clean the house or wash the dishes! When she asks why you are doing it tell her to get ready you are taking her out for a romantic dinner. When she comes out surprise her with a romantic proposal and the ring!

Now you have the Do’s, the Don’ts and some location suggestions here is your ever so essential proposal check list.

Broach the subject of marriage…. Be subtle like I know I will love you forever!
Know her ring size…. Borrow one of her rings to size but make sure it fits on the weeding finger of the right hand.
Know what kind of ring she wants… if you need a little help get some help for her mum or best friend.
Asking the parents permission may be an old tradition but it may mean a lot to them and your lucky lady.
Plan the perfect proposal!

And for the all important ring take a look at Rocks Forever Collection

Because Love Rocks

– Rocks Diamond Buying Guide –

Posted on July 27, 2012 by helen

A good understanding of diamonds is necessary before you begin shopping for a beautiful diamond that is just right! Our guide gives you all the necessary information on the all-important “four Cs” as well as additional information on all things diamonds. You will then be equipped to make the best decisons based on the simple, straight-forward informaition in this article.

CARAT

Carat refers to the weight of a diamond not the size, however well proportioned diamond of a certain weight should be a certain size. One carat equals 0.200grams and contains 100 points.

Two diamonds of equal carat weight can have varying prices when you take into account other diamond factors such as colour, clarity and cut. As the carat size of a diamond increases, the diamond’s price increases at an increasing rate as larger diamonds are more rare.

COLOUR

The less colour in a white diamond, the more true colour it will reflect. The colour of diamonds is placed on a scale of D (colourless) through Z (light colour). Colour variations are very difficult to determine.

D, E. F diamonds are considered colourless; they are very rare and unique. Each of these colours is unique however the difference is only detectable by a gemmologist using side by side comparisons.

G, H, I, J diamonds are considered near colourless. While traces of colour are present the colour is not noticeable to the naked eye. When set in white gold or platinum the presence of colour is unnoticeable.

K, L, M diamonds have a faint colour. These diamonds can represent great value however the colour is detectable with the naked eye.

Diamond colours go all the way through to Z which present a yellow tint.

CLARITY

Clarity of a diamond is determined by the presence of, or lack thereof, of small imperfections within the diamond, known as inclusions. They are known are nature’s imprint on the diamond.

FL-IF Even under magnification, a skilled diamond grader, cannot detect any internal inclusions or flaws. These are the rarest diamonds and are much more expensive than VVS grade diamonds.

VVS1-VVS2 Using 10x magnification a diamond expert finds it very difficult to detect any inclusions or flaws. These are not visible to the naked eye.

VS1-VS2 Under magnification you can clearly see the diamond inclusions but they are very small. Again you cannot see these flaws with the naked eye.

SI1-SI2 Using 10x magnification the inclusions are obvious to a diamond grader. They are not normally visible to an untrained eye.

I1, I2, I3 – Inclusions are obvious and they sometimes affect the brilliance of the diamond.

CUT

In a well cut diamond, the light strikes each pavilion facet at an angle which allows most of the light to reflect back to the top. As it passes through the crown facets at a low angle, the light refracts upon exit. In this case, refraction is a good thing, as the bent light travels to the observer’s eye and is perceived as brilliance.

SHAPE

The shape of the diamond is very important when considering your diamond. There are many options and they all have their unique characteristics.

Round - The round brilliant cut diamond is by far the most popular choice of diamond. Over the years this shape has been optimized to make sure it takes the maximum amount of light giving it a fantastic brilliance and sparkle. This shape is perfect for a diamond engagement ring.
Oval - An oval cut diamond is very similar to a round brilliant cut diamond in its appearance. However it is a fraction longer with curved corners and straighter sides. For someone who has longer, slender fingers this shape of diamond is perfect in an engagement ring.
Marquise - The marquise cut is a traditional shaped diamond which depending on the cut can get longer or wider as the carat weight increases. The brilliance of this stone is that it looks stunning in a diamond engagement ring or with other shaped stones such as round or princess.
Pear - The pear shaped diamond is a traditional style and is also known as a tear drop shape. As the diamond increases in carat weight the stone becomes wider as opposed to longer. Fantastic choice for longer, slender fingers.
Heart - A heart shaped diamond is one of the more romantic shaped diamonds.
Emerald - Due to the large table it highlights the clarity of the diamond and in SI clarity inclusions can be visible. The straight rectangular cuts make this modern shaped diamond a fantastic choice for any diamond engagement ring.
Princess - The princess cut is a square shape, it’s pointed corners set it apart from the other shapes of diamond available. In a diamond engagement ring it has an unrivalled sparkle and fire.
Radiant - A radiant cut diamond is a similar shape to the emerald cut diamond but sparkles like a round brilliant cut. It has around 75 facets making it ideal for any style of ring or jewellery.

CERTIFICATION

A diamond certificate is an evaluation of the diamond that is done by an independent company confirming the colour, clarity, and carat. You may see other names for these such as diamond grading reports, diamond dossiers and more.

Some of our diamonds are graded by a trained diamond grader and expert within Rocks Jewellers and the others are certified by GIA (Gemmological Institute of America), IGI (International Gemmological Institute), HRD (Hoge Rood Voor Diament). All diamonds that are certified will have their clarity, colour, carat and cut graded. They will also have the diamond measurements and fluorescence listed on the certificate.

MULTI-STONE DIAMOND RINGS.

A common question when a customer buys an eternity ring or a trilogy ring is will the diamonds be certified?

In an eternity ring there can be up to 30 stones in particular designs. These stones will also be around 10-15 points. In these ring Rocks Jewellers will grade these stones for you, keeping the costs down while still being reassured of the quality. You will receive a special certificate from us confirming the diamond grades of your diamond eternity ring or diamond tennis bracelet for example.

We hope you will find this information useful when you go to buying your diamond or engagement ring. Keeping all these factors in mind will give you the reassurance that you are making the perfect diamond choice for you!

If you would like to make an appointment to come in and talk to us and view some rings please do so here.

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ARE MY “DIAMONDS” REAL OR FAKE?

Posted on December 8, 2011 by helen

There are so many diamond simulants currently on the market and cubic zirconia stones are one of the most common of them all. So how can someone tell a cubic zirconia from a diamond? Well it turns out it can be harder than you might think to tell the difference between them.

A diamond tester is one method, it is a machine that will tell you if the stone is a diamond, but it will not tell you what makes up the stone if it is not a diamond. Another method is using a jeweller’s loupe or a microscope. The jeweller or you can look through the top of the stone, focusing your vision toward the bottom facets of the stone. If the lines appear doubled, like you have blurry vision, you ar looking into a sythetic stone. If the lines are still singular, and very clear and distinct you have a real diamond.

You will also notice either through a loupe or micrscope the presence of inclusions or internal flaws. Because diamonds are naturally occuring stones they will have little inclusions within the stone, unless of course you have a flawless stone, these are rare and very expensive. Synthetic stones like cubic zirconia will have no flaws visible at all indicating it is not a diamond. However, because some diamonds are flawless this method is not completely reliable but in most cases it will be a very good indication.

Home testing methods are great however use a jeweller you trust to take a look at your jewellery and give you peace of mind that what you have chersihed for so long is indeed the real thing.

So pop into us any time and we’ll take a look at your jewellery and appraise it for you. Contact us through www.rocks.ie to make appoinment or call Rocks Jewellers or 01 288 6156 or 01 613 9910