Is it indestructible?

Is it more expensive?

Does it scratch easily?

What are other alternatives (like tungsten which is heavier and feels “better quality” whereas titanium is very light – used in engineering projects?

Can it be resized?

What type of maintenance?

And now some answers…

Titanium is a light, grayish color metal that holds up like steel, but feels like aluminum. Titanium hold up to wear and tear, while being lightweight. What more could one ask for? As a material is very light and extremely durable although it is not indestructible. In particular, titanium is used in a number of industries including the military, aerospace and sporting goods. As a result, titanium jewelry is highly resistant to corrosion and scratching.

Another alternative is a metal called Tungsten. Tungsten is a very heavy and hard metal for its size (4x harder than titanium) but can scratch easily. Tungsten will hold its shine and shape longer than any other jewelry available on the market.

A downfall of both of these metals is that they can NOT be re-sized so make sure that you get your finger size before ordering! In comparison to gold and platinum, titanium and tungsten are more cost effective and can give you the same look. You can purchase several titanium or tungsten rings for the price of one gold or platinum ring. Both tungsten and titanium are strong metals, but how would each react if you slam your finger in a door? The titanium would bend and the tungsten could possibly crack. A tungsten ring would be safer for your finger.

About Us
Whiteflash is the first company in the U.S. to specialize in the coveted Hearts & Arrows diamond and bring the sheer beauty of “super ideal cut” to the Internet. Debi Wexler, a computer entrepreneur founded Whiteflash in 2000 bringing an expansive selection of loose diamonds to the Internet, including an exclusive brand of Hearts & Arrows. A Cut Above (ACA®) is unmatched in its brilliance, fire and sparkle and remains the only Hearts & Arrows diamond sold online with advertised standards and a “true patterning” guarantee. In addition, Whiteflash offers original handcrafted platinum and gold settings, diamond engagement rings and wedding bands, custom designed engagement rings and diamond jewelry.

About Us
Whiteflash is the first company in the U.S. to specialize in the coveted Hearts & Arrows diamond and bring the sheer beauty of “super ideal cut” to the Internet. Debi Wexler, a computer entrepreneur founded Whiteflash in 2000 bringing an expansive selection of loose diamonds to the Internet, including an exclusive brand of Hearts & Arrows. A Cut Above (ACA®) is unmatched in its brilliance, fire and sparkle and remains the only Hearts & Arrows diamond sold online with advertised standards and a “true patterning” guarantee. In addition, Whiteflash offers original handcrafted platinum and gold settings, diamond engagement rings and wedding bands, custom designed engagement rings and diamond jewelry.

When purchasing diamonds or any precious stones, be wary of low-quality inventory that retailers are trying to pass off as high-quality choices. But don’t worry. Whiteflash.com is dedicated giving you a true diamond education through our extensive online library. So come on, it’s time to get schooled in bling!

It’s especially important to know the cut and quality of a diamond when you’re choosing a piece of jewelry intended to spotlight a single stone. It’s similarly vital to choose a high-quality diamond for an engagement ring. It will be worn every day, and no matter how good the owner’s intentions are in the beginning, most women will admit that they don’t have theirs cleaned by a professional very often. But a high-quality diamond will sparkle and give off lots of light even with a layer of soapy scum on it.

Among the finest choices is a “hearts & arrows” super ideal cut diamond. The name comes from the shapes reflected from the diamond at different angles. When viewing this type of diamond, eight symmetrical heats and eight radiating arrows appear. These designs come from cutting a stone so precisely that facet reflections overlap, creating kaleidoscope patterns for the viewer.

Any diamond looks pretty good in lots of sunlight. It’s in low-light situations— a candlelight dinner, in a darkened theatre—where hearts & arrows really shines. Rainbow flashes and unmistakable fire is what you’ll see, and you’ll be glad you didn’t settle for anything less.

About Us
Whiteflash is the first company in the U.S. to specialize in the coveted Hearts & Arrows diamond and bring the sheer beauty of “super ideal cut” to the Internet. Debi Wexler, a computer entrepreneur founded Whiteflash in 2000 bringing an expansive selection of loose diamonds to the Internet, including an exclusive brand of Hearts & Arrows. A Cut Above (ACA®) is unmatched in its brilliance, fire and sparkle and remains the only Hearts & Arrows diamond sold online with advertised standards and a “true patterning” guarantee. In addition, Whiteflash offers original handcrafted platinum and gold settings, diamond engagement rings and wedding bands, custom designed engagement rings and diamond jewelry.

That may be a satiric narrative but the subject is dead serious. Blood diamonds are used to fund wars and other brutal activities in certain parts of the world. Diamonds sold in this illicit trade promote violence and kill people; you want to make sure that your own non conflict diamonds.

Whiteflash Initiatives
Dreams of Africa, a Whiteflash initiative, is a program funding relief for children in Africa. 100% of the profit from sales of a designer line of conflict-free diamond jewelry and merchandise goes to the World Centers of Compassion for Children International(WCCCI) to give children affected by the illicit trade of rough diamonds the chance for a brighter tomorrow.

Whiteflash was the first online jewelry retailer to be awarded membership to The Council for Responsible Jewelry Practices (CRJP).

Dreams of Africa designer jewelry
We continue to be proactive, raising awareness for the victims of blood diamonds through our website, philanthropic celebrity endorsements, donations to charitable foundations, and communication with the media, but we would like your help.

Our message:
Blood Diamonds still exist. Buying “conflict-free” protects you as consumers but it doesn’t stop the pain. As one company we can’t change governments or politics, but we can turn diamonds into a gift for life.
Beyond the protectionist work Kimberley Process, the Patriot Act, NGOs and the CRJP are doing, we believe there must be people-centered answers to help actual humans without industry or red tape in the way

How can consumers help?
Spread awareness. Take part in the global discussion involving exploitation in areas where natural resources are rich and people are poor. Share this link and links to information given by other responsible organizations. Support “development diamond” initiatives such as Dreams of Africa. If possible, donate to organizations like UNICEF and the WCCCI.

Avoid conflict diamonds.
Consumers can aid in the effort to ensure that diamonds do not fund conflict.  When shopping, here are four questions suggested by NGOs Amnesty International and Global Witness to test the seller’s commitment to preventing trade in conflict diamonds:
1.    How can I be sure that none of your jewelry contains conflict diamonds?
2.    Do you know where the diamonds you sell come from?
3.    Can I see a copy of your company’s policy on conflict diamonds?
4.    Can you show me a written guarantee from your diamond suppliers stating that your diamonds are conflict-free?

Whiteflash Answers
1.    Whiteflash diamonds are produced exclusively by Kimberly compliant manufacturers.
2.    All Whiteflash A Cut Above® and most ‘Expert Selection’ diamonds are produced on the same fine-make floor of our Kimberly compliant Antwerp site holder. All diamonds brought to Whiteflash, whether from Antwerp or our known USA suppliers are in strict compliance with the Kimberly Process and the USA Patriot Act.
3.    This page represents our policy and position.
4.    Our unique sourcing situation allows great comfort in knowing our diamonds are conflict-free.  Additionally, every diamond we bring to Whiteflash is accompanied by this written guarantee:

The diamonds herein invoiced have been purchased from legitimate sources not involved in funding conflict and in compliance with United Nations Resolutions. The seller hereby guarantees that these diamonds are conflict free, based on personal knowledge and/or written guarantees provided by the supplier of these diamonds.
Every dealer should be prepared to provide you with the above written statement or words to that effect.

The Future
The political obstacles to creating free, fair and competitive markets in conflicted areas are historically considerable.  Beyond the protectionist work Kimberly Process and the Council for Responsible Jewelry Practices are doing we feel the information age presents an opportunity to work toward people-centered solutions.

About Us
Whiteflashis the first company in the U.S. to specialize in the coveted Hearts & Arrows diamondand bring the sheer beauty of “super ideal cut” to the Internet. Debi Wexler, a computer entrepreneur founded Whiteflash in 2000 bringing an expansive selection of loose diamondsto the Internet, including an exclusive brand of Hearts & Arrows. A Cut Above (ACA®) is unmatched in its brilliance, fire and sparkle and remains the only Hearts & Arrows diamond sold online with advertised standards and a “true patterning” guarantee. In addition, Whiteflash offers original handcrafted platinum and gold settings, diamond engagement ringsand wedding bands, custom designed engagement ringsand diamond jewelry.

Unless you’re a groom wearing a high school or college ring, chances are your wedding ring is going to be the first real piece of jewelry (gasp!) and the most important ring you’re ever going to wear. While you did your duty by buying an engagement ring and popping the question, you’ll want to think about the ring that you buy for your bride and the one you’ll wear on your ring finger. We make it easy to get through the variety of choices for men’s wedding bands, from platinum to titanium and everything in between.

Mens Wedding Rings Materials
A groom’s wedding bandwill be made of platinum, white gold, yellow gold, titanium or stainless steel  Platinum and white gold are, at present, the most popular materials.

White gold is an alloy of gold (ie. it is a mixture of gold and silver or palladium). This is where the concept of Karat comes in. Karat is a measure of the purity of the material. An 18K gold ring has 75% pure gold. The higher the karat, the softer the ring and the more easily it will get scratched and dented. Accordingly, 18K is considered the optimal karat (with pure gold coming in at 24 karats).

There are positives and negatives with each type of wedding ring material you purchase. In particular, each will show different wear and tear after some time. The photo above shows what you can expect after one year of wear from each of the popular wedding ring materials.

Width of the Wedding Ring
The width of a man’s wedding ring is measured in millimeters. The smallest rings are 3 mm in width, whereas the largest rings are 8mm in width. Generally, men will purchase a ring that is on the larger side, tending towards 5-6 mm.

Style
Many of the younger generations of men choose simple wedding bands, and generally, have shied away from yellow gold in favor of 18k white gold or platinum. Some men have chosen rings that have a braid carved in them, or alternatively, some other edging that the manufacturer has set. Diamond-studded rings for men are definitely in the minority.

For additional comfort, grooms should consider purchasing a ring where the inside of the wedding ring is cambered or with rounded edges. Frankly, however, when a groom first wears a ring – any ring – it is likely to feel like a foreign object, with hard edges. Over time, rounded edges probably don’t add much, especially since most of the time, you’ll not even notice your ring. (You will, however, notice when your ring is not on your finger, as you reach to play with it. Read on to find out why this is the case.)

About Us
Whiteflash is the first company in the U.S. to specialize in the coveted Hearts & Arrows diamond and bring the sheer beauty of “super ideal cut” to the Internet. Debi Wexler, a computer entrepreneur founded Whiteflash in 2000 bringing an expansive selection of loose diamonds to the Internet, including an exclusive brand of Hearts & Arrows. A Cut Above (ACA®) is unmatched in its brilliance, fire and sparkle and remains the only Hearts & Arrows diamond sold online with advertised standards and a “true patterning” guarantee. In addition, Whiteflash offers original handcrafted platinum and gold settings, diamond engagement rings and wedding bands, custom designed engagement rings and diamond jewelry.

Alternative Metals
• Platinum and gold are the go-to metals for wedding rings-but they come with a hefty price tag
• There are plenty of metals on the market that are still beautiful, elegant and less expensive
• Palladium is a growing trend that happens to have a similar look and feel to platinum, but can cost about 75% less
• If you’re more of a traditionalist, choose white gold over platinum. White gold costs 45% less than platinum

Simple Settings
• For the past couple of years there’s been a trend towards micro-pave diamond bands, diamond halos, etc., which can all add to the overall cost of a ring
• These days, some brides-to-be are opting for a more simple, subtle and chic setting
• Diamond Solitaires are less expensive than embellished options, like three-stone rings
• A simple, traditional prong setting or channel set band is also more cost-efficient than an elaborate tension or bezel setting

Double Duty
• Who says you have to have an engagement ring and a wedding band?
• One hot new trend is choosing a beautiful wide band with multiple rows of diamonds and making that your engagement ring and wedding band. Although the ring may cost more than a regular engagement ring, this double-duty ring can help you save more in the long run since you won’t need to buy a wedding band too

Colored Gemstones
• Call it hue-love, but brides are branching out of diamonds! Colored stones like topazes, sapphires, emeralds and rubies are becoming increasingly popular
• Luckily for grooms, they can get a more impressive-sized rock for their money by choosing a gemstone instead of a diamond
• If your bride-to-be loves colored diamonds à la Heidi Klum’s canary diamondthen pop the question with a yellow sapphire. Or try a tourmaline if you’re looking to replicate a pink diamond look.

About Us
Whiteflash is the first company in the U.S. to specialize in the coveted Hearts & Arrows diamond and bring the sheer beauty of “super ideal cut” to the Internet. Debi Wexler, a computer entrepreneur founded Whiteflash in 2000 bringing an expansive selection of loose diamonds to the Internet, including an exclusive brand of Hearts & Arrows. A Cut Above (ACA®) is unmatched in its brilliance, fire and sparkle and remains the only Hearts & Arrows diamond sold online with advertised standards and a “true patterning” guarantee. In addition, Whiteflash offers original handcrafted platinum and gold settings, diamond engagement rings and wedding bands, custom designed engagement rings and diamond jewelry.

1: Use “old” to make “new”.
Did you inherit an engagement ring from your grandmother or a diamond wedding band from another woman in your family? The “antique” pieces carry a lot of sentimental value. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to “re-purpose” all of these diamonds in your own ring?

Work with your jewelry designerto incorporate the stones into the new engagement ring. Your ring will not only be unique, but will carry a part of special memory of your family.

3: You don’t want a traditional engagement ring; you are a trend-setter.
The plain Tiffany-style engagement ring is just not for you. How about a three-stone ring, with a larger diamond in the center and two smaller diamonds on the sides? Just not your style?

How many jewelry stores have you visited looking for that “different” ring? Ten? Twenty? If you think you will never find it, you are probably right. When you have something very specific in mind, chances are it is not in a jewelry showcase.

It is time to talk to Whiteflash.com, an online diamond boutique specializing in custom designed engagement rings and wedding bands. Describe your vision and we will create a CAD (computer aided design) image that is specific to your specifications and wants! After you approve we create the custom designed ring by hand!

4: You want to be able to remember not only where the ring was bought, but also how it was made.
You want to be part of every step in your engagement process and don’t want any surprises. You want the process of designing your engagement ring to be memorable and need to be involved in the creation process.

5: You love what the Hollywood actresses are wearing.
Did you fall in love with one of the engagement rings worn by a celebrity? Yet realistically, you and your fiancé-to-be cannot afford either one of those.

6: Details only known to you.
Are there things you want in your engagement ring that you don’t want other people to see? Like a little ruby stone you received in your pre-engagement ring years ago? A detail like this is important and meaningful to you but you may prefer to keep it private.

Certainly, this is a challenge, but not for a good designer. If you are custom-making your engagement ring, ask the designer to place the stones, initials, or dates into the ring’s gallery, the part located just under the stone of your ring. The gallery makes the ring smooth on the inside, the construction stronger, and it is a great place to keep the things that are meaningful to you away from other people’s eyes.

8: You know a jeweler whose work you have always admired.
You are lucky. Just as a trusted doctor or an attorney, a good jewelry designer is not easy to find. Has the designer made any pieces for you in the past? Do your family members always speak highly of that jeweler? Have you seen their work and fell in love with the style and quality of craftsmanship?

About Us
Whiteflash is the first company in the U.S. to specialize in the coveted Hearts & Arrows diamond and bring the sheer beauty of "super ideal cut" to the Internet. Debi Wexler, a computer entrepreneur founded Whiteflash in 2000 bringing an expansive selection of loose diamonds to the Internet, including an exclusive brand of Hearts & Arrows. A Cut Above (ACA®) is unmatched in its brilliance, fire and sparkle and remains the only Hearts & Arrows diamond sold online with advertised standards and a "true patterning" guarantee. In addition, Whiteflash offers original handcrafted platinum and gold settings, diamond engagement rings and wedding bands, custom designed engagement rings and diamond jewelry.

Here are the top things jewelers need to think about when helping men purchase diamonds:

1.  Make the man comfortable from the start.  Offer him education and guidance in diamond shopping
2.  Tailor your sales staff’s approach to working with a man and guide him along the way!
3.  Coach the guy on how to get hints on style from the bride to be or her friends.
4.  Help them know diamonds, setting durability, and trends vs. tradition. Cut-Clarity-Color, Carat
5.  Help him find ways to “secretly” find her ring size so that it fits on the big day!
6.  Diamond and Jewelry Insurance- make sure to educate the man on his options.

Think overall experience for the man. He needs some guidance, relaxation, and of course pampering!

Grooms, please feel free to contact Whiteflash.comwith questions, or to share your wedding tips and stories. When you’re done talking to us, head on over to The Man Registry and create your groom wedding registry.

About Us
Whiteflash is the first company in the U.S. to specialize in the coveted Hearts & Arrows diamond and bring the sheer beauty of “super ideal cut” to the Internet. Debi Wexler, a computer entrepreneur founded Whiteflash in 2000 bringing an expansive selection of loose diamonds to the Internet, including an exclusive brand of Hearts & Arrows. A Cut Above (ACA®) is unmatched in its brilliance, fire and sparkle and remains the only Hearts & Arrows diamond sold online with advertised standards and a “true patterning” guarantee. In addition, Whiteflash offers original handcrafted platinum and gold settings, diamond engagement rings and wedding bands, custom designed engagement rings and diamond jewelry.

More and more couples are choosing platinum, gold or white gold engagement ring settings. Platinum is pretty tough, so you won’t have to worry about the metal bending or stretching. However, gold and silver are much softer and more malleable. This makes these metals susceptible to bending or stretching. The main culprit: catching the ring in a sweater, blanket or carpet. If a prong grabs the fabric and you yank your hand away quickly, it can result in a misshaped band. Avoid this by being careful. If your ring does snag something, don’t pull away quickly.

Scratches

Platinum rings are less likely to scratch because they’re extremely tough. Small scrapes or nicks can be repaired with polishing (which can be done by most jewelers). If the damage is more significant, it might be more difficult to fix because of the density of platinum. On the other hand, gold and white gold are softer, so they may be easier to repair.

Loosening prongs

The risk of losing a stone in a pronged setting depends on the way it’s constructed. Most prongs will loosen slightly over time from everyday wear and tear. Some typical culprits include catching the prong on a sweater or hitting your ring against a countertop or door by accident. If you notice that one prong is loose, take it to a jeweler immediately. Once one comes loose, the others are likely to follow. Make sure you inspect your ring every few weeks to ensure that the stone is secure.

What not to do!

Whether you’re into horseback riding, mountain climbing or swimming, these activities can wreak havoc on your diamond engagement ring. If you’re really active, you could increase the risk of banging your ring up against something that may cause the prongs to loosen up, scratch the metal or worse. To prevent this from happening, leave your ring at home when partaking in these activities. Another option: Get a necklace in the same metal as your ring and hang the ring around your neck while working with your hands (think pottery or gardening).

How to care for it

Harmful chemical substances, like hairspray or cleaning supplies, can damage the metal and decrease the ring’s brilliance. Avoid these at all costs and take off your ring if you’re using them.

Diamond Eternity Rings

Just as the three-stone ring has morphed from an anniversary-only choice to a popular engagement piece, the sublime round of endless gems known as an eternity ring has come into its own as a particularly meaningful betrothal band. It’s now quite chic to forgo the solitaire altogether and opt for stones that travel around the circumference of the ring, symbolizing a love without beginning or end. Channel and bezel settings keep those sparklers secure, and while white diamonds populate most choices, look for scatterings of deep blue sapphires or crimson rubies to really catch the eye. The band metal of the moment is platinum. Rarer and more durable than gold, it’s also recommended for women sensitive to the alloys used in gold — it’s 90 to 95% pure.