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An insider’s guide to choosing the perfect diamonds

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  I was at the Los Angeles jewelry district yesterday and saw a woman with a pair of 2-carats each round diamond studs on her ears. They weren’t sparkly. They weren’t white.   They were cloudy and dull. Were they just dirty? It didn’t look like it. I thought about why she may have chosen 2 carats each for earrings versus a sparkly pair of smaller diamonds. It prompted me to write this post on my insider’s guide to choosing the perfect diamonds to help my readers avoid her mistake.  People have varying thresholds of quality they’ll accept when it comes to diamonds. Many people make the mistake to go with the largest size they can afford, compromising on important factors that make diamonds so beautiful. Also, sometimes the reason for a bad diamond purchase is due to poor guidance from the business where the customer bought their diamonds.  There’s a delicate balance of looking at the  4Cs  along with other variables before investing in a diamond. I believe...

Make Gifts Have Sentimental Meaning Like This

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  My favorite part of having a fine jewelry business is hearing the stories that go along with the gifts people purchase for those they love. Fine jewelry and their meaning to their owners last forever. To me, a gift of jewelry I invest in for myself or that I receive as a gift is more special than other “things” I own because it won’t wear out, get old or go out of style. And when there is sentimental value with the piece, I love how it makes me feel each time I put it on.  I want to share with you some  Ounce of Salt Jewelry  pieces where customers shared with me, the special meanings they gave to the items. Each one is unique and special. Hexagon Overlay Necklace  “Happy Anniversary, Baby. Hexagons for the six wonderful years we’ve been married.”  Ahhh… This was the note my customer requested to go along with his gift to his wife. What a thoughtful husband. Creative and meaningful! Sliced Diamond  This sliced diamond was purchased by a customer wh...

Why the Jewelry Industry Needs Consolidation

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I was reading a post on Facebook yesterday where a friend discussed how every week, the neighborhood moms meet in an alley to buy a week’s worth of prepared Korean food from a woman’s car. A Korean woman cooks delicious meals at her house and packages them to distribute once a week to busy moms. There was a flood of comments from friends who wanted in on this secret meet up too.   I thought about how it’s our   human nature to get excited about opportunities like this — insider connections to get the best stuff at the best values. A friend knows a friend who can get that special thing you’ve been coveting for half the price. Whatever “IT” is, it’s always helpful to “know someone.” Jewelry Insider who is working for YOU I am the “in the know” jeweler with connections to get the best quality diamonds & gemstones, and the best quality workmanship pieces you can find for an unbeatable price. How? Because I’ve eliminated all the middle man costs and overhead that do not add val...

Are You Sure Your Diamonds are Real?

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  I entered the Jewelry Store industry to make buying fine jewelry easier for the consumer. As I’ve written before, the fine jewelry industry comes with layers of deception and sales practices that can arguably be predatory. It’s important to do your research, to not rely solely on third-party reviews (many of which can be paid for), and to understand the face behind the brand from where you purchase. The Know, Like, and Trust factor is of utmost importance in the jewelry industry! With Valentine’s Day a few weeks away, men will be looking to gift fine jewelry to the ones they love. I wanted to make you aware of a problem in the supplier network of diamonds that most people in the industry don’t discuss: Synthetic Diamonds mixed in with Man-made Diamonds when sold to jewelry makers and designers. Say Again? Lab grown diamonds are being sold as real, natural diamonds Synthetic diamonds are being mixed with natural diamond jewelry and sold as real, 100% natural, mined stones...

3 Things Keeping My Weight Off

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  Ounceofsaltjewelry  — I am not closely monitoring my diet on My Fitness Pal like I used to as now I’m in the maintenance mode phase. I’ve gained back a lb or 2, but for the most part, I’ve been able to keep off my 10+ lbs without feeling deprived. What I’ve learned with this new eating lifestyle — What used to work for me to shed weight and feel healthier when I was younger stopped working many years ago. It was time to stop blaming my metabolism and try something different. I’m thinking you may be in the same boat of unsuccessful attempts at losing a little weight or feeling healthier. Here are my 3 key tips for keeping my weight off. 3 Things Keeping My Weight Off Most Days, Not Eating Until 3pm I know what you’re thinking… “I can’t do that!” Yes, you can. I’ve been intermittent fasting since mid July. I can’t believe I’ve been able to do it this long, but now it’s a part of my lifestyle and easy! There is a lot of information on the web about intermittent fasting. It...

Must Knows Before Investing In a Quality Diamond Eternity Ring

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A customer of mine wanted to invest in a beautiful diamond eternity ring . She had been looking at pictures online and was confused about the large variance in pricing for what seemed to be the same product. Her budget was set, she knew what shape diamond she liked best for her eternity band, and she liked the continuous diamond look. But she wasn’t sure about the rest of the details. Many women want to own a diamond eternity band at some point, whether for their wedding ring to pair with their engagement ring or as a right hand piece. With the unlimited choices out there, it can be extremely confusing. Many are left putting off their decision to invest in a piece, or they have no choice but to go to a high-end jewelry store and pay 5–10x mark-up to get the advice they need. If you’ve been following me for a while, you know that I am a 3rd generation jeweler who started an online jewelry and concierge shop to make investing in fine jewelry easier for the consumer. I believe everyone ...