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I think guys who are buying an engagement ring on their own deserve respect. It can be a really daunting experience and there is a lot of pressure to get it right. Over the last 20 years I have helped a lot of gentlemen choose a beautiful diamond engagement ring for their fiancées. Make sure when you are buying an engagement ring, you make it one she will love forever. 
If you think i have missed anything, would love you to post it in the comments section below.
Resizing rings is something of a daily occurrence for manufacturing jewellers. However it never ceases to amaze me how many times I hear from clients who have been to other jewellers that a ring can not be resized to suit their fingers. While it may be difficult at times to resize a ring, it is rarely impossible. The following is a list of some of the rings that we often resize.
If you ever have any questions about resizing your diamond engagement ring, please don’t hesitate to email me, or post a comment below. If your ring doesn’t sit well, don’t put up with it, come and see us.The Xennox Diamonds team are always here at your disposal to answer any of your jewellery questions. With our onsite master jewellers there is almost no ring that we can’t resize.
10 things you must ask your jeweller to make sure you are getting the best advice
Is the ring made locally or overseas ? Hand made rings manufactured locally are not only better quality, but will last longer as well. A master jeweller is someone who has spent their whole life perfecting the art of making jewellery. The quality of the piece created by a master jeweller is far superior to that of a mass produced ring.
A lot of the overseas made rings are of lightweight manufacturing design and are not built to stand the test of time.
This is a must. Having a ring specially designed by a professional jewellery designer is incredibly important. Almost every ring can be designed to sit flush with a wedding band. It just comes down to the skill of the designer. Make sure it is drawn for you in 3D before having it made.
Russian and Belgian diamond cutters are the best in the world. While they usually cost a little extra, they will definitely sparkle more . If you are trying to compare apples with apples, it is important to find out where the diamond was cut.
All diamond grading is done by the human eye, which is not infallible. It is vital to have a strict diamond grader with knowledge on diamond cutting check your stone to ensure you get what you pay for.
Any reputable jewellery manufacturer should be able to stand behind the quality of their work. A lifetime manufacturing warranty gives you the greatest piece of mind.
Most jewellers have ultrasonic machines specially designed to keep your rings clean. The ultrasonic literally shakes the dirt out from all the hard to reach places. This should be a free service that comes with all your jewellery.
Longevity and legacy in a business is essential in building credibility and trust. Look for jewellery stores that have ideally been around more than 10 years. Jewellery stores have been known to come and go. A warranty is not worth anything, if the business is not around to fulfill it.
If a minor stone falls out for no apparent reason. Most reputable jewellery stores should replace the stone free of charge. To a manufacturing jewellery it is usually obvious why a stone has fallen out. If it is not due to wear and tear the stone should be replaced free of charge.
It is quite normal for a stone to come loose through every day where. For a jewellery store with a professional diamond setter, it is a simple task to secure your stone. This should also be checked every time the ring is cleaned.
Because jewellers are often dealing with insurance companies through the claim process, they generally have a good idea about which insurance company is going to look after you the best, in the event of a loss.
Would love to hear from you. What questions did you ask your jeweller ? Please post your questions below.
Buying a diamond engagement ring is not only a big emotional commitment but a significant financial one for most couples. While the internet is usually a great tool for conducting some initial research before buying a diamond, it can become difficult when you need to make a price comparison. The key piece of advice that i give my clients is – Don’t believe everything the diamond certificate tells you. After all it is only an opinion, graded by humans, who as we all know are prone to mistakes.
1. Certificate type
While the GIA is considered one of the most renown independant certificate on the market, there are some certificates that are really not worth the paper they are written on. Some are consistently at least one colour grade and clarity grade out. (to the downside) So while it might seem cheap on face value, it isn’t when you compare what you are actually getting for your money.
2. Excellent cut grade – What does that mean ?
It used to be that approximately the top 20% of stones received an excellent cut grade, today this figure is probably closer to the top 40%, as the parameters for an excellent cut grade are widening. The diamond grading laboratories like Google won’t tell you when they move them. You just need to know exactly what a perfect cut diamond looks like. Where you sit in this spectrum will not only be seen in the brilliance of the stone but the price as well. Make sure that when you are buying a diamond you don’t pay for a top 10% cut grade stone, when you are actually getting a top 30%.
3. Independently check your colour grade.
Colour grading can be affected by so many variables. How tired was the diamond grader at the time and things like excess coffee can all affect the way we perceive colour. The margin for error is so small, that it only takes a small error to cost you thousands depending on the size of diamond you are looking at. Make sure your diamond is checked by a qualified diamond grader. The colour on the left is an F colour and the one on the right is a H colour. 
4. Clarity grade – inclusion location
If you were deciding between two diamonds – one with an inclusion in the middle of the stone or one with a mark on the edge of the stone (that can be covered) i am sure you would choose the one on the edge. It is for this reason the diamonds with marks in the middle (table facet) are discounted and made cheaper. When buying a diamond always aim to have a girdle (edge) inclusion.
5. Fluorescence
A little understood characteristic. Basicly it is the way the diamond responds under ultraviolet light (like the one in discos). Anything slight to nill is ideal. Some medium fluorescent stones can be ok, but you really need to be careful as they can sometimes make the diamond look cloudy (which reduces the brilliance). Strong fluorescent stones are to be avoided – and they are much cheaper.
6. Laser inscription
This is a little be a nice to have – not need to have. The inscription is only on the surface of the stone. If someone wanted to, it is possible to have it polished off by a diamond cutter. So don’t discard a beautiful stone just because a stone doesn’t have a laser inscription
7. Not consulting a diamond expert
For complete piece of mind, it is always important to see a diamond expert when buying a diamond. You wouldn’t take your car to be serviced to someone that just sold tyers ? Like jewellery there are some who specialise in diamonds and some that just sell general jewellery. A diamond specialist will not only be able to tell you why a diamond is a better quality but be able to show you and answer any question you have about your diamond. 
At the end of the day, unless you want to look at your diamond certificate on the anniversary of your purchase every year, the diamond paper is not as important as finding the most brilliant diamond.
If you have found this helpful or have something you would like me to answer, please email me directly and i will answer any question that you have.
Gym’s are great for personal fitness but a gym will kill your rings. Some of the most destroyed pieces of jewellery i have ever seen come from avid gym trainers who wear their jewellery at the gym. If you want to protect your ring and increase its life expectancy, then here are some things to avoid the gym killing your rings.
1. Metal on metal
Gold and platinum are still soft metals compared to that of the steel bars and dumbells at a gym. The crisscross serrated pattern will cut into your ring like butter, or leaved a hammered like appearance on the metal. While this can be polished out, every time you have to polish a ring, it takes of a fine layer of gold – prematurely wearing the ring down.
2. Distorting the rings shape
When you lift weights or anything of substance it puts an uneven pressure on two sides of the ring, causing it to be pushed out of shape and have an oval appearance when placed flat on a table. The more times a ring is moved out of its centre position the more brittle it becomes. This will cause the ring to crack at its weakest point, which is usually the solder join at the bottom of the ring. While this can be repaired, if it is done to often it will wear down your ring.
3. Causing diamonds to come loose
A second factor of the ring being pushed out of shape is that it causes the top setting of your ring to open and close. This flexing motion will gradually make the stones of your engagement ring loose, which will require more trips to the jeweller for regular maintenance to have the stones tightened.
4. Dermatitis
While working up a sweat at the gym is a great goal if you are looking to tone up, sometimes it can cause dermatitis if the moisture becomes trapped under your rings. This is generally made worse in the lower carat golds such as 9ct, as there are more minor alloys that can react with your skin.
5. Rhodium plating
If you ring is made of white gold, then it most likely has a surface rhodium plating applied to it. While this process is normally redone every 2-3 years with normal wear and tear. Wearing your rings at the gym will speed up the deterioration of the rhodium.
1. Put your ring in your locker
Putting your rings in a lockable locker is perhaps the most secure option for your rings as it will avoid any metal contact. Depending on the gym that you go to, this may not be possible. For some ladies it is also a trust issue. After all your engagement and wedding ring are very sentimental, and you wouldn’t want it to be misplaced. If you are at all worried about this there is one final option.
2. Wear your ring on a chain
Choosing a metal carat that is the same as your ring is the best option. So if your ring is 18ct white gold, choose an 18ct white gold chain. Likewise if you have a platinum engagement ring or wedding ring choose a platinum chain. 9ct chains are to be avoided if you can help it. Because the 9ct is so much more brittle it is a lot more prone to snapping, which could result in the loss of your rings. The best style of chain for hanging a ring on is a Foxtail chain. It has three links reinforcing each other, so will be able to carry even the heaviest ring.
3.Try choosing a Platinum600 wedding band.
It is regular platinum wedding ring combined with Tungsten. Which means that not only can it be resized, it is twice as hard as 9ct, and even 20% harder than normal platinum.
If you do go to the gym regularly and have another solution i would love to hear it. Please email me your best gym ring saving tips.
While some guys can be a little unfazed by the metal of their wedding bands, more and more are looking for low maintenance better wearing wedding rings. As time goes on, new technology and advancements are bringing new metals to the market. The latest metal out is now even better than the current range of platinum wedding rings.
Normal platinum wedding rings are stamped with 950 (when means there is only a 5% alloy added), whereas with the new Dora platinum 600 they have added in a new alloy – tungsten (which is considered one of the best scratch resistant metals available). The downside of tungsten is that like titanium, it can’t be resized. To combat this the metallurgists came up with a solution – combining it with platinum. By doing this they have combined the best of both worlds – a strong scratch resistant metal that can also be resized. There is also another benefit of being alloyed with platinum – the Platinum600 never has to be rhodium plated, as it is a naturally white metal.
Here are the facts according to the vickers hardness scale of hardness (an international hardness testing application).
Hardness Rating
375: 110750: 150
Pt950: 200
Pt600: 220-240
Conclusion
Plat600 is 2 x harder than 9ct.
Plat600 is 50% harder than 18ct.
Plat600 is also 20% harder than plat950.
So as you can see it is harder than all the other metals. The hardness has a direct impact on scratch resistance. As it is a hard metal, it will be very resistant to getting scratched.
If you have been considering purchasing some platinum wedding rings and would like to know more about our range of Plat600 platinum wedding rings, please feel free to shoot me an email.
P.S. Interesting Fact – Platinum is only found in 7 countries on Earth where gold can be mined from all countries. Which is another factor that shows the rarity of platinum.
If you’d like to know more information about Platinum 600 or any other metals then consult our experts at the Xennox Diamonds luxury showroom by booking a Discovery Session and arrange to speak to one of our experts who can answer any questions you may have about metals.
Diamond halo engagement ring designs are extremely popular at the moment. Whether it is a centre round brilliant cut diamond or fancy shape like this radiant, the range of halo designs is always expanding.
When deciding on a halo engagement ring design there are two main design styles to choose from – grain set and claw set. Don’t worry to much about worrying if you have made the right choice as ultimately there is no right or wrong style. It’s just a matter of personal preference, and which ring you think looks better on your hands. Here are a few things to keep in mind when looking for your diamond
1. Grain set halo engagement rings
A grain set halo engagement ring is typically a single row of 1 point diamonds (0.01ct) surrounding the centre stone. However lately double row halo designs are also becoming more popular.
Advantages
Grain set diamonds are embedded into the metal and are secured with small grains/beads that hold the diamonds in. Because there is more metal around the stones, you will save money of the overall diamond weight of your ring.
Disadvantages
The grain set diamonds create a diamond set border around your centre stone. In the case of a single row this may make your centre stone stand out more, because it creates a contrast. In the case of a double row, while it might create an overall larger look, it can tend to make your centre diamond look smaller.
2. Claw set halo engagement rings
A claw set diamond halo engagement ring, uses typically 2 – 3 point diamonds (0.02 – 0.03ct) set in claw settings around your centre diamond.
Advantages
Because the surrounding diamonds are much larger it tends to give a greater sparkle that blends in more with your centre stone giving an overall much larger diamond look. The design style is also great if you have a few inclusions towards the outside of your main diamond. The sheer volume of sparkle and bling tends to make it harder to focus on the the inclusions.
Disadvantages
The only apparent disadvantage of this style is that you might loose the individualism of your centre stone. Although this is a disadvantage that many brides are willing to live with.
Diamond halo engagement ring designs need to be made by exceptional jewellers.There are two things that you must look for when choosing your engagement ring.
1. Which ever design you choose make sure that the ring is made well and there isn’t any gaps between the halo diamonds as this will give you a really gappy look. This usually happens with the jeweller has either not calculated the right spacing around the main stone or the diamond setter has selected diamonds that are too small for the setting.
2. Ensure there is not a gap between the centre diamond and the surrounding diamonds. This will not only detract from that bigger diamond look that you are aiming for, but it is also a place that hand cream, soap and dirt will collect.
At Xennox Diamonds, I always like to draw a 3D sketch of our halo diamond engagement rings, so you clients can see exactly what your ring will look like. Drawing your engagement ring to scale is extremely helpful to see how big the diamond is, and what the overlapping effect will look like. If you would like to arrange an appointment to see me and have your halo engagement ring draw, please send me an email at design@xennoxdiamonds.com.au
Matching a wedding band to your engagement ring should be an easy process if your engagement ring has been designed with this in mind. Almost every engagement ring can be made to sit flush with a wedding band. It just takes extra time and precise direction to angle the wires to a small base. While some ladies might be inclined to change their engagement ring at one time or another, most feel extremely sentimental about their wedding bands. So it is important to choose a band that you can see your self wearing for the next 40 -50 years.
Having your wedding band compliment your engagement ring perfectly can make all the difference to the way the set looks. An expert craftsmen can shape the profile of the wedding band to match the engagement ring so it looks like the two were made at the same time.
1.Solitaire
The great thing about a classic solitaire engagement ring is that you can have either a classic wedding band or a diamond wedding ring. It really depends on whether you love the”traditional” look your mum used to have or whether you would like something that reflects a bit more or “your style” The traditional wedder will generally give a a constant level of wear all around that band, as it will constantly spin on your finger.
2. Engagement rings with shoulder set diamonds
If your engagement ring has diamond set shoulder stones, the best matching option is to hand make the matching diamond band with the same setting. For example – If you have channel setting in the engagement ring, then your perfect match would be a channel set wedding band. Ideally one that starts and finishes as the same spot as your engagement ring.
When choosing the size of the diamonds in your wedding band, I always recommend choosing the same size, and shape. Remember it is not just the wedding ring you have to think of, in a years time there will be an “eternity ring” on the other side. If you do want to go bigger in the diamond size, then make sure it is noticeably bigger. Otherwise it will look like you tried to make it matching but couldn’t.
Micro pave – the philosophy behind this setting style is to make the beads holding the diamonds in as small as possible to accentuate the diamonds. The problem with this is that the settings are not as secure and the diamonds are more likely to fall out. Unfortunately with this style it is not a case or IF your are going to loose a diamond it is a matter of WHEN.
If you are looking for some advice on the best wedding ring to compliment your engagement ring, our friendly and helpful staff are always on hand to offer guidance and help you pick the perfect match to your engagement ring.
Yes. All white gold, is essentially an alloy of pure (24ct) yellow gold, so it is natural to assume that it has a yellow tinge. The rhodium plating is a process which gives the white gold its ultra white colour by placing a coating over the existing metal.
2. How long does rhodium plating last ?
The rhodium plating on your ring should definitely last longer than a year. Although having said that, if the base colour of the white gold has a really yellow colour to it, then you might start to see the gold colour coming through at the base of the ring, before the end of the first year. Normally you should expect the plating to last 2-3 years.
3. How much does rhodium plating cost ?
Typically the cost for rhodium plating can range from $60 – $120 for a fine engagement ring. The price may vary depending on the quality of the rhodium solution, the skill of the jeweller, turnaround time, and the finished effect. Wider and heavier pieces soak up more rhodium out of the solution so will cost a little more.
4. Will the rhodium plating affect my diamonds or gemstones ?
No. The process of rhodium plating requires a current to run through the metal. The rhodium then binds to the elements in the piece which conduct the current, causing the plating to take affect. As diamonds and gemstones don’t conduct electricity, they will be safe from the plating.
5. Can you rhodium plate my yellow gold ring ?
Yes you certainly can. As mentioned above – any metal that conducts a current is able to be plated. However as your yellow gold is really yellow, you may find it only takes about 6 months for the gold colour to show through at the back of your ring.
6. Should I rhodium plate my ring every year?
Absolutely not !! This will only wear your ring down prematurely. Every time your ring is rhodium plated, your old plating must first be striped off, all the old scratches taken out, cleaned and be prepared to have the new plating applied.
7. How long does it take to rhodium plate my ring ?
Depending on the complexity of your piece, and whether there is any filigree or distinct work your ring, it usually will take around an hour and a half to complete the process.
If you have any questions i may have missed please feel free to email me. If you have found this post helpful or know someone that it could help, i would love you to share it on your favourite social platform.
Which diamond cut looks the biggest? Have you ever wondered if a 1 carat round brilliant cut diamond looks bigger than a 1 carat princess cut diamond? I am often asked whether round or square diamonds look bigger by many brides-to-be as they begin the journey of picking their perfect diamond engagement ring. While the sparkle and fire of a diamond are important, the physical size of the diamond can also play a part in your decision making process.
Here is the maths for the surface area of a 1 carat princess cut diamond versus a 1 carat round brilliant cut diamond.
Formula for the surface of a square is length x width. square = a2 
For a perfect cut 1ct princess cut it would be – 5.5 x 5.5 = 30.25
Formula for the surface area of a circle = pi r 2 
For a perfect cut 1 carat round brilliant cut diamond with a 6.5mm spread – 3.252 x 3.14 = 33.16
From this basic analysis of the two different stones we can see that the round brilliant cut diamond is approximately 10% larger in surface area than the princess cut diamond. While this doesn’t take into account the effect of the claws, on face value it appears the round brilliant cut is winning the size debate. However, if you took the diagonal measurement of a 1 carat princess cut, it would measure approximately 7.7mm, which is more than 1mm wider than a 1 carat round brilliant cut diamond. So sometimes, when determining which one is bigger, it simply depends on how it appears in the flesh.
If you are about to set out on the hunt for your engagement ring and want to know how to get the biggest diamond for your buck, then read on. Ultimately, if you were to spend the same money, the princess cut diamond would actually give you a bigger physical diamond in comparison to the round cut diamond. This is because the rough crystal for a princess cut diamond is significantly cheaper and more economical to cut than that of the round.
Therefore, should size be an important consideration for you, you will be able to get a bigger diamond overall for your budget. On average, for well cut diamonds, there is at least a 25% price difference between a round brilliant and princess cut diamond. In the case of a 1 carat F SI1 round brilliant cut diamond, you would be able to buy a 1.3 carat F SI1 princess cut diamond.
From this we can see that if you were to spend the same budget, you would actually get a 10% bigger surface area by purchasing a princess cut diamond ring, instead of a round brilliant cut diamond ring.
While maths can be fun (well for some of us anyway), we are really passionate about finding the perfect diamond for you. Whether you have your heart set on a round brilliant cut diamond or a princess cut diamond, we will find the perfect ring for you. We are always available for a chat, and have an amazing selection of loose diamonds for you to have a look at. Please feel free to email me, if you have any questions or would like to make an appointment to view our diamonds.
