2/3/2012  Designer Costume Jewelry Trend for 2012

Designer Costume Jewelry Trend for 2012   It’s awards season, and that means practically every weekend, we get to feast our eyes on Hollywood’s hottest celebrities wearing incredible designer couture and unbelievable designer jewelry. Whether it is Sofia Vergara lighting up the Golden Globes wearing $5 million in Vera Wang and Harry Winston diamond jewelry, or Jessica Chastain dazzling photographers with $2.5 million of diamond and sapphire jewelry from Harry Winston at the SAG awards, these displays offer... read more

1/20/2012  Most popular jewelry in US

Most popular jewelry in US   Jewelry styles, like all fashion, comes in and out. One year, everyone is layering long pendant necklaces; the next, they are wearing oversize cocktail rings set with brightly colored gemstones. But despite all the changes, a few styles have remained the same. No matter how much time goes by, a woman dressed in these classic and most popular jewelry styles will always look timeless and beautiful. If you are looking for a jewelry gift for a woman in your life, a choice from this list of p... read more

1/4/2012  Engagement Ring Setting Types: Bar

Engagement Ring Setting Types: Bar   If you’re in the market for a diamond engagement ring, but you are looking for a setting more distinctive than the classic prong setting but more dazzling than the bezel setting, you are in for a surprise. The little-known bar setting is the perfect combination of fashion and function, of diamond security and light performance, and of traditional ring design and modern unique flourishes.   The bar setting gets its name from the two bars that are set on either side of... read more

12/13/2011  V-Prong Setting

V-Prong Setting   The prong setting is the most traditional and popular diamond engagement ring setting type in use, but did you know that the prong setting also comes in several variations? Prong settings can be formed into several interesting shapes, can be doubled, rounded, flattened, and can even be notched into V shapes. These v-shaped prongs are slightly wider than traditional prongs, and are usually placed at the diamond’s corners. Small notches are cut into the end of the prongs, giving it the appearanc... read more

12/8/2011  Ring setting types: Invisible

Ring setting types: Invisible   Even if you know little about diamond settings, you can probably guess that the invisible setting is a diamond setting style in which the hardware of the setting is invisible to the viewer. But what is this setting? How does it work? And for what kind of rings is it recommended?     Most ring setting styles show the bands or prongs of metal that hold the diamond securely in place. Of course, an invisible-set diamond is held securely as well; the hardware is just cleverl... read more

12/1/2011  Channel Setting

Channel Setting If you are in the market for an engagement ring or wedding band, chances are you’ve started looking around at rings on your friends, coworkers, and others you come in contact with, trying to learn more about what styles are out there and which setting typemight best suite your needs. You may have noticed a popular style on engagement rings and wedding bands where a single row of small diamonds on band is held in place between two narrow bars of metal. This setting is called the channel setting, and it... read more

11/30/2011  Bezel Setting

Bezel Setting If you’ve ever looked at a photo of a celebrity starlet wearing big, showy engagement ring and thought, “I could never wear that—it would catch on everything!” we have good news for you. Active women who need a ring that they can safely wear doing all kinds of activities can finally have a diamond as large and spectacular as they want and keep it safe with a bezel setting.     Although the bezel setting is not new, it has recently gained in popularity as more and more women... read more

11/29/2011  Ring metals: What’s the difference?

Ring metals: What’s the difference? Once upon a time, all engagement rings were gold. After all, gold is the precious metal of choice in all fairy tales and movies—who ever heard of the princess and her platinum tiara, or the thief making off with bags of palladium? But in the twenty-first century, only a minority of engagement rings and other bridal jewelry pieces are made with classic yellow gold. If you are in the market to buy an engagement ring, wedding band, or anniversary band, you need to know... read more

11/24/2011  Ring Setting Types: Prong

Ring Setting Types: Prong   In writing, and in life, we are always told to avoid clichés. Writers try to avoid using the same tried-and-true expressions and metaphors over and over, seeking instead to come up with new and fresh descriptions. And in life, no one wants to be seen as boring or unoriginal. We try to give our wardrobes unique little twists to make them our own; we try to cultivate interesting hobbies instead of just following the mass trends.              &n... read more

11/14/2011  Tension Engagement Rings

Tension Engagement Rings Everyone loves a good magic trick. Whether it is pulling a rabbit out of a top hat or some other illusion, there is something exciting about seeing something that you can’t quite explain. And therein lies the alluring appeal of one of the most unique engagement ring setting types available—the tension setting.     The tension setting is a unique diamond ring setting style where instead of using a metal collar or prongs to grip the center diamond and hold it in place, the d... read more

Whiteflash Shipping Policy

Whiteflash Shipping Policy     Free Shipping   Whiteflash shipping is FREE within the United States, Canada and the U.S. Territories. All diamonds and jewelry purchased from Whiteflash will be shipped via Federal Express® Overnight Monday through Thursday. Shipments made on Friday for Saturday delivery are available for $20.   Due to the high value of the items being shipped, all packages must be shipped to an Authorized FedEx Hold for Pick up location. (FedEx Staffed Only). If there is no... read more

9/21/2011  Top 10 Jewelry Looks at the Emmys

Top 10 Jewelry Looks at the Emmys The Emmy’s are a magical night. For one night of the year, the lawyers, doctors, government employees, paper salesmen, high school glee clubbers, and suburban moms that we know and love from TV transform before our eyes into their glamorous Hollywood alter egos. It’s the one night that we can imagine ourselves posing on the red carpet, hoodie sweatshirt and jeans miraculously transformed into hearts and arrows diamond jewelry and floor-sweeping couture gowns. This year’s E... read more

9/12/2011  Top 10 Proposal Myths

Top 10 Proposal Myths Like any moment in life with great emotional and social significance, the proposal been built up in our society with all kids of mythology and customs around it. We’ve all seen enough movies to know exactly what the mythical perfect proposal is supposed to look like—the soft music, flickering candlelight, bended knee, sparkling ring and shriek of surprise and happiness. Cue the applause. But if you’ve never seen a real-life proposal before, it can be difficult to figure out which part... read more

9/8/2011  World’s Biggest Diamond Rings

World’s Biggest Diamond Rings On the most recent episode of Keeping Up With the Kardashians, Kim’s boyfriend Kris Humphries pulled out all the stops with a romantic proposal. He decorated her room with candles and flower petals spelling out “Will you marry me?” and waited for her on bended knee with a ring clutched behind his back.   When he pulled out the ring, even Kim was rendered speechless by the overwhelming sparkle of the 20.5-carat diamond ring. With a $2 million dollar price tag, the... read more

Custom Jewelry Design Deposit

    Custom Jewelry Design    Choosing to do a custom jewelry design project is an exciting and rewarding endeavor. Whether you choose to do something completely creative or simply put together classic design elements in your own way, a custom made jewelry piece is very personal and special.     Whiteflash offers an outstanding custom jewelry design service that allows you to work one-on-one with our in-house designer. Using a variety of communication tools, our designer will t... read more

A Taste of Royalty: The Royal Crown by Vatche

A Taste of Royalty: The Royal Crown by Vatche When commoner Kate Middleton married Prince William of England on April 29, 2011, nearly 200 million people around the world tuned in or got online to watch the big moment. Why? None of these people knew Kate, and few had even ever seen Prince William or his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. So what got all these people from California to New Zealand to make the effort to watch the royal wedding, despite the difference in time zone?   There’s just something about roy... read more

Sweet Caroline: All About the Caroline by Vatche

Sweet Caroline: All About the Caroline by Vatche Engagement ring design is a balance between dazzle and simplicity, jaw-dropping brilliance and everyday wearability. The perfect engagement ring setting design is both eye-catching and brilliantly beautiful at first impression, as well as comfortable and wearable enough for everyday use.   That’s why in-the-know shoppers turn to Vatche diamond engagement rings, award-winning designs that are stunning not for their ostentatious embellishment, but for their delicat... read more

Into the Light: The Sisley by Vatche

Into the Light: The Sisley by Vatche Alfred Sisley, the English Impressionist painter, devoted much of his artistic career to painting landscapes en plein air, or outdoors, in natural light. He was obsessed with capturing the way nuances in sunlight could completely transform everyday landscapes like the forests and rivers of the French countryside. Light is the primary subject of Sisley’s paintings, sparkling in the river, reflecting off a country cottage, and beaming down onto a dewy meadow.   The Sisley, the... read more

8/10/2011  Bold Gold soars above the cost of Precious Platinum

Bold Gold soars above the cost of Precious Platinum These days, who doesn't want to get the most bang for their buck? With the economy in a downward spiral, educated shoppers want to make budget friendly purchases that stay on pulse with the latest trends.   Ordinarily, fine jewelry consumers will yield a little leeway to their pocket books when hunting for the perfect diamond or ring setting. Precious metals and gemstones are considered assets that generally maintain a consistent value. Yet with the uncertainty... read more

Pearls, Jade and Gold: A Guide to Jewelry Shopping in China

Pearls, Jade and Gold: A Guide to Jewelry Shopping in China These days, you can’t open a newspaper or read a news website without being confronted with the news that China is the new world superpower. With a growing economy and a rapidly emerging middle class, China is becoming one of the most powerful markets in the world.   Westerners from Europe and North America are heading to China in droves—for tourism, lucrative manufacturing and business contracts, and some of the world’s best shopping. With... read more

Saying Grace: The Grace by Vatche

Saying Grace: The Grace by Vatche    The World English Dictionary defines “grace” as “elegance, beauty, and smoothness of form or movement.” The word grace, the definition continues, can also mean dignified, polite and decent behavior as well as generosity of spirit. At first glance, the first definition doesn’t seem to have much in common with the second two. After all, what does elegance and beauty of form have to do with politeness, generosity and tolerance?   A lot, as it... read more

4/11/2011  Houston Engagement Checklist

Houston Engagement Checklist Thinking about getting engaged in Houston?  When you plan an engagement, whether the whole thing is a giant surprise or the two of you are planning together, there are a lot of details that go into planning the perfect engagement. After all, the engagement is the first step in a beautiful procession of ceremonies and rituals that will lead you into your married life. What better way to start it off than with the perfect Houston engagement? Luckily for you, Houston is one of the ideal pla... read more

3/18/2011  How did Houston Become the Best Place for Jewelry Shopping?

How did Houston Become the Best Place for Jewelry Shopping? New York, Paris, Antwerp and Los Angeles are all centers for diamond cutting, jewelry design, diamond trading and everything else that goes into making diamond jewelry. But there is another city rising quickly in international fame for being one of the best place to buy diamond jewelry and loose diamonds—and that is Houston, Texas. While hardly more than a sleepy Texan town a century ago, Houston has become a powerhouse of international business, technology,... read more

3/11/2011  More than a girl’s best friend, your wife’s favorite anniversary gift

Jewelry: More than a girl’s best friend, your wife’s favorite anniversary gift It’s been a few years since you said, “I do,” and although she still wears her engagement ring proudly every day, it’s time to find an anniversary present that will show how much you appreciate everything she has done these past years. Anniversary jewelry gifts are the perfect way to show your continued love and devotion to that special woman in your life. By now, you know her style and her habits, and you are... read more

3/11/2011  Engagement rings: Fit for a Queen

Fit For a Queen: Royal Engagement Ring Inspiration The upcoming royal wedding between Prince William of England and Kate Middleton has given the whole world royal wedding fever. Ever since Prince William popped the question to his long-time girlfriend back in the fall, using his mother’s iconic sapphire engagement ring, the whole world has been waiting to see how Kate, a non-royal British beauty, would inhabit the role of princess on her wedding day. In honor of that anticipation, let’s take a look at some of th... read more

2/18/2011  10 facts about weddings and engagement rings from around the world

Wedding and Engagement Rings: Customs From Around the World 1. Most people in the United States, England, France and Canada wear their engagement rings on their left hand, because of the old tradition that a vein in the fourth finger of the right hand ran directly to the heart. But in plenty of other countries, including Germany, Russia, India and Norway, brides wear their engagement rings and wedding bands on the right hand instead.   2. In years gone by, the exchange of the wedding ring at the wedding ceremony was... read more

Working with Customers Diamonds and Jewelry

  Working with Customers Diamonds and Jewelry   Setting Customer Diamonds   As a high-end manufacturing jeweler Whiteflash offers services which include setting customers’ diamonds, provided certain conditions are met. There is inherent risk in handling and setting diamonds although problems are rare. We only work with customer diamonds with the express understanding that Whiteflash is not liable for any damage, loss, theft, mysterious disappearance or any other potential danger. We s... read more

2/14/2011  The Ten “S”s of Engagement Ring Shopping: an Easy Guide to Finding a Diamond Engagement Ring She’ll Love

Engagement Ring Shopping Guide   An engagement ring is one of the biggest jewelry purchases you will ever make. It’s the one piece of jewelry she’ll wear every day, and the symbolism and sentimental significance of that one special ring cannot be underestimated. So how can you be sure that your diamond engagement ring is the perfect choice for your proposal?  Whether you are looking for a diamond-encrusted ornate engagement ring or a simple tiffany engagement ring, these ten simple steps will lead you... read more

2/10/2011  Engagement ring designs by Vatche

For over 22 years, the brand “Designs by Vatche” has been synonymous with quality bridal jewelry and unparalleled design. That’s because every piece in this exquisite collection has been designed by Vatche himself, the master craftsman and jewelry designer whose latest engagement ring design, the Jennifer, was recently the recipient of the prestigious Platinum Innovation Challenge award. Vatche’s other exclusive Whiteflash designs include the elegant Swan, the spectacular Royal Crown, and the simple... read more

1/25/2011  Vatche - King of the Ring

Vatche - King of the Ring In his free time, Vatche Aghajayan likes to fly one of his four private jets, score antiques at auctions, build model airplanes, and sometimes lead overseas training for the United States Air Force. When he’s not doing any of those things, he designs engagement rings. You might think that with such a busy schedule, Vatche’s rings would be run-of-the-mill designs, but the 30-year veteran of the jewelry industry has just received a prestigious award for innovation in platinum bridal jewel... read more

12/6/2010  What a Stud: Choosing a Diamond Setting for Diamond Stud Earrings

What a Stud: Choosing a Diamond Setting for Diamond Stud Earrings Diamond stud earrings are among the most popular and versatile earring styles. You can wear a pair of diamond studs with a ball gown to a black tie affair, or rely on them as your go-to daily earrings. Diamond stud earrings make a perfect gift, because it is impossible to not like them! But if you are choosing a pair of diamond stud earrings, whether for yourself or as a gift, you have to choose a diamond setting that will suit your style and preferences. Alt... read more

12/6/2010  Diamonds Are A Guy’s Best Friend: Diamond Wedding Rings for Men

Diamond Wedding Rings for Men When British comedian and actor Russell Brand returned from his weeklong wedding celebration in India with his new bride Katy Perry, sharp eyes noticed a new piece of bling in Brand’s usual outrageous ensemble. Shying away from the simple, typical wedding rings as much as he shies away from buttoning his shirt, Brand chose a glittery pavé-set round wedding ring in yellow gold and yellow diamonds. The ring, which Perry also wears, has the traditional shape of a men’s wedding r... read more

12/3/2010  Your Are My Sunshine: Buying Yellow Round Diamonds

Your Are My Sunshine: Buying Yellow Round Diamonds Fancy yellow diamonds are not, of course, simply white diamonds that fall low on the D-Z color scale. A canary yellow fancy diamond is an entirely different kind of round diamond—and is priced and ranked accordingly. Because they are relatively common compared to other fancy diamond colors, yellow diamonds can be relatively affordable, but they still provide an unusual twist on the classic colorless round diamond. Celebrities from Rebecca Romijn to supermodel Heidi K... read more

12/1/2010  Choosing Diamonds for a Three-Stone Ring is As Easy As Counting to Three

How to Choose Three Stone Ring Three-stone diamond rings are becoming an ever-more popular way for brides to proudly wear their heart on their fingers. The three stones on a traditional three-stone diamond rings are said to represent the past, the present and the future, making it a perfect choice for the couple who wants to celebrate their shared history, treasure the present moment, and look forward to a wonderful future together. But if you’re choosing a three-stone diamond ring, you’ve probably no... read more

11/30/2010  The Fashion Personality Guide to Choosing a Three Stone Diamond Engagement Ring

The Fashion Personality Guide to Choosing a Three Stone Diamond Engagement Ring Three stone settings have never been a hotter style for diamond engagement rings. After all, the three stones in a three-stone ring represent the past, present and future, adding up to a lifetime of special memories. But like any other kind of engagement ring, or diamond jewelry for that matter, it can be hard to choose the perfect three stone diamond engagement ring, especially if you want to surprise your girlfriend with the perfect ring. Her... read more

11/29/2010  Celebrity Engagement and Wedding Ring Roundup

Celebrity Engagement and Wedding Ring Roundup There’s something irresistible about celebrity gossip, especially when it comes to checking out the unbelievable engagement rings all the new celebrity brides are sporting. Keeping tabs on who’s wearing what engagement ring can also help you keep track of the trends if you are in the market for your own solitaire engagement ring. Below, check out the recent singers and movie stars who have recently shown off their bling, along with gorgeous rings from the Whiteflash... read more

11/19/2010  Everything You Need To Know About Loose Diamonds: Carat Weight

Everything You Need To Know About Loose Diamonds: Carat Weight Carat weight is the most obvious factor that goes into choosing a loose diamond. When you set you .r loose diamond into a ring or another piece of jewelry, the first question people will ask when they admire it will be, “How many carats?” Whether you are buying a diamond loose or set into jewelry, it is easy to get carried away by the magic of high carat weight numbers and lose sight of the fact that carat weight is only one factor among many that c... read more

11/17/2010  Solitaire, Not Solitary: Accessorizing a Solitaire Diamond Ring

Solitaire, Not Solitary: Accessorizing a Solitaire Diamond Ring Solitaire diamond rings are the most popular diamond setting for engagement rings, beloved by brides of all ages and tastes for generations. The simple design aesthetic of the solitaire diamond ring—the single stone highlighting a simple band—has influenced many other areas of jewelry design, from earrings to bracelets. Whether you are planning to buy a gift to accompany your proposal, or you are looking for an addition to your own jewelry collectio... read more

10/20/2010  What's Behind the Latest Trend in Three Stone Engagement Rings

What’s Behind the Latest Trend in Three Stone Engagement Rings If you’ve been looking into buying a three-stone diamond ring, whether as an engagement ring, an anniversary present, or just because, you may have noticed one trend repeating itself over and over in the most current  three-stone engagement rings. The combination of sapphire and diamonds, always popular in fine jewelry, has exploded recently into a bona fide trend.   Three-stone rings set with both diamonds and sapphires are especially po... read more

10/19/2010  It's a Wrap! Enhancing Your Diamond Solitaire Ring

It’s a Wrap! Enhancing Your Diamond Solitaire Ring Diamond solitaire rings are the most popular engagement ring style, and for good reason. They are classic, timeless, elegant and look great on everyone. But if you ever find yourself wishing that your solitaire diamond ring had just a bit more pizzazz, check out these ring enhancers and wraps that can add a touch of glamour to even the most modest diamond solitaire.   In keeping with the pavé set band of the center ring, this enhancer adds two more rows... read more

10/18/2010  Colorful Personalities

  Diamonds have been the de rigeur stone for solitaire engagement rings for over a hundred years, but did you know it wasn’t always this way? Throughout the Middle Ages, before modern cutting techniques were invented sapphires and rubies were the most favored stones for jewelry. And although the modern tradition of diamond engagement rings also dates back only about a century, couples have been giving each other gemstone rings for hundreds of years.   There are hundreds of kinds of gemstones available, in... read more

10/15/2010  Set In Stone: Three-Stone Ring Settings

Set in Stone: Three-Stone Ring Settings   A three-stone ring is one of the most elegant and classy engagement rings, and makes a great gift for many other occasions as well. But like with any other ring, every detail matters, so before you choose a three-stone ring, make sure you know what kind of center stone you want, what kind of side stones, and what kind of band. This simple guide will introduce you to several three-stone ring setting options, so you can choose what’s best for you.   Three-stone se... read more

10/15/2010  To Have and to Hold: Preventing Damage to Wedding and Engagement Rings

To Have and To Hold: Preventing Damage to Wedding and Engagement Rings You’ve said your vows, you’ve had the honeymoon, and you’ve shown off your gorgeous new wedding and engagement rings to everyone from the dry cleaner to the Starbucks barista. But in order to keep your rings looking as gorgeous in the years to come as they do right now, it’s important to learn a little about what can damage wedding and engagement rings, and what you can do to make sure that doesn’t happen.  You’v... read more

10/12/2010  Battle of the Ring Settings, Part Three: The Halo Setting

Battle of the Ring Settings, Part Three: The Halo Setting Last week, we held up two of the most popular ring settings, the bezel and the prong settings, and compared their pros and cons for use in an engagement ring. Now its time to look at a unique, versatile ring setting and see where it measures up: the halo setting. The halo setting is a marriage between the security of the bezel setting and the sparkle of the pavé melée setting. The center stone is held in a metal collar, like in the bezel setting, but th... read more

Free shipping to USA and to Canada

Free Shipping  USA and Canada – FedEx Overnight® APO and FPO – US Postal Service Priority Mail®   Shipping outside the USA and to Canada Important shipping information   USA and Canada Insured shipping is FREE within the United States, Canada and the U.S. Territories. All diamonds and jewelry purchased from Whiteflash will be shipped via Federal Express Overnight® Monday through Thursday. Shipments made on Friday for Saturday delivery are available for $20. Due to the high... read more

10/4/2010  Five Easy Steps to Choosing a Three-Stone Engagement Ring

Five Easy Steps to Choosing a Three-Stone Engagement Ring Now that you’ve decided to propose with the classic but interesting three-stone engagement ring, you’re almost ready to click “purchase” and have the ring delivered to your doorstep. These easy steps will take you from here to “Will you marry me?” as painlessly as possible. Three Stone Gold Diamond Engagement Ring... read more

11/10/2009  Pearl Types

  Natural Pearls Natural pearls are created without any intervention from man when a tiny irritant finds its way into a mollusk. This causes the animal to secrete a substance to encapsulate the intruder in order to reduce the irritation. The result can be quite magical as the process continues over time to produce a lustrous spherical gem. Natural pearls of any significant size are extremely rare and are almost nonexistent in the market today. Cultured Pearls Cultured pearls are produced by the mollusk in exactly... read more

Precious Metals

  Gold   Gold has been treasured for thousands of years and is almost synonymous with riches. Durable yet malleable it has been fashioned into art objects and jewelry pieces from ancient times. In its pure form gold is rich yellow color and very dense and heavy. It can be polished to a very high luster.   Pure gold is quite soft. For jewelry purposes, gold is usually mixed or "alloyed" with other metals to give it strength and to change its color. Pure gold is stated as 24 Karat or 24K, and i... read more

Diamond Ring Setting Types

  Prong   Vertical posts coming up from a base beneath the stone and notched to form a seat that the girdle of the stone sit into. The tips of the prongs are burnished slightly over the girdle, creating inward and downward tension on the stone from opposing directions. 4 or six prong? This is a common question and there is no "correct" answer. It is really a matter of personal choice and a tradeoff. Four prongs are sufficient to secure a stone properly. Smaller stones set with six prongs tend to look... read more

11/10/2009  Gemstone Education

 Gemstones Whiteflash is an affiliate member of the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) and abides by its stringent code of ethics. Our jewelry features only natural gem materials, some of which have been enhanced by commonly accepted means such as heat treatment. Where a gemstone is known to have been treated or is commonly treated in the industry, the product detail description and invoice will so indicate. Imitations and synthetics Imitations are man-made substances that simply look like gemstones. An example... read more

11/9/2009  How safe is it shopping for diamond jewelry online?

Military Benefits As a tribute to the men and women serving oversees many e-commerce sites, such as Whiteflash, have free domestic shipping and 1% military discounts for those serving our country.  Using the Internet connections oversees, many military personnel already shop Whiteflash.com to send jewelry to their significant others.  The company says members of the military send gifts for birthdays, anniversaries and Mother’s Day—or just to say ‘I love you’ or that they’re misse... read more

All About Titanium Wedding Rings

All About Titanium Wedding Rings   Titanium has become a standard of choice in today’s jewelry industry. Along side platinum and gold shoppers are faced with a multitude of options when it comes to metal. Traditionally gold and platinum have taken center stage in popularity but silently titanium has established itself as a formidable rival. As with any major jewelry style, there are many question that emerge when considering whether or not to buy titanium:   Is it indestructible?   Is it more exp... read more

10/6/2009  My fiancé has an obsession with rose gold. How can I subtly incorporate that into her engagement or wedding ring without going overboard?

There are many ways to use rose gold to accent and add a splash of color to your engagement or wedding ring, depending on the style ring you choose.  A rose gold halo engagement ring is a nice way to incorporate some color to your design.  Pink sapphires may further enhance the pink color of the gold, while staying cost effective.  Some rose gold scroll work in the gallery of the engagement ring also adds a nice touch. With these tips on rose gold accents you are sure to be safe!    ... read more

Blitz Vibra-Sonic Home Jewelry Cleaning Machine

    Blitz Vibra-Sonic Home Jewelry Cleaner $69 Top notch personal vibra-sonic home jewelry cleaning system for all kinds of jewelry. Compact and attractive, it houses two separate containers in a twin tank design for wash and rinse cycles, and comes with jewelry polishing cloth, jewelry basket, brush, and cleaning solutions for normal jewelry and for delicate stones and pearls. Safely and effortlessly restores the beauty and sparkle of your treasures. Great for getting that crisp, icy sparkle for your jewel... read more

6/2/2009  Jewel Jet Jewelry Steam Cleaner

Jewel Jet Jewelry Steam Cleaner $199  Finally a personal jewelry cleaning system that delivers professional results! Small and simple to use. Just add water, plug it in, and with a few short bursts of steam your fine jewelry will be sparkling clean. The Jewel Jet steam cleaner comes with jewelry holder, catch basket and funnel.     The Jewel Jet Jewelry Steam Cleaner is the first and only device of its kind made specifically for home use. It is essentially the same system used by jewelry manufacturer... read more

Brides feel platinum is 'worth the price'

    Brides feel that paying more for platinum wedding and engagement rings is worth the extra costs, instyle.com has said.   According to the fashion website, platinum is a "far more durable metal" than other materials, meaning it will last a lifetime.   The precious white metal will show fewer nicks and scratches and platinum prongs hold a diamond more securely, it adds.   In addition, many people believe that its white color shows off a diamond better than yellow metal... read more

Caring for Platinum

Store pieces separately, in a jewelry box or chamois bag so they don't get scratched by other items of jewelry Keep your precious pieces in a safe place and remind your customers to have them sufficiently insured. If you are unsure about the value of your piece take it to your local jeweler for valuation. Recommend that your customers get their platinum jewelry cleaned periodically. This will help ensure its appearance. Clean platinum in the same way you clean other fine jewelry - using a pre-packaged... read more

Platinum Basics

  SOME TECHNICAL BASICS Weight: 21.45 grams per cubic centimeter Melting Point: 3,223ºF (1,786ºC) Refining: It takes eight weeks to make an ingot from the ore Production: Each year approximately 88 tons of platinum are made into jewelry Properties: Catalyst, hypoallergenic, resistant to heat and acids Platinum group metals: Ruthenium, Palladium, Rhodium, Iridium, Osmium Measuring perfection: 1,000 parts = 100% platinum Purity levels and marks... read more

Platinum, an Ancient Lost Treasure

The history of platinum From prehistory to princesses and pop divas - the story of platinum, the so-called 'new metal' is much longer than you would think.  Meteorites contain platinum and the earliest recorded meteorite impact on Earth happened 2 billion years ago.  Since then, this rare and beguiling treasure has made sporadic appearances throughout history, mysteriously disappearing for centuries at a time, both baffling and enchanting those who have come across it.  The Ancient Egyptians, pre-Incan ci... read more

3/2/2009  2009 Gold Trends

      Chinese investors beware! Don’t get trapped in the glitter of gold. In China, investors have been rushing to gold following the crash of global markets. But, the investment in gold is also riddled with risk and this is a critical time now where investors should be cautious with their gold investment. According to analysts, gold can be a very good product for holding its value. But the risks for paper gold and gold futures are nearly 10 times bigger than real gold investment. Buying gol... read more

9/4/2007  Jewelry: Wear Care & Cleaning

  Your Whiteflash jewelry has been carefully created and inspected for quality.  With proper wear, care & cleaning it will provide you with a lifetime of joy.   Remember that jewelry undergoes wear and tear, like shoes, your car or anything that travels. Jewelry worn each day should be professionally checked between once and twice a year. Failure to properly maintain jewelry may result in damage not covered by your manufacturer’s warranty.   Wear   Select daily-wear pieces that are... read more

The Internet and Diamond Engagement Rings

  Originating from 1477, the diamond engagement ring is the ultimate token of love and affection but the circle shape of an engagement ring is elemental and has been worn as adornment as far back as history is recorded.  Now that people are buying diamond engagement rings online, the process of buying, choosing and even designing your engagement ring has never been easier.   The Buying Process: Analyze her tastes in jewelry and you're on your way to buying an engagement ring she'll love almost as much as... read more

5 Easy Steps to finding the Perfect Engagement Ring

    Determine Your Budget: A trick that some unscrupulous jewelers try when a customer is shopping for an engagement ring is to make him think the the amount he spends is somehow related to how much he loves his mate. You've seen the commercials pushing the idea that your diamond engagement ring should set you back "2 months salary". Forget about that. Do some comparison shopping at both your local jeweler as well as online. Determine your own budget based on your personal situation. Be Or... read more

1/5/2007  The Pave Engagement Ring

  Pave Engagement rings (pronounced /diamonds_info. pah-vay) are named after pavement of all things. The reason is, pave diamonds are set so close together they appear to look like 'shiny' and 'sparkly' cobblestone pavement. One of the great things about selecting a pave diamond engagement setting is they typically maximize a ring's beauty, but not the cost - pave diamonds are so tiny they’re quite economical, but like larger diamonds the cut of pave varies, so be certain you’re getting high quality for max... read more

Celebrity Engagement Rings Guide

  What better way to show the world that you are in love than by the act of giving and receiving an engagement ring? Celebrity engagements have become a delightful spectacle for the lover of diamonds. The size of the diamond is not necessarily the key as to what makes some of these rings so unique and recognizable, rather it seems to be a facinating combination of the engagement ring itself and the famous celebrity the ring belongs to.   The history of diamond engagement rings  ... read more

11/16/2006  Engagement Ring Styles

Styles of Engagement Rings It is traditional for Americans as well as Europeans to place an engagement ring on the left-hand ring finger of a woman who has accepted a man's proposal for marriage. The engagement ring is a symbol of the devotion and intent to be the one and only woman in her beau's life. It lets everyone know that your bride-to-be that is spoken for. In the classical history of engagement ring styles and traditions, the ring was fashioned from a plain gold band. Today, engagement ring styles have evolved into... read more

Custom Rings

  Custom Rings “Whiteflash is Lord of the Online Rings” – Kiplinger’s Financial Magazine Whiteflash custom wedding rings have received critical acclaim for distinctive beauty and finest make.  Our metalsmiths and jewelers bring thousands of client-inspired pieces to life with skill and elegance.  No one offers better quality or value than Whiteflash. Your custom ring design beings with a vision, shared with a drawing or photograph and communication about details.  Once the pr... read more

Diamond Rings

Diamond Rings A great deal of emotion goes into purchasing diamond rings.   We are perfectionists in our work and Whiteflash comprises a collection of diamond rings meticulously selected in the spirit of commitment and beauty.   These styles reflect our philosophy that diamond rings are meant to be "cherished and adored from generation to generation as timeless pieces of art."   You have the option of choosing to begin your ring buying experience by picking out a diamond ring setting. Or you... read more

10/16/2006  Should my Prongs and Arrows Line Up?

    You might receive a strange look if you ask this question to a retail jeweler.  The premium optical symmetry of our diamonds, coupled with the highly magnified photos we provide has sparked interest in this detail from some clients.  We understand the question.  Just be aware that in the 'real world,' common optical symmetry is more chaotic and diamonds are not usually seen at 40 power magnification.   For professional jewelry setters, typical priorities are durability factors, keeping... read more

10/9/2006  Insuring Your Jewelry

  Your jewelry is generally covered by your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy. It is important for you to look into the coverage policies provided by your insurers because limits are often placed on the amount of coverage that the policy will allow. For example, many insurance policies only cover up to $1000 worth of stolen jewels, but your collection may be worth much more. Theft is also, generally, the only misfortune that is eligible for reimbursement. Coverage for lost or damaged jewelry may ha... read more

9/26/2006  Settings: Do Diamonds Fall Out?

Yes and no.  One person might wear a ring for 100 years with no incidents but someone else could have a completely different experience with the same ring.  Solid rings and settings with large diamonds are less vulnerable than thin shafts and prongs or delicate craftsmanship with melee and pave.  What are the causes? When it does happen, there are 3 primary reasons that diamonds, particularly small diamonds, may fall out. 1.  The diamond wasn’t set properly. Among top manufacturers this is u... read more

9/12/2006  Penchant for Pendants... DIAMOND Pendants

From classic solitaires to diamond encrusted military “dog” tags/diamonds_info. diamond pendants are accessories in demand New and ever-so timeless diamond pendant designs are making a dramatic style statement. From military “dog” tags bejeweled with emeralds and pink gemstones to medallions cast in a combination of precious metals and Hearts & Arrows diamonds, pendants are the must-have accessory this season. While the popularity of diamond pendants has come and gone, designers predict they w... read more

9/12/2006  The Story of Colored Gemstones (AKA Birthstones)

Worn for spiritual and obvious aesthetic qualities, birthstones remain the popular must-have accessory moving into Spring Magical powers. Healing properties. Status symbols. Dating back to biblical times, gemstones have long been valued for spiritual and aesthetic qualities alike. Judo-Christian tradition resulted in the release of the modern birthstone list by the American National Association of Jewelers in 1912.  To this day, gemstones remain a popular, must-have accessory. From aquamarine, which represents the m... read more

Buying a Diamond Engagement Ring: A Step-By-Step Guide

  Proposing is tough enough, but finding the perfect diamond engagement ring, set with the perfect diamond is even tougher. To eliminate the headache, here are step-by-step instructions from Whiteflash.com, an online diamond and jewelry boutique specializing in Hearts & Arrows diamonds and diamond engagement rings. Educate yourself. Start the diamond education process by learning about the four Cs. “Understand how diamonds are evaluated and categorized,” says Debi Wexler, founder of Whiteflash.com. T... read more

8/23/2006  What are Whiteflash ACA branded Hearts & Arrows diamonds?

Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® is the leading H&A diamond sold exclusively on the Internet, and remains the only H&A diamond with a guarantee of true optical symmetry. This is a level of cut precision far beyond ideal. After meeting proven AGS ideal parameters Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® is taken much further. Each is faithfully brillianteered so that all 57 facets line up perfectly with their opposites. It requires significantly more time, rough material and personal attention than other cuts. In every&nbs... read more

Channel Setting

A setting style where the ridges in the metal of a ring's shank (or other pice of jewelry) create a channel that holds diamonds and gemstones securely in place.... read more

Chinese Freshwater Pearls: Bargain Beauties

    Until the late 1990s, China was expected to be the successor to Japan for production of saltwater cultured pearls. But that hasn’t happened. Nor is it likely to. China’s ocean pearls were never the equal of Japan’s.   Yet today China has eclipsed every other pearl producer in terms of quantity - harvesting hundreds of tons of pearls a year. You heard right: hundreds of tons. The second leading producer is estimated to produce only 20 tons of material. That’s a vast difference... read more

8/7/2006  Emerald: Green Gold

Emerald played as much a role in the conquest of the New World as gold. Once it was obtained in trade by the Spanish explorer Pedrarias on the north coast of Colombia in 1514, every subsequent Spanish explorer had this grass-green beryl high up on his list of booty and plunder.  Ever since, Colombia has remained the world’s most celebrated source of emerald. But, then again, it was only the second known source.  From 3500 B.C. until the 16th century, Egypt had been the sole source of this gem. Today, iron... read more

8/7/2006  Aquamarine: Blue Beryl

  Was aquamarine the first wedding gem? A couplet in a late 11th century poem by the Bishop of Rennes specifically mentions this sea-blue and green beryl in a context of matrimony. It is one of the earliest such references to an exchange of gemstone rings:   This potent gem, found in far India’s mines, With mutual love the wedded couple binds.    By the time the churchman wrote these lines, aquamarine was a highly revered gem - with a long history dating back to 3500 B.C. when it was first f... read more

Black Opal: Gemstone Fireworks

Oh, the power of the pen! In 1829, Sir Walter Scott published a novel called "Anne of Geierstein" that single-handedly destroyed the world opal market. In this book, a character dies shortly after her fiery opal is touched by a drop of holy water and loses all its vibrancy and color. A superstitious world thought that Scott was describing a curse that afflicted all opals and largely stopped buying the gem. Prices crashed. Sad though this was, it was not as great a loss as you may think. Most of the opal of... read more

8/7/2006  Fancy-Color Sapphire: Corundum’s Rainbow

Corundum Sapphire Corundum is a gemstone that comes in just about every color. When corundum is red, it’s called ruby; when it’s blue, it’s called sapphire, and when it’s yellow, orange, pink, purple and, on occasion, green, it’s called fancy-color sapphire. ‘Fancy-color’ is just a way of saying a sapphire is some other color than blue. Calling pink or yellow corundum sapphire would no doubt strike the ancient Romans as weird since "sapphirus" is the Latin word for blue... read more

8/7/2006  Fire Opal: Mexican Magnificence

Opal : Fire opal or Mexican Megnificence One of the biggest rock sensations on television these days is a gemstone: ‘Sunkist’ orange fire opal from Mexico and Brazil. Opal If you ever watch shop-at-home television, you’ll see every one of the networks featuring this gemstone - far more often than they do the more familiar varieties of white and black opal.   And no wonder. One network we talked to says returns are less than half of what is normal. And since normal is anywhere from 20% to 40... read more

8/7/2006  Japanese Akoya Pearls: Mikimoto’s Miracle

  No doubt you’ve heard of Mikimoto pearls, one of the world’s leading brands. They’re named after Kokichi Mikimoto (1857-1954) who is arguably the Henry Ford of pearls. It was he who in 1908 perfected (he is mistakenly credited with inventing) what is now known as pearl culturing. This method involves inserting a clamshell bead nucleus wrapped in mantle tissue from a donor oyster into the gonads of a host oyster. Next, the nucleated oyster is put in a basket or cage in a bay or lagoon where it will... read more

8/7/2006  Kunzite: Delicate Delight

Kunzite, a pink spodumene, is one of the world’s younger gems - first discovered in Connecticut in 1879, then promptly forgotten until its second find in California in 1901. This time, the gem caused an international stir. A year later, gemologist George F. Kunz, Tiffany’s (generally known for diamonds and diamond jewelry) chief gem buyer, hailed it as the best exemplar of pink in any North American gem. Is it any wonder that the gem, then still unnamed, ultimately became known as kunzite? As the world&rs... read more

8/7/2006  Moonstone: Liquid Blue Light

Moonstone, a feldspar with uncanny light shimmerings, is the birthstone for June - an honor it shares with pearls. If asked to choose between the two, the vast majority of people select pearls. Maybe they should hesitate long enough to look at a moonstone before doing so. If the gem they are shown is of fine quality, they will see something truly lovely and unique: a deep blue stone, reminiscent of superb sapphire, with a milky blue sheen. This sheen is the result of a phenomenon called "chatoyancy," which resu... read more

8/7/2006  Morganite: In the Pink

In 1900, banker J. P. Morgan donated a 16,000-piece gem and mineral collection to the American Museum of Natural History in New York. Can you guess the Morgan who was honored 11 years later with the gem name "morganite"? It’s the least the gem world could do for one of the greatest gem enthusiasts who ever lived. Actually, the financier had been in line for such a tribute when fabulous pink spodumene was discovered near San Diego, California, in 1901. Instead, the stone was named kunzite after gemologist a... read more

8/7/2006  White Opal: The World’s Favorite Fire Power

Every year millions of carats of white opal are imported into America, most of it from Australia but a lot of it from Brazil. As the October birthstone, it makes a popular choice for trinkets and keepsakes. Most of this opal is commercial quality, with white to slight gray base color against which can be seen pale pinpoints of spectrum color. This color play is called "fire" and, unfortunately, most opal has about as much fire power as a BB gun - or maybe we should say a cap pistol. But, hey, what can you expec... read more

8/7/2006  Peridot: Cleopatra’s Favorite Gem

Cleopatra is as famous for her love of emeralds as was Princess Di for her love of sapphires. There’s just one little catch. Scholars now think a good many of the Egyptian queen’s emeralds might have been peridot. Peridot, a soda-bottle-green olivine, was mined for millennia on the island of Zabargad, 35 miles off Egypt’s coast in the Red Sea. Supposedly, it was more beautiful than the emerald which Egypt also produced—so beautiful, in fact, it is widely believed to have been used as the second st... read more

Ruby: The First King of Gems

  Diamonds have not always been the king of gems. Until the 19th century, that honor belonged to ruby, the red member of the vast corundum family. No other gem was worth as much.   Want proof? Florentine goldsmith Benvenuto Cellini (1500-1571) wrote that rubies sold for eight times the price of diamonds - a ratio that held for centuries. And world traveler and trade Marco Polo wrote that when he visited Sri Lanka in 1290 he saw a 9-inch ruby "as thick as a man’s arm" for which an enti... read more

8/7/2006  Sapphire: The Best Blue

Named after the Greek word "sapphirus", meaning blue, Sapphires have long been the favorite stone for priests and kings, who considered them symbolic of wisdom and purity. The sapphire was said to represent the purity of the soul. Before and during the Middle Ages, it was worn by priests as protection from impure thoughts and temptations of the flesh. Medieval kings of Europe valued these stones for rings and brooches, believing that it protected them from harm and envy. Warriors presented their young wives with... read more

8/7/2006  South Sea Pearls: The Cadillacs of Cultured Pearls

Before World War II, six millimeters was considered a giant pearl size. Today, and for the last decade, that’s a dwarfish pearl size. Not only does Japan, the country most identified with pearl farming, routinely grow pearls up to 7-8 millimeters, but Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines routinely grow sized up to 12-14 millimeters, even larger. Why are these Pacific Rim pearl producers growing such humongous sizes? For starters, they use a larger oyster, the Pinctada maxima which grows to 30 centimeters. That&... read more

8/7/2006  Spinel: Living in Ruby’s Shadow

  When asked what was the greatest triumph of his career, Jahangar, Mughal ruler of India from 1605 to 1625, answered, the purchase of the 352-carat Timur ruby in 1612.  There’s just one small flaw in this accomplishment - the ruby was a spinel.   Thankfully for the jeweler who sold the potentate that ruby, the misidentification wasn’t discovered until centuries later when the stone had become a part of the crown jewels of England.  The Timur ruby isn't the only legendary ruby that... read more

8/6/2006  Tanzanite: Modern Wonder

Tanzanite was only discovered around 1965. Tiffany’s took an immediate interest in the newcomer, naming it, then marketing it worldwide in 1969. Yet the gem never caught on with public until the 1990s when oversupply brought prices to their lowest point ever—and made tanzanite an attractive alternative to sapphire. At its best, tanzanite resembles very fine sapphire. Indeed, the best of it has a deep, velvety violet-tinged blue that many mistake for Kashmir sapphire—the most coveted variety of this blue... read more

8/6/2006  Tourmaline Nature’s Crayon Box

Unlike diamonds, tourmaline is a gem that for long periods of time was used for things other than adornment. Indeed, tourmaline endeared itself to scientists long before it did jewelers. Greek mineralogist Theophrastus was the first to make note of its electrical charge in 315 BC. From then on, this unique property was the subject of continual inquiry. In 1761, Benjamin Franklin published a paper on experiments that he had been requested to conduct on this gem. No doubt, he had heard that Europeans commonly used pieces of... read more

8/6/2006  Tsavorite: Green Glory

When it was first discovered in East Africa in the late 1960s, tasvorite, a green grossular garnet, was hailed as the most significant new green gem since the first finds of demantoid garnet in Russia a century before. Indeed, some distinguished gemologists were so impressed by this new green glory that they said if it had been discovered before emerald, it would have been preferred to the beryl. That’s the highest praise possible. The name tsavorite was coined by Tiffany’s president Henry Platt around 1970 to... read more

Citrine: Glamour and Girth for Little Money

  Citrine, a name derived from the French word citron meaning yellow, starts life as amethyst or smoky quartz before being heated to attain the lemon, gold and russet shades for which it is known.   Because of its low, low price and super-abundance, this quartz commonly serves as a poor man’s topaz and golden sapphire. But it wasn’t always like that. Until citrine’s appearance in quantity starting in the 1830s, it was rare and expensive. Indeed, its widespread use in jewelry dates from the la... read more

Cat’s-eye Chrysoberyl: Mostly for Men?

  Unlinke ideal and superideal diamonds, cat’s-eye chrysoberyl is one of the world’s few precious stones that can be described as a man’s gem. Far more men than woman buy this stone, usually for rings but sometimes cuff links and tie tacks as well.   Why men prefer cat’s-eye is a mystery. But it is certainly a favorite stone among gem dealers.   Cat’s-eye chrysoberyl is classified as a phenomenon stone because its beauty and value depend on a unique gemological effect calle... read more

8/4/2006  France to Introduce Jewlery Hallmark

Jewelry exports from France will soon be identified with a hallmark in the shape of the European country.  The French mint, Monnaie de Paris, developed the symbol to guarantee French origins and demonstrate that the manufacturer adhered to legal and environmental regulations.  Created with small jewelry exporters that do not use a brand name in mind, the French government would like to increase the growth rate of jewelry exports once the new hallmark is in place.... read more

8/2/2006  Is Hallmarking the same as Stamping?

It's commonly thought that hallmarking is a synonym for stamping, and that both are simply compulsory jewelry metals markings required by law. Hence when you see "14k" or "925 sterling" or "950 plat" stamped, engraved or in some way etched on a piece of jewelry, you feel entitled to assume this is an American hallmark for the metal. Sorry, it isn't. A hallmark is a special kind of mark given after rigorous testing by an independent third party trained and certified in metals testing. At the... read more

8/2/2006  Insist on Correct Labels for Treated & Manmade Diamonds

Some makers and sellers of treated natural and manmade diamonds don't want you to know the exact nature of what you're buying. So they use ambiguous or confusing terminology. For instance, one maker of synthetic diamonds call its stones "cultured." But the term "cultured" is specifically forbidden by the Federal Trade Commission for use with any gem but pearls. Previous attempts to market manmade gems as "cultured" were disallowed by the Commission. It is very important that gem sellers use... read more

8/2/2006  Jewelers Vigilance Committee Finds Diamond Undercarating

When a jeweler writes the total weight figure of a multi-stone piece of a diamond jewelry on a sales tag or receipt using decimal points (for example, 0.95 ct.), he better be on the money. The Federal Trade Commission says it is a deceptive trade practice for the actual weight to be off by any fraction of a point (100 points equals 1 carat). Say you buy a pave diamond ring with a stated total weight of 0.95 carats (95 points). If those diamonds actually weigh 0.94 cts. or less, the jeweler is violating FTC rules. If the... read more

8/2/2006  A Platinum Primer

A Platinum Primer   The world's rarest precious metal was until relatively recently the world's most despised. Indeed, the word platinum comes from a Spanish pejorative word, "platina," meaning 'bastard silver.' The Spanish and Portuguese prospectors who first found it in South America hated it because it was impossible to refine. [It has a melting point of 1768º C that no furnace could reach until 1789.]   But once the metal could be worked with, it became the more prized than gold by those wi... read more

8/2/2006  The World's Awash in Chinese Pearls

Even with harvests in China down respectively to 600 tons in 2003, the world is swimming in freshwater cultured pearls—and prices reflect it. Sure, this figure is much more down to earth than the production peak of 2,000 tons reached in the late 1990s. But, say dealers, it's like downgrading a hurricane from Type 5 to Type 2. It's still a vicious storm. Let's put the numbers in perspective. When Japan's pearl production crested in 1966, it was no more than 250 tons. And today output in Japan is one-tenth that tota... read more

8/2/2006  What To Look For When Buying a Three-Stone Ring

Buying a Three-Stone Ring De Beers' hit the jewelry jackpot when it introduced the three-stone ring in the late 1990s. The idea was the culmination of the company's half-century campaign to make the diamond the gem of choice for any and every special occasion - from engagements and weddings to anniversaries, birthdays and holidays. In the case of the diamond three-stone ring, the jewelry/diamonds were a symbol of lifelong commitment - one diamond each for the past, present and future of the relationship. But if b... read more

8/2/2006  What You Should Know About Colored Gold

Gold is the technicolor metal, available in six hues: yellow, white, pink (or rose), green, blue and gray. And it's been available in a variety of colors since at least the Third Millennium BC when Persian artisans used inlays of colored gold for contrast. So don't just think of gold as a yellow metal. Unlike platinum or silver, which tend to be used in very pure form, gold can be as little as 41.7% pure and still be legally marked and sold as gold in America. Here's why: Gold is a very soft metal and needs the additio... read more

8/2/2006  Women Are Considering Move to the Right

Emboldened by the success of its three-stone ring campaign, De Beers launched a campaign to get women to buy right-hand diamond rings. After a slow start, the push to the right is gaining ground. The idea for a right-hand ring campaign makes perfect sense. De Beers reasons that the left hand is for all those special-occasion diamonds exchanged at weddings or given for anniversaries and holidays. That leaves the right hand free for self-indulgent purchases & gifts from the woman to herself. "Raise your right han... read more

8/2/2006  World Gold Council Unveils New Slogan

First, nothing felt like real gold. Then nothing glowed like gold. Now gold has become "the one language everyone understands." That's the slogan for a new "Speak Gold" campaign announced by the World Gold Council, the equivalent of De Beers' Diamond Promotion Center. The group dropped its "Glow with Gold" slogan because it felt that it did not have the depth and resonance of De Beers' "Diamonds are forever" slogan launched in 1948. Whether the new catch-phrase will work, or was... read more

8/2/2006  Synthetic Gem Diamonds:Fear or Fact—or Both?

There may soon come a day when your computer will have a sticker on it that says, "De Beers Inside," rather than "Intel Inside" - say, by 2010. As microchips run faster, they get hotter. Conventional silicon chips burn out and then up once temperatures reach a certain point. To reach much higher speeds, future microchips will need to be able to conduct heat in ways that today's silicon components can't. That's why diamonds have suddenly become the substance du jour in high-tech development labs all ov... read more

8/2/2006  Palladium: Jewelry's Best Kept Secret?

Formed in March 2006, The Palladium Alliance International calls palladium “jewelry’s best kept secret.”  The organization hopes to promote palladium in order to revitalize the industry’s sales and profits in the face of rising gold and platinum prices.   Palladium is a platinum group metal (PGM) with similar fine properties to platinum.  During WWII platinum shortage caused a rise in the use of palladium.  The metal is now being tapped into again by the fine jewelry indust... read more

8/2/2006  Pearl Engagement Rings?

Pearl Engagement Rings?    Pearl Diamond Ring   How quickly we forget. Once upon a not so recent time, pearls were apt to be as much a choice of an engagement stone as diamonds.   No, these were not Mikimoto cultured pearls.   These were natural pearls that came from a variety of places such as the Persian Gulf, Australia and Venezuela. Some of these betrothal pearls came from the rivers and streams of North America where in 1857 - a decade before the mammoth diamond finds in South Africa&... read more

8/1/2006  What if I hate the diamond ring he bought me?

He drops to a knee, opens the box and pops the question! It is a beautiful moment.  You hug him and tell him "yes, yes, of course yes!"  You are embracing and laughing and he places the ring on your finger.  Tears of joy stream from your eyes, so you can’t really tell that! You hate it. While trying to be sweet he selected a diamond or a setting (or both) that is opposite your taste in jewelry. You have tried to get around it but you are disappointed. Do you tell him?  Do you try an... read more

7/31/2006  Whiteflash ACA: About Hearts & Arrows

    All images are Whiteflash A Cut Above Hearts & Arrows Diamonds   In the 1980s Japanese cutters were the first to produce diamonds cut so exactly that facet reflections overlapped, creating kaleidoscopic patterns when seen through reflecting viewers. The techniques spread to other cutting houses and evolved. Hearts & Arrows diamonds reached the US in the mid 1990s. Top quality H&A diamonds are valued for their uniqueness and quality as the ultimate in cutting precision. They are sometim... read more

7/31/2006  WHY ARE HEARTS IMAGES POSTED FOR EVERY WHITEFLASH A CUT ABOVE® HEARTS AND ARROWS DIAMOND?

Whiteflash ACA Hearts & Arrows Diamond Photos Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows diamonds are so special because of the extreme level of cutting expertise that is necessary to produce these elite stones.  In addition to having ideal proportions and finish, A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows diamonds also must have perfect 3-Dimensional symmetry (optical symmetry).  Optical symmetry is distinct from “meet point” symmetry graded on lab reports which are based upon adjac... read more

7/31/2006  Why are some of your in-house diamonds missing their grading reports?

When we receive a shipment of diamonds they are carefully evaluated by Whiteflash before being sent to the labs for grading. We post information when preliminary results come in. Sometimes we are waiting for the diamond to be inscribed and issuance of the original lab grading report.... read more

7/31/2006  Amber: Nature’s Time Capsule

Amber is fossilized tree sap which often serves as a tomb for various flora and fauna—many of which are extinct. Some of these perfectly preserved life forms are tens of millions years old. Until about a decade ago, it was believed that the oldest and largest deposits of this organic gem were found in a vast, vanished forest area covering what is now Finland, Scandinavia, Eastern Europe and Russia. It was also widely believed that amber was produced by ancient evergreens. But nowadays gemologists think amber found... read more

Lifetime Upgrade

  Lifetime Trade Up Guarantee   The purchase of any Whiteflash in-house certified diamond automatically qualifies you for our 100% Lifetime Trade Up Guarantee.    We are so confident in the quality and value of the diamonds we buy for our stock that we offer this valuable benefit on all diamonds in our three in-house categories:  A CUT ABOVE® , Expert Selection, and Premium Select.   You may trade your qualifying Whiteflash diamond at any time for any other single diamond of equal or... read more

No Drop Shipping!

The Whiteflash Guarantee       By virtue of our state-of-the-art manufacturing systems and our meticulous inspection procedures, for which we have been awarded ISO 9001 certification for total quality management, you can be confident that your order will be delivered in impeccable condition.   With proper care and maintenance you can expect to get a lifetime of enjoyment from your Whiteflash diamonds and jewelry.    Complete Satisfaction Return Policy    To ensure yo... read more

One Year Buy Back Guarantee

  One Year Buy Back Guarantee   To help reduce the stress of your diamond buying experience we offer a One Year Buy Back Guarantee on the purchase of any Whiteflash in-house certified diamond.  Diamonds from our A CUT ABOVE® , Expert Selection, and Premium Select categories are automatically covered by this benefit.   If you should need to sell your diamond after your 30 day return period, Whiteflash will buy qualifying diamonds back at 70% of the diamond’s purchase price.  This benefi... read more