by | Sep 14, 2017 | Accessories, Fashion |
What Are The Four Cs By Which Diamonds Are Judged?
Diamond merchants and jewellers judge diamonds by four criteria: carat; colour; clarity; and cut. These are known as the Four Cs, and anyone wishing to buy diamonds to be mounted in jewellery should be aware of these.
Image by Campbell Muir via Flickr
Carat: The Weight Of The Diamond
Carats are the unit of weight used for diamonds. The word derives from carob, going back to times when old fashioned scales were used, carob seeds were a uniform weight and this became how diamonds were weighed. One carat is divided into one hundred points, so a diamond merchant could call a .50 carat diamond “a fifty pointer” or “a half carat”. The letters TW after a weight in carats means Total Weight, which is the combined weight of the smaller diamonds surrounding a central stone. There is a magic about a carat. A diamond of just over one carat will cost a lot more than a diamond of, say, .94 carats. To the untrained eye there will appear no significant difference in size, but the buyer pays for that whole number magic. There is nothing wrong with smaller stones; they just don’t have the cachet of the full carat.
Colour: The Lustre Of The Diamond
Diamonds are a naturally occurring stone and very few are totally colourless. The GIA grades diamonds on a scale ranging from virtually colourless to noticeably yellow. Traditionally, the whiter (or less coloured) a diamond is, the higher its price. Coloured diamonds suit some tastes, and currently blue, champagne, cognac, and yellow diamonds are sought after. Pink Argyle diamonds are also highly prized for bridal sets. When judging diamonds for colour, ask to see a Master Set of CZs, stones typifying the colour range, and compare the diamonds you are perusing with them.
Clarity: The Brilliance Of The Diamond
Diamonds contain flaws to some degree. Flaws in the stone are termed inclusions; flaws on the stone’s surface are blemishes. Costlier diamonds have fewer inclusions or inclusions so small as to be invisible to the naked eye. Inclusions can cause parts of the diamond to appear cloudy or milky. There is a GIA scale for clarity, have one to hand, and a magnifying glass when inspecting diamonds. Reputable jewellers should offer you these, so, if you are looking for diamonds in Canada, purchase from trusted diamond merchants in Toronto.
Cut: The Magic That Releases The Diamond’s Lustre And Brilliance
The art of the diamond cutter is to take a stone and work facets and planes into it to allow its colour to stand out, and its naturally light refracting properties to be released with the brilliance jewellers call fire. The most frequently seen cut for diamonds is the round brilliant. There are a number of other cuts, called fancy cuts. Among these, there are styles to suit a wide range of tastes. Lovers of Art Deco will be drawn to Emerald or Asscher cuts. Romantics may find the Heart shaped brilliant cut speaks best for them. Pear shaped diamonds have become popular with celebs and are often seen worn on red carpets. Princess, Oval, and Marquise cut diamonds are known or their fire and brilliance. When you are looking to buy diamonds, shape, and cut are the factors which will be most immediately apparent to you.
Whenever you plan on buying diamond jewellery or loose diamonds, make sure to remember the points we’ve discussed.
by | Aug 27, 2017 | Accessories, Fashion |
Hi Beautiful People,
If you are like me, sometimes you don’t want to carry a large wallet or heavy handbag everywhere you go. I enjoy my large handbags; but there is a time and a place for them. Sometimes you just want a compact wallet that will carry just the essentials, your ID, some cash and the necessary credit cards. Thanks to a collaboration with KINZD, I am sharing a review of a women’s leather wallet and men’s cork money clip. These accessories are ideal for anyone on the go who does not want to be keeping a hold of that large handbag.
This Kinzd Upgraded Accordion RFID Leather Wallet is the hot accessory for when you are on the go.
Kinzd wallet
Product Specifications:
● zip closure
● Measures: 4.53”x3.46”x1.38” (11.5cmx 8.8cmx 3.5cm)
● 1 zippered compartments, ID window, 10 accordion folds, 5 card slots, 1 cash compartment.
The Kinzd wallet stays closed with a button snap. The card space is more than some large wallets have inside.
This Kinzd wallet is RFID protected, it can go into your larger handbag for extra security if you do not have an RFID wallet.
● RFID Blocking Wallet: Keeps your vital information Secure. BE SAFE and Effective, Protect Identity Data from Electronic Pick pocketing; Blocking RFID scanners and readers from Scanning your Information.
● Compact Design& Full Capacity: Roomy enough for fitting plenty of cards, change and some bills, Coins, keep them well organized. With Good Metal Zippers, it works fine, better than others plastic zipper.
● With Wrist Strap, great to take with you or slip into a small purse.
This wallet is perfect for going to the movies, shopping, grabbing a bit to eat and not wanting to carry a lot with you. Also, reiterating the bonus of added RFID protection.
The Men’s Money Clip Cork Fabric Leather Wallet is ideal for the man in your life.
Men’s Money Clip Cork Fabric Leather Wallet
- Product Specs :
- ● Color: Cork Fabric
- ● New Updated Material : Eco-friendly Red Wine Cork Fabric Leather Wallet, looks Classical and Fashionable for gentlemen and ladies. Measures: 4.3″ x 2.8″ x 0.1″ (11cm x 7.1cm x 0.3cm).
- ● 6 Card Slots: 1 clear ID Display Window for credit and debit card , 3 separate slots to hold credit and debit cards, 1 Change pocket,1 Strong Magnetic Money Clip.
- ● Powerful Magnetism: With 4pcs Strong Magnets, can Hold Plenty of cashes and cards; better than normal ones which is Only 2pcs Magnets.
- ● RFID Blocking Wallet: Keeps your vital information in cards from being stolen. Does Block 13.56 MHz Frequency (Credit or debit cards, driver license and ID cards). Does NOT Block 125 KHz frequency.
- ● Minimalist & Slim, Perfect fit in Front Pocket, Good Choose to replace bulky wallet. The wallet ID card slot of new wallet will be slightly tight first time, after used it for few weeks, you will feel more easy to put and take the used cards from slot.
The money clip can be placed inside a suit jacket or in the front pocket of your trousers. The magnet is strong, your money is not going anywhere. My hubby thought it was stylish and compact and could even go in a larger wallet if it needed too. After carrying the wallet for a few weeks it softened and did not feel tight. He will be using the wallet when he does not want the bulk that a traditional wallet can give a suit pocket or pants pocket.
We both give the wallets a thumbs up. If you need a compact wallet that can fit in your handbag, and then pulled out and used on its own, I suggest trying the KINZD wallet. The wallet is well-built and will work for you. And, if a gentlemen needs a compact minimalistic wallet that is discreet and provides security this is just right for them.
FTC Disclaimer:
Kinzd provided Bubbling With Elegance And Grace with these two wallets in exchange for this review. All opinions are our own. We did not receive any monetary compensation for writing this review.
*Praying for the people in Texas effected by Hurricane Harvey.*
Please give to Samaritan’s Purse
by | Jul 17, 2017 | Accessories, Fashion |
Hello Beautiful People,
With slightly not as hot temperatures; but thick humidity, I have been going solely natural fibers because they are breathable and don’t stick to my body. When I say natural fibers I mean, cotton, rayon, and linen blends. When going through my closet, I realized that a lot of my summer dresses are polyester. I am not going to get rid of them. I will not wear them right now. Even though Missouri is not a southern state, it feels like it. Maybe it feels even warmer because we had a warm winter. Well when I think about 100 degrees is 100 degrees no matter the way you slice it.
Dooney and Bourke Croco Leather Satchel
I styled myself casual and cool for church. It’s really warm outside but can be chilly in church so I have on long sleeves. My blouse is by Joan Rivers and my pants are from the brand Margaritaville that was on HSN exclusively a couple of years ago. My sandals are from Earth Origins that were purchased from DSW. My glasses were received at a discount from OTTICA.com, and my wing necklace was purchased at JTV.com.
Summer Style
Inspiration
The picture of the flower in the upper left corner of the collage is a Crepe Myrtle that is in our backyard and bursting with colorful flowers. Bees are getting drunk on the nectar.
The crepe myrtle and the Hibiscus flower were the inspiration for the pants.
I have been hearing that it’s chic to wear neutral colors. That’s fine if that’s what you want to wear. However, I have never been like everybody else, even when I tried to fit in I stuck out of the crowd. I realized that it’s okay being different, peculiar, and not average.
Who wants to be average?
by | Jul 11, 2017 | Accessories, Fashion, Review |
Hello Beautiful People,
Blessings to you, as always!
As many of you know, I wear contact lenses and glasses. I enjoy wearing contacts to make my eyes pop. When not wearing contacts, I am wearing my glasses to give my eyes a break. I want to make sure that my frames are just as stylish as my outfit and accessories. Usually with style comes an expensive price and that is even with vision insurance,so I am always looking for a good deal when it comes to eyeglasses.
My annual appointment to see the eye doctor was less than a month away when OTTICA asked to partner with our blog. OTTICA specializes in top-quality and affordability eyeglasses for men and women. To sweeten the deal, they offer first-time buyers a fifty percent savings on their first pair.
I really like how OTTICA set its standards for top-notch eyewear at a reasonable price that fits all budgets.
OTTICA says, “We don’t joke around when it comes to lenses: When you’ve crafted millions of lenses, as we have, you might say that it becomes second nature. However, just because it’s second nature doesn’t mean we take it for granted. We treat each and every lens with diligence — knowing that it provides you with the ability to see the world as it was meant to be seen; clear, in all its vivacity and in the highest definition.”
OTTICA sells its own brand of frames and offers many name brands that you are already familiar with — COACH, Versace Tory Burch, Burberry, Ray Ban, and Michael Kors. Men’s and women’s frames are available in many fantastic designs and colors. Prescription sunglasses are also available to enhance your look. Or if you just want to wear the frames with no prescription, that is also an option.
Ordering glasses online maybe unfamiliar for some and and a few experience for others; but it shouldn’t be. The most important key is to make sure you get your annual eye checkup and get the prescription you need for glasses. You have the legal right to ask your ophthalmologist or optometrist to give you a written prescription for your new glasses.
I looked through the site and found a several pairs that I liked, including one from Coach that really intrigued me. I had to try these frames on – virtually, of course – to see how they looked on my face. With its ‘Try On’ feature, you can upload a photo of yourself to see how the frames would look on you. The photo below is of me trying on the Coach frames.
Eyeglass frames from Coach in Confetti
After I selected my frames, proceeded to check out. I uploaded my new prescription from my doctor. If you don’t have a written prescription, you can ask your doctor’s office to provide you with one. You also need to know your pupil distance (PD) for the frames to fit properly your face. I didn’t include my PD on the order, however the average is 63 to 64. If you do not enter a PD with your order, the default number assigned to you is 63. Be sure to ask your doctor for your pupil distance when you have your annual checkup. After I uploaded my prescription, I selected my lenses package, which includes the features that I wanted to be included such as thickness of the lenses, antiglare, and UV protection. The are four options available and you select the option that works best for you.
I went through the last steps of check out and OTTICA offered half price on selected frames. I chose Burgundy June, seen below using the ‘Try On’ feature.
OTTICA kept me updated on the status of the order. I could go to the website and enter my order number to find out when my order was placed, when the glasses were in production, when it went to quality assurance for final inspection and when the glasses were shipped. It took only two week for the glasses arrive in my mailbox from the day they were ordered. Very good turn around time for two top-quality glasses with many extra features added on it.
I could not wait to open the box to see my stylish new glasses. The packaging is well done. The box included two pairs of eyeglasses with accompanying cases, a discount card good for my next purchase, and a cleaning cloth.
OTTICA.COM
In a second post, I will unveil the eyeglasses and show how they look on me.
Stay tuned!
Disclaimer
OTTICA offered Bubblingwitheleganceandgrace.com a discount to make a purchase from its website. However, all opinions and statements are my own honest and without bias.
by | Jun 29, 2017 | Accessories, Fashion |
We have all been there! It’s that conundrum when you have a special event or party coming up, and you just can’t decide what to wear. Of course, you want to look fabulous and suitably attired, but you also want to stand out and inject a bit of your own personal style into what you are wearing. To find out how to do this read the guide below, then you can be sure that you will be the belle of the ball.
Less can be more
One way to ensure that you stand out at the next event that you attend is to simplify your look. That is because sometimes a simple, well-executed look can be as striking as a varied and over the top one.
Remember a little black dress, with attention to the details, such as how the fabric flows can be everything you need to make an entrance. Of course, you must combine with a healthy splash of confidence and self-presence for a look that will truly slay.
Little Black Dress
Silhouette
Another way to stand out for your style at a party is to pay attention to the silhouette that you are rocking. If possible, wear this season’s key shape. As this shows, you are on the pulse of current trends.
Or, if you really want to stand out, why not pick something contrasting to what you know all the other women will be wearing? For example, if the silhouette of the season is short and wider, such as a tulip skirt, pick something slim and long like a fish tail.
The contrast will serve to direct additional attention to you because you will look so different from the rest of the party goers. Of course, ensure that you nod to this season’s fashion in other ways such as the color and fabric choice, to ensure your outfit doesn’t look out of date.
The hats have it
Also, there is nothing like a little bit of headgear to garner some attention in a crowd. You can do this by wearing a hat, a fascinator, or even a headband. Pick something compliments the rest of your outfit and that has a little added flair and pizzazz.
Of course, it goes without saying that you need to check the item fits well and is secured properly to avoid any unwanted mishaps or faux pas during the party.
Jewelry
As they say, diamonds are a girl’s best friend, so a post about how to stand out at a party just wouldn’t be complete without mentioning jewelry.
Remember that even the simplest of outfits can be lifted by wearing the right bling. Pick something that glistens in the dark for an evening soiree. Or something bold and chunky to add an extra layer of interest for a day do.
Avant Garde
Lastly, if you truly want all eyes to be on you then pick an outfit that is avant-garde. That means it’s offbeat, eye-catching, and a little quirky. Avant-garde outfits usually combine bright colors with non-typical shapes for a dazzling effect. See here for some inspiration.
FTC Disclaimer:
This is a collaborative post and may contain affiliate links.
by | Jun 28, 2017 | Accessories, Fashion |
We all have to attend special events and occasions in life, but it can be hard to know what to wear at these events. You need to get your wardrobe in order if you’re going to be prepared for whichever occasion might arise in the future. There are some staple items and tips that will help to make sure that you always have something unique and out of the ordinary to wear. Read on to find out more about this.
JT at a special event with her hubby.
Look Out for Dresses That Are Playful and Stylish
It’s always worth keeping an eye out for dresses that offer something that is both playful and stylish. Fashion items that are classical or simple are great because they can be used for special occasions for a long time to come. They won’t be reliant on fashion or trends, so they won’t be useless of unappealing to you in the near future. That has to be a good thing.
Have a Floor Length Dress to Rely On
It’s a very good idea to find a good floor length dress that you can rely on in all kinds of circumstances. These items are ideal for people that are needing to find outfits that are suitable for black tie events that require something more formal. You should have at least one dress of this kind, and you won’t need to use it very often, so you probably won’t need more than one. Take your time to seek out the right one for you.
Keep Adding to Your Jewellery Collection
Jewellery is one of the most important things of all when you’re putting together an outfit for a special occasion. The right choices have the ability to bring an entire outfit together and make it complete. They can even spice up a relatively drab outfit and make it more fitting for the occasion you’ll be attending. Find the best outlets, and add to your collection. This Kay Jewelers Review might help you to decide where to buy from. You can never have too much interesting jewellery.
The Differences Between Corporate and Casual Occasions
Apart from family ceremonies, there are a couple of main categories that special occasions can fall into: corporate and casual. Corporate occasions require something more formal, but you don’t want to look the same as you do when you turn up to the office for work each day. So, how do you go about looking formal while also looking different? You need to find fashion items that allow you to keep things conservative while throwing in some flair and extra colour at the same time. As for casual occasions, it’s often best to use your own instincts and aim for comfort and visual appeal.
It’s always worth putting some extra thought into how you are going to dress for those special occasions that pop up from time to time in life. It helps avoid the panic that comes with these occasions when you don’t know what to wear, so make the most of the help offered above.
FTC Disclaimer:
This is a collaborative post and may contain affiliate links.
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