Value in a Nutshell
The real factors of value are: 1) the amount you spend; 2) the fulfillment of a want or need; and, most importantly, 3) the degree of personal fulfillment over time.

We can use these factors for determining the value of just about anything. Is a $0.75 cookie a better value than a $1 apple? Well, it’s certainly cheaper. Over time, however, the nutritional properties of the apple and how it benefits your whole body likely make it the better value.

The Value of Jewelry
Jewelry is a unique commodity in that it has an inherent global monetary value. Society values precious metals like gold and platinum, as well as gems like diamonds and sapphires. These factors build in a lasting sense of monetary worth over time. That a ring lasts longer than, say, a sandwich, also brings a sustained value to jewelry.

Perhaps, the one factor that increases the value of jewelry more than any other, however, is the sentimental attachments we bring to it. Do you have your grandmother’s antique wedding ring? Would you ever sell it? Do you have your daughter’s baptism or christening pendant? Would you sell that? Of course not. We don’t sell these things because the value they have has nothing to do with their price. And that’s why using cheap as a synonym for value is more of an advertising trick than an actual representation of value.

True Story
I have a seven-year-old daughter who just loves kitty cats. When she was just five, I brought home this diamond cat pendant for her. She loves it. She takes very good care of it, keeping it in a safe place so that it won’t get lost or damaged. She doesn’t wear it every day, only for special occasions like family gatherings or school pictures – you know, the times when little girls want to look and feel special.

We sell that pendant for just $99 at SuperJeweler. We think that’s a pretty affordable price for this particular pendant. What I had not taken into consideration at the time, however, was just how attached my daughter would become to this pendant. To see such a young girl show such responsibility and affection for it is something that also brings me happiness. And you can’t put a price on that.

This is the Way We Give Jewelry
Jewelry is not like chocolate or a sweater where the price can often be the first factor. After all, you wouldn’t give her a piece of jewelry she didn’t like even if it was free, would you? Instead, the first thing we consider is what she likes. When we find the styles we are looking for, we then try to find those styles within our budget. The ultimate goal when giving jewelry is to wow her as soon as she opens the box, then have her be wowed again, over time, whenever she wears it. And it doesn’t matter if it’s a piece that she wears only on special occasions or a piece, like an engagement ring, that reminds her every minute of every day how much she is loved. The right piece of jewelry truly is priceless.

SuperJeweler: Value Jewelry
At SuperJeweler, we take all of these factors into consideration and work hard to offer you a wide array of choices so that you can find the perfect piece. We also offer jewelry at a wide range of prices because, while price might not be your primary consideration, it will still always be a consideration.

Valentine’s Day is approaching quickly. We know it’s a very popular jewelry day. So whether you are shopping for engagement rings, diamond heart pendants, or any other piece of jewelry for Valentine’s Day, SuperJeweler has the jewelry you are looking for … at a real value.

Here are just a few of the most common questions (and answers) when it comes to buying the perfect piece of jewelry.

Q: If you have larger features, should you wear smaller pieces of jewelry to create an illusion of smallness?
A. No. Wear jewelry that is scaled to your size. Wearing pieces of jewelry that are too small or too large create a comparison effect, not a complementary effect. You want your jewelry to look like a natural extension of yourself. Wearing jewelry that is scaled properly will do just that.

Q. Can the right earrings contour your face?
A. Yes. If you have a well-defined chin, you can minimize it with gemstone earrings set close to the ear. If your face is rounded, you can add the illusion of length with diamond earrings that have some drop to them, like journey diamond earrings. If you have a longer nose, try larger earrings, but ones that do not outline the earlobe.

Q. Should you avoid wearing rings if you have ugly hands?
A. No. Keep in mind, the degree of attractiveness in any part of the body is always subjective. Most times, we are our own worst critics anyway, right? Take an objective look at your hands and be honest with yourself; are your fingers more like sticks or sausages? Are your palms narrow or squared? Ask more question like this, and stay honest in your answers. When you have a good objective sense of your hands, pick diamond rings that share the same characteristics as your hands/fingers. Remember, you want your jewelry act as a natural extension of your person.

Q. Is it okay to mix different types of jewelry?
A. Absolutely. The key, as we have mentioned, is knowing your features and what will work with them. If you are choosing pieces that will complement your features, you can mix and match because you’re features are the point point of reference from which other pieces have been selected. So, if you want to wear emerald gemstone jewelry with pearls, you can.

Keep these tips in mind the next time you are shopping for jewelry and you should find that you are more satisfied with your selection. And keep coming back to the SuperJeweler Blog; we’ll be offering up tips and tricks like this from time to time.

Now there is a new way to buy jewelry. It’s called One and Done from SuperJeweler. Here’s how it works.

Each day, we scan our inventory reports and find a list of items for which we only have one left in stock. Then we take an item from that list and mark it way down and put it on our One and Done page. As soon as it sells, it’s gone forever!

What does this mean for you? First, it means that you get another way to save money on some great jewelry; everybody loves that part. It also means that, every day, you have a new chance to get an item that has been a customer favorite. After all, there is only one left, right?

With the holidays coming up soon, everybody is looking for a deal. And every day, One and Done will feature new engagement rings, diamond earrings, fine gemstone jewelry, and more. Many of the items featured will be less than $100. It’s the perfect way to get something special for that special someone … especially if that special someone is you!

Check out SuperJeweler’s One and Done page now, bookmark it, and come back every day!

The ring that the 32ct emerald cut diamond sat perched upon was formerly owned by Leonore Annenberg, billionaire philanthropist. To put 32 carats into perspective, the diamond was the size of a walnut. A WALNUT. In fact, the 32ct diamond was flanked by two other diamonds that were about 1.5 carats each – not too small in their own right.

On her 90th birthday, Annenberg treated herself to the mammoth ring. It didn’t show up in a beautiful blue box; rather, it was delivered by armed guards to her home in Rancho Mirage, CA.

We don’t normally use this space to talk about other people’s jewelry. The fact is, however, we can do this because we don’t have any 32ct diamond rings in stock. And you probably don’t have $7.7 million to drop on one.

We do, however, have 32 1ct diamond rings in stock at SuperJeweler.com. (Well, actually we have more than that, but we had this theme thing going, you know?)

This is especially important this time of year. Any jeweler you talk to will tell you that Thanksgiving weekend is a VERY popular time for proposals. It’s usually when families are together and the groom-to-be has the opportunity to talk to his future father-in-law. It’s also the time when she can show here ring to her friends and family. If you are reading this post right now, it’s likely because you, or someone very close to you, is getting close to an engagement.

One of the biggest benefits of shopping with an online jeweler, such as SuperJeweler is that our selection goes much deeper than you will find at a mall store. While, on the surface, an engagement ring may seem just like a diamond solitaire and a ring, when you break it down into diamond cut, diamond weight, the type of metal, sizing, etc., having choices matters. And, of course, pricing matters, too. How many other jewelers do you know who would dare to offer clearance engagement rings?

If you have already been looking for engagement rings, you have no doubt also explored bridal sets and wedding rings. Because bridal sets and wedding rings (or wedding bands, if you prefer) get into more design options, it is even more important that the decision be made with input from the bride-to-be. Think of it as a opportunity to learn about more than just the bridal set or wedding ring you are looking for, but a way to know what might make a good jewelry gift in the future. It also sheds light on tastes in general, (i.e., classic versus modern, simple versus complex).

Some men can be a little detached from the wedding planning process, opting to let the bride create the wedding she wants. Still, being involved and sharing in the wedding jewelry process provides insight into why she loves the things she does. And these are lessons that will last as long as those diamond rings.

We’re hopeless romantics at SuperJeweler. We want you to have the perfect engagement ring (or bridal set, or wedding bands). And we hope that you put SuperJeweler on your list of places to shop for engagement rings…together.

So, just what are these different types of gold?

The karat count of gold is an indicator of the level of purity of the gold. The most pure gold is 24k gold. If you find an item that is 24k gold, it is 100% gold. The lower the karat of gold, however, the less gold it contains. For instance, 14k gold contains 50% gold. A breakdown of types of gold looks like this:

• 24k gold = 100% gold
• 22k gold = 91.7% gold
• 18k gold = 75% gold
• 14k gold = 50% gold
• 10k gold = 41.6% gold

So, the big question is: If it’s not all gold, what is the rest of it?

Remember when you learned about alloys in your high school chemistry class? That’s exactly what any gold less than 24k gold is: an alloy. (Refresher: An alloy is a compound of 2 or more metals.). In jewelry, alloys are formed with gold and, usually, copper and/or silver. In white gold, nickel is also commonly used.

What does all that mean anyway?

Well, it means a few things. As a rule, the higher the karat grade, the more the piece of jewelry will cost. That doesn’t mean, however, that all 24k gold jewelry will be expensive. In fact, SuperJeweler.com carries this lovely 24k Gold Overlay Natural Heart Shaped Leaf Pendant for just $39.95. At the other end of the scale, 10k gold will mean more affordable jewelry. With the economy what it is these days, more jewelers are increasing their stock of 10k gold jewelry so that customers have more budgetary choices. SuperJeweler.com carries dozens of promise rings in 10k white gold, for example.

As a jewelry seller, we want our customers to be as knowledgeable about what they are getting as possible; that starts with know your types of gold.

One thing that has not changed, however, is that people still get married; they still have anniversaries; they still have birthdays; Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day still come around. In short, regardless of the economy, we still celebrate special occasions. And we do it with gifts.

In times like these, jewelry becomes an even more valuable gift. This happens for a number of reasons:

• Jewelry retains its value during economic downturns. Ever wonder why you see 25 of those “We’ll buy your gold jewelry!” commercials every night? It’s because gold jewelry, diamond jewelry and fine gemstone jewelry retain their value better than … well … real estate, for example.
• Along with retaining its economic value, jewelry also retains its sentimental value. While flowers last a few days and candy gets eaten, jewelry is a gift that lasts a lifetime. It’s not just high-priced jewelry either. Years from now, you will look back at the engagement ring you received. You won’t see it as an inexpensive engagement ring, though. You’ll see it as a memento of that stage of your life, and how far your relationship has come.
• The choices available in jewelry are almost limitless. SuperJeweler.com, for instance, carries nearly 3,000 items in stock. They vary by carat weights, metal grades, and yes, by price. This ensures that you can find the perfect piece of jewelry for any occasion at a price you can afford … even in a recession.

While there is no single answer to fixing the economy, knowing about the value of jewelry in a down economy can help you make better gift-giving decisions…decisions that will last a lifetime.

For a few suggestion, we recommend items from our diamond stud earrings, wedding bands, and right hand diamond rings collections.

Aquamarine Jewelry

March, like every month, has a native birthstone. All of you March babies know very well that Aquamarine is the birthstone for March. At SuperJeweler.com, we have some darling Aquamarine jewelry. Jewelry is always the perfect gift, and when it carries the special significance of being a birthstone, well… it’s just that much better.

Claddagh Jewelry

With St. Patrick’s Day on March 17th, there is no better time to take a look at Irish Claddagh jewelry like this adorable Claddagh ring. Right now SuperJeweler.com carries about eight Claddagh rings, but we are currently in the process if adding an entire Claddagh section to the site. So if you like the look of these rings, stay tuned and we’ll update you when the whole section is available.

Emerald Gemstone Jewelry

Also, because of St. Patrick’s Day, everybody flashes their green clothes and accessories. Sure, Emerald Gemstone Jewelry is beautiful any time of the year, but in March it seems especially appropriate. At SuperJeweler.com, we have a great assortment of emerald rings, emerald pendants, emerald earrings and more! Check it out, and wow ‘em this St. Patrick’s Day.

Wedding Bands

We sell a lot of engagement rings during the Christmas and Valentine’s Day seasons. So we know there are some of you out there planning weddings…maybe even romantic spring weddings. So…you’ll be looking for great deals on wedding bands.

If this is the case for you, we have set up a few specialty pages dedicated to womens wedding bands. mens wedding bands, and even matching wedding bands.

March Out With Something Great

These are just some of the reasons why March is a great jewelry month. Still, the best reason is between you and that special someone you care about. Remember, jewelry always makes a great gift and you don’t need a special holiday to give it!

For instance, in Ukraine and Poland, the bride to be doesn’t wear her engagement ring in her left hand, but on her right-hand ring finger instead. s Poland and Ukraine, it is customary for the ring to be worn on the right-hand ring finger. In classical times, it wasn’t the ring finger that hosted the engagement ring at all. Rather, engagement rings were worn on the fourth finger of the left hand, as it was believed that finger contained the "vein of love" or vena amoris, as it was known.

In all societies, however, customs change over time. In contemporary U.S. and Canadian societies, in is becoming increasingly more commonplace for a woman to present her partner an engagement or promise ring  at the time of the engagement.

This exchange, though, is not all that uncommon. In several European nations, and other nations, such as Egypt and Brazil, the man and the woman will both wear engagement rings. These engagement rings are most of gold bands in white, yellow, or rose gold. They look very similar to wedding bands without diamonds of Western tradition. In fact, in these countries, engagement rings will also serve as the wedding band in time.

And, in Spain, it is common for a woman to buy a man a wristwatch at the time of engagement.

While we don’t carry wristwatches, you can find a great assortment of engagement rings, promise rings, and wedding bands at SuperJeweler.com.

You do!

At SuperJeweler.com, you can shop in the convenience of your own home, avoid the crowds, and get Guaranteed Christmas Delivery of your orders! Whether you are having your item(s) shipped to your home or right to the recipient’s address, you can count on SuperJeweler.com!

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, we’ll add to that free shipping some amazing deals on stocking stuffers (all $99 and under) and specials on diamond engagement rings.

Dates for guaranteed Christmas delivery are:

Ground Delivery: Thursday, December 18th.
2nd day Delivery:  Monday, December 22nd,
Overnight Delivery: Tuesday, December 23rd

It’s just our way of saying Happy Holidays from SuperJeweler.com