TheDiamondExchange

“Will you marry me?” 10 tips to get you to the proposal without losing the ring

2011-07-19T18:10:00.000-07:00

tags: engagement, engagement ring, proposal story, Ultimate Proposal Contest

Learn how to keep the ring safe prior to popping the question.

The stress of picking out the perfect engagement ring, purchasing it (gulp), and then mustering up the courage to propose can make a guy a nervous wreck. Just ask my husband who couldn’t handle hanging onto the ring any longer and popped the question by the bathroom door in my apartment to get rid of it. The results of an internal Jewelers Mutual survey revealed that more than 66% of participants had possession of the engagement ring for less than one week. Even though I didn’t experience the brutal anticipation of proposing myself, I can empathize (and can even understand why being near a bathroom might not be a bad idea).

It makes perfect sense why the proposal brings pressure. According to another recent survey conducted by Jewelers Mutual and featured in USA Today, 35% of people spend between $2,500 and 7,499 on an engagement ring—often coming next in line after the house and car in terms of most valuable household assets.

Proposals gone bad

We all heard the horror stories of proposals going horribly wrong. The guy who arranged for a hot air balloon ride and watched the ring plummet to the ground just has he was about to propose…. The guy who thought it would be romantic to ask for her hand while boating, only to have the ring sink to the bottom of the lake before she could say yes…. The guy who proposed at a clam bake on the beach who wound up digging, and digging, and digging for the diamond ring that would never be found.

If you’re thinking about proposing soon, here are 10 tips to help you get from the store to the proposal with your ring intact.

DO insure the ring before it leaves the store, like 50% of our survey participants had smartly done. Even if something does happen to it, you’ll be covered and it won’t mean money down the drain. Apply for jewelry insurance and you’ll have 10 days from the application date to send your appraisal documentation to us. Once your information has been accepted, a policy will be issued effective the date you applied online.
DO keep the ring in the box and store it someplace safe in your home, like a fireproof lock box.
DO stay grounded. If you do happen to drop the ring, you can more easily recover it on dry land than from the air or water.
DO let your jeweler hold onto the ring until you’re ready to propose.
DO use the hotel’s front desk safe, never the in-room safe which can more easily get broken into.
DON’T put the ring in checked luggage, which can become lost or stolen, including all contents within it. Instead, place the ring in your carryon bag.
DON’T propose on the beach – rings can too easily get lost in the sand.
DON’T propose anywhere you have unstable footing – boat, amusement park ride, parachuting, etc.
DON’T propose in overly crowded areas where the ring could get bumped out of your hand or snatched from a passerby.
DON’T put the ring in food. It could get lost, or worse yet, choked on. Nothing says “I love you” like a trip to the ER.

The Jewelers Mutual claims department has heard it all – some of the previously mentioned stories are from our very own policyholders. And you’ll be glad to know that Jewelers Mutual replaced the rings, even though the originals never made it to the fiancés’ fingers. The key is making jewelry insurance part of your engagement ring purchase plan. For more information about getting a free, no-obligation quote or applying for insurance online, visit www.InsureYourJewelry.com.

Need inspiration? If you missed the recent post on our Facebook page, watch Matt’s proposal to Ginny (featured on CBS News earlier this week) below. It’s a true work of creative genius! (And a great example of what could be entered into JIC’s Ultimate Proposal Contest.

Congratulations and good luck!

Share your proposal story with us by commenting to this blog post, and don’t forget to enter your story in the Ultimate Proposal Contest TODAY! Contest entry deadline is May 23^rd. You could win a Caribbean honeymoon and gorgeous platinum jewelry!

Source: JewelersMutual.

Jewelry Buyers and Sellers Beware!

2011-07-15T09:52:00.000-07:00

Beware of the cute duckling scam. If it looks too good to be true, it likely is.

As summer comes to its peak, so is rummage sale season. It’s the time of year when my addiction to bargain hunting kicks into high gear as I set my sights on the best deals. You can also find me looking for ways to sell unwanted items to make room for my newfound treasures. One category that is popular to sell is jewelry because it can bring in larger amounts of cash. That being said, here comes my word of caution… While selling your outdated and unwanted jewelry can be profitable, it also comes with risks that sellers, and buyers alike, need to be aware of.

The savvy seller should first weigh the desire of a larger profit versus a safer sale. Selling your jewelry over the Internet in a personal transaction is the way to make the largest amount of money. However, it pays to play it safe. When using sites such as Craigslist or eBay, I recommend following these helpful tips:

Never sell an item overseas and avoid an out-of-state transaction if possible.
Always try to sell locally and meet the person if possible.
NEVER INVITE THE BUYER TO YOUR HOME OR PROVIDE PERSONAL INFORMATION IN YOUR AD. Try to meet the buyer at a public place. You never know if the buyer is trying to scope out your home or personal possessions. Burglars often scour the Internet for vulnerable people who are selling high-end items.
Never accept funds that are wired, or in the form of a cashier’s check, money order or have gone through Western Union or an escrow service. Often times these funds will appear to clear initially, and then weeks later your bank may call to tell you the funds never came through.
Only accept cash. You may use a service such as PayPal™ which is generally safe if you follow certain guidelines listed on their web site, such as never divulging your user name and password.
Never give out any financial information.
If the person is corresponding through email, watch for spelling errors, typos and also emails that just do not make sense. This is an indicator that either a computer program is responding to you or the sender of the email is in a different country, both red flags that it may be a scam.
Watch for emails where the subject line reads exactly the same as the title of your ad. For example, your ad says, “1ct. Diamond For Sale in Maple Town”. The email subject line has this exact line. This again is an indicator that computer software is likely generating the email and it is a scam.

The safest way to sell your jewelry is to a local jeweler that you trust. Expect that you will not get top dollar or the appraised value for the item, but you won’t need to worry about a thief preying on you, or compromising your identity. What you may likely receive is the scrap value of the item. For metals, the scrap value is determined by taking the gram weight of the ring and multiplying it by the daily metal price.

When buying jewelry in a personal transaction, make sure that a current appraisal accompanies it. Consider calling the jeweler to confirm it is a genuine appraisal of the item. Question deals that seem too good to be true and follow your gut instinct.

I hope these tips help you the next time you participate in the secondary market. Happy sales!

Source of information: Jewelersmutual

Win a Watch by MICHAEL KORS

2011-01-27T16:20:00.000-08:00

BECOME A FAN

Happy Birthday TONY!

2011-01-15T15:43:00.000-08:00

This past Thursday was a very important day for THE DIAMOND EXCHANGE! One of the founders had a Birthday! Anthony Iacona. All members of THE DIAMOND EXCHANGE family want to wish Tony a healthy and wealthy year for him and his loved ones! Happy Birthday Tony.

All Truth About Jewelry

2011-01-11T11:59:00.000-08:00

Brides Magazine

2011-01-11T11:49:00.000-08:00

State famous magazine BRIDES New Jersey gives you a tons of advices about engagement and getting married, how to save money and how to get married as you always dreamed. In all those advices you can find commercial of famous men's jewelry TRITON and very good advice for places where to buy. And YES we are in list of distributors. So come to 174 ROUTE 17 NORTH, Paramus, NJ to THE DIAMOND EXCHANGE and buy all fine jewelry, engagement rings, wedding bands etc.http://thediamondex.blogspot.com/2011/01/brides-magazine.html

How To Tip Your Wedding Vendors

2011-01-08T15:31:00.000-08:00

Tipping is just one of those obligations that comes with being a functioning member of society. If you need some convincing (in which case, we hope we never have to wait on your table), consider this: Although customs and amounts differ across the country, tipping is appropriate because it supplements workers' generally low base salaries. (Of course, we also like to hope that the promise of a tip will ensure prompt, courteous service.) So, although you wrote your bandleader a check for $6,000, the pro playing the trumpet will see far less cash. That's where tipping comes in.

Some ground rules: Vendors who provide aproduct, like a cake baker or florist, don't usually receive tips, but vendors who provide a service, like your DJ, do. (You are, of course, welcome to tip "product vendors" and their staffs for performing above and beyond the call of duty.) Additionally, since tips are meant to supplement the salaries of folks on the lower rungs of the business ladder, a vendor who's self-employed or is the owner of a business is generally not tipped.

That said, we think that anyone who does a job with passion and commitment deserves a little gratitude from the person who pays his or her salary—don't you? You're certainly not required to tip a business owner like your wedding planner or photographer, but certain circumstances may compel you to do so (especially in the case of the photographer, who's the only vendor who still has work to do for you after the wedding day).

Certain businesses, like caterers and transportation companies, may automatically include the gratuity—usually about 20 percent of the total bill, which you pay in advance as a condition of your contract.

The day of the wedding, appoint a very responsible person, like a wedding planner or parent, to pass out tips at the end of the event. A plain business envelope filled with cash is fine, but adding a "Thanks for everything!" will earn you extra points—you'd be surprised how much it means to a vendor to receive a heartfelt thank-you note or email after the wedding.

CEREMONY

Hair/makeup pros: 15–20 percent of the total bill
Musicians: $25–$50 each
Officiant: $50 if you're married by a judge or clerk; clergy members, in general, don't accept tips, so instead, make a donation ($100 on average) to the appropriate house of worship.
Altar boys or girls: $5–$10; if they decline, add this amount to your donation to the church.

RECEPTION

Wedding planners: $0; however, their more junior staffers should be tipped $50–$100 each.
Photographers/videographers: $100–$200 if the pro is part of a larger outfit or agency (but not the owner). Second shooters should receive $50–$75.
Catering manager: $250–$500
Waitstaff: 15 percent of the total pretax food bill (given to the catering manager or "captain" to distribute)
Bartenders: 10–15 percent of the total pretax bar bill. Inform the bartenders of your intent to tip after the reception, and request that they refuse tips from guests. No rogue tip jars!
Reception band/DJ: $25–$50 per person, but take their performance into account: Did your bashful uncle boogie for the first time in 40 years? Then give a little more cash.
Chauffeur/driver: 15–20 percent of the total bill, typically presented at the end of the day
Valets: $1–$2 per car, given to the supervisor in advance, to be split among staff. Display a sign at the valet station stating that gratuities have been taken care of. The valets should also be instructed to refuse any tips offered by guests.
Restroom/coat-check attendants: $.50–$2 per guest; calculate this total in advance and give to your reception site manager to distribute.

SETUP/BREAKDOWN

Delivery people: $5–$20 per person for deliveries arriving from your florist, baker, rental company, and other vendors. These staffers may also be doing the heavy lifting, on-site setup, and hauling away that come with producing your wedding—so tip accordingly.

HONEYMOON

Bellhop: $1–$2 per piece of luggage brought to and from the room
Doorperson: $1–$2 per task for any kind of assistance, like hailing a cab
Housekeeper: $2–$4 per day
Concierge: $5–$20, depending on the request(s)

by brides.comRead more

Happy NEW YEAR 2011

2010-12-30T18:52:00.001-08:00

We would like to THANK YOU for your business and WISH YOU and your family a HAPPY, HEALTHY and PROSPERIOUS NEW YEAR. Looking forward to SEEING YOU in 2011.

Christmas Eve in THE DIAMOND EXCHANGE

2010-12-24T10:47:00.000-08:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

2010-12-23T21:28:00.001-08:00

Panerai Luminor Composite PAM 386

2010-12-23T19:33:00.000-08:00

New Panerai PAM 386, which will be shown at the Geneva-hour show in January 2011. By all indications, a model like the fans of Panerai.
44-mm brown composite case, brown dial with Arabic numerals 6, 9 and 12, and glowing in the dark markers. (Therefore, Composite and Luminor.)

Calendar with the date in the three hours and small seconds - close to nine. Waterproof to 300 meters and a leather strap with a composite buckle and two leather strenchikami.

Slightly less than last year's PAM 339 (44 mm vs. 47) - you might consider it more practical. Over the crown - a protective brace. Caliber automatic, Panerai P.9000.

Zilli Cufflinks Collections

2010-12-23T15:49:00.000-08:00

A collection of cufflinks spring-summer 2010 from Zilli.

French brand Zilli has introduced a new collection of original men's cufflinks spring-summer 2010. Jewellery made of precious metals and minerals, interspersed with interesting design details and decisions. Particularly noteworthy models, performed in classic black and gold scheme.

http://thediamondex.blogspot.com/2010/12/zilli-cufflinks-collections.html

Bracelet T1Mepeace

2010-12-23T15:08:00.000-08:00

Jewelry Designer Denise Reitano (Denise Reytan) made a real gift for those who do not like to wear watches - bracelet in the form of an electronic chronometer.http://thediamondex.blogspot.com/2010/12/bracelet-t1mepeace.html

David Yurman

2010-12-23T14:41:00.000-08:00

The new men's collection of jewelry from the jewelry brand David Yurman.

Mark David Yurman is a new collection of jewelry created by the son of the founder of the brand Yurmanom Evan (Evan Yurman). The main theme of the collection was Japanese art and culture that inspired Evan, traveling East. The new line includes rings, bracelets, pendants, cufflinks and key chains, full of titanium and silver.

Modern Cufflinks

2010-12-23T14:28:00.000-08:00

Cufflinks with Swarovski crystals from Lanvin.

Lanvin brand is the original male accessory - cufflinks, executed in platinum and adorned with Swarovski crystals ruby hue.

lanvin.com

Cufflinks in the art deco style from Paul Smith.

Designer Paul Smith is the male model of cufflinks in the form of birds, made in art deco style. Accessory executed in a strict color scheme, and will be ideally combined with a strong classic wardrobe.

paulsmith.co.uk

Mechanical cufflinks from Robert Tateossiana.
Mark Tateossian represents a model of cufflinks made from silver with the addition of rose gold in an unusual design: the outer part of the accessory insert original gears that resemble the internal structure of the mechanical clock.

tateossian.com

A collection of cufflinks Carrera y Carrera.

carreraycarrera.com

Audemars Piguet Millenary Minute Repeater

2010-12-23T14:21:00.000-08:00

The clock in satin titanium case with anthracite-black dial and rimksimi numbers of pink gold. Partly skeletonirovanny body (visible work of the trigger), and - as the name implies - watches are equipped with repeaters. To give you even in the dark to find the time to the nearest minute. It is true, note that it will be loud.

Caliber manual-winding and power reserve of 165 hours. Crocodile leather strap with titanium folding clasp.

audemarspiguet.comhttp://thediamondex.blogspot.com/2010/12/audemars-piguet-millenary-minute.html

Miracle of Life

2010-12-23T13:46:00.000-08:00

The goal of lifelogging: to record and archive all information in one’s life. This includes all text, all visual information, all audio, all media activity, as well as all biological data from sensors on one’s body. The information would be archived for the benefit of the lifelogger, and shared with others in various degrees as controlled by him/her.

Some form of this total recall is inevitable, at least for some people. Partial recall from partial recording seems inevitable for the rest. We are all likely to record more and more of our lives. "
-Kevin Kelly The Technium

Watch this little baby is turn into a young lady through the magic of lifelogging.

SKYPE is Down

2010-12-22T12:23:00.000-08:00

Skype is down! In Christmas time! Terrible!
Skype's official twitter said that they trying to fix this problem but unfortunately nobody knows when it will be resolved. So THE DIAMOND EXCHANGE proposes to you go for last minute holiday shopping! It is terrible that we cannot contact with our families but we can buy them a great presents! Come visit us and we will help you resolve Skype problem.
Call us immediately 201.261.1303 if you need Last minute gift ideas!

Bobby Simmons Won Again

2010-12-21T18:37:00.000-08:00

How many points you can can get from 132 balls. Ramone Blkburn and Tony THE DIAMOND EXCHANGE help Bobby Simmons become a champion in jewelry. Amazing work was done by our masters. 4 weeks and 11'000 black and white diamonds were set up. Once again we have proved that we are the best custom jeweler in New Jersey.

Mirrored TImeLapse

2010-12-21T10:07:00.000-08:00

Once again THE DIAMOND EXCHANGE brings you freshest jewels of art.

Embassy 2

2010-12-20T17:50:00.000-08:00

The Diamond Exchange presents second part of Embassy.

Glided Butterflies

2010-12-15T17:43:00.000-08:00

Embassy Swiss Made

2010-12-15T17:35:00.000-08:00

Embassy. Making luxury personal again. Photographed in Lucerne. Portraits, jewelry, watches, atmosphere, nature.. Swiss Made Commisioned by Muggie Ramadani Design Studie

Pink Panther Watch

2010-12-15T17:24:00.001-08:00

Check all the virtual ideas at http://www.virtualideas.ch

Linfinito

2010-12-15T14:54:00.000-08:00

JewelleryThe experiment reviewed on the images below tries to apply the actual trend of digital planning, a union of math, translated as curves and surfaces
in the three-dimensional space, and a visual basic scripting language able to add in reference spatial cage actions of modifying, copying, replacement
and randomizing of all objects, in Jewellery Design, making the digital more precious, but still keeping the typical architectural taste for innovative
geometrical shapes.

Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend

2010-12-15T11:47:00.000-08:00

JEWELRY PACKAGING KLOTZ

2010-12-15T11:44:00.000-08:00

This packaging is made of six identical wooden cubes (nutwood, oiled). A leathern hinge provides the opening function, a paper loop used as closure. KLOTZ is not only for protecting the jewelry, also for presenting it!

Surprise effect
the first impression of this packaging does not suggest a jewelry packaging. On which side will it open?

The whole packaging is made out of nature material and it's 100% biodesgradable.

Wedding Wows! By: Sharon Nayak

2010-12-15T11:38:00.000-08:00

British Aristo-cats By: Diana Ionescu

2010-12-15T11:32:00.000-08:00

Fashion works (2010 sept/oct) By: Natalie Shau

2010-12-15T11:22:00.000-08:00

Rock The Halls

2010-12-03T13:07:00.000-08:00

Time: Friday, December 3 · 6:00pm - 9:00pm

Location: The Diamond Exchange

174 Route 17 North

Paramus, NJ

Fabulous Holiday Event!

Food, Fashion, Cocktails,

Silent Auction, Raffles!

Fabulous Boutique Vendors.

To benefit St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital

MORE INFORMATION ON THE DIAMOND EXCHANGE FACEBOOK PAGE

And also all pictures available in this album