White Gold Jewelry

Let’s say you decide to pay a visit to Manhattan’s jewelry stores, and you come across some gorgeous white gold jewelry, whether it be pendants, rings, or earrings. You’re tempted to buy, but you don’t know much about white gold. Keep reading for a quick primer on what white gold is, what type of jewelry is made with it, and how to take care of it. We like to say that an informed customer is able to make better choices, so here goes.

First off, it’s important to point out that white gold’s popularity has increased tremendously over the past couple of years, especially because of its versatility and the fact that it has great brilliance. White gold actually is an alloy of gold mixed with at least one white metal, usually nickel or palladium. Like traditional yellow gold, its purity is counted in carats. It’s used for different kinds of jewelry, because specific alloy combinations are better suited for specific types of jewelry: for example, while a nickel alloy is hard and strong, and therefore good for rings and pins, gold-palladium alloys are soft, pliable and good for white gold gemstone settings, sometimes with other metals mixed in for weight and durability.

Almost all white gold jewelry is rhodium-plated since gold alloyed with palladium or nickel never comes out true white. White gold in its natural state is actually a light grey color which is why many white gold engagement rings are coated with rhodium plating as it is extremely hard and very white. So even if the jewelry is made out of a strong kind of gold, it will eventually fade and wear off. For this reason, it’s recommended to have this coating replaced every 1 to 5 years or so to maintain the brilliance of the gold. Proper handling and cleaning of white gold jewelry is also important if you want to prolong its brilliance and beauty for a long time. Here are some essential white gold care tips:

• On one hand, gold jewelry pieces are naturally yellow because there are no alloys mixed with it. White gold, on the other hand, is plated with a thin layer of rhodium, a white and durable metal, and should be reapplied once or twice a year to be able to maintain the beauty and luminescence of the jewelry, especially those worn frequently.
• When cleaning white gold, it is important that you use a cleaning product that is specifically designed for white gold to avoid severe damage of the jewelry. If you want to be absolutely safe when cleaning white gold, you can use soap, water, and a soft and dull toothbrush to clean even the nicks and cranny of the piece.
• You should remove any white gold jewelry when swimming or working with all kinds of chemicals, especially when you’re doing some cleaning around the house. Though they are brilliant and durable, white gold can easily wear out when exposed to harsh chemicals, causing the jewelry to pit and discolor.

It is interesting to note that white gold for engagement ring and wedding jewelry was originally developed in the 1920’s as a substitute for platinum. Nowadays, they are jewelry metals in their own right and currently very fashionable and desirable.

© White Gold Jewelry

Manhattan’s Diamond District Jewelry Stores

There probably are a lot of reasons why Manhattan is considered one of the premier jewelry destinations in the world. Certainly, one of them is the Diamond District. Located on 47th Street between Fifth Avenue and the Avenue of the Americas (Sixth Avenue), it happens to be the world’s largest shopping district for all sizes and shapes of diamonds. And although it’s primarily known for its diamond selection, you can also find other types of fine jewelry there, and find tremendous deals in the process. In other words, this should be your first stop (some say it should be your only stop) if you’re shopping for diamonds and fine jewelry in New York City.

The United States is the world’s largest consumer market for diamonds. It’s estimated that over 90 percent of the diamonds that enter the country go through New York City, most of them through the Diamond District. If you take a stroll in the area, you’ll notice that pretty much everything there is related to diamonds or fine jewelry. In that are alone, about 2,600 independent businesses operate, nearly all of them involved in jewelry. Jewelry stores in the Manhattan area are well known for their wide selection or gems.

Such a concentration has its advantages. Proximity to where the diamonds are cut and traded gives many of the jewelers access to a very wide variety of precious artifacts, great values and industry expertise. Bargains are aplenty, if you know where to look. Getting a good deal might mean paying as little as half what you’d pay at a major retail chain.

You’ll find that jewelry stores don’t necessarily have fancy displays and spacious areas: in the diamond district, you’ll literally walk from a ritzy storefront into a dingy booth, but that’s the way it is. As a rule, though, the high-end stores tend to be closer to Fifth avenue, and the less flashy ones near Sixth Avenue. In many cases salespeople will be outside, inviting you to step in and take a look. There are 25 jewelry exchanges in the district, and you should definitely visit them to get the best deals. Each exchange has up to 100 separate booths selling their gems.

Being able to haggle over prices is a necessity if you want to save some money. In case you don’t feel like you can pull it off, bring along a friend that’s good at it. Uncertified diamonds in jewelry wholesale exchanges may represent unique opportunities for bargains; just make sure that you make your deal contingent upon the diamond being certified. Getting a diamond certified is actually pretty easy: there should be an expert on hand at every exchange, who can certify a diamond for a small fee. This small step can help you save hundreds of dollars.

Go into as many stores as you can and do as much comparison shopping as possible. You will start to get a feel over time for what you can get for your money. In other words, don’t settle on the first attractive, affordable diamond you see. You might find the exact same gem, or one very close to it, at a substantially lower price. Be prepared to walk away – Many of the jewelers here will try to push you to buy. Don’t ever buy the first thing you see. It will still be there in an hour. Look around, find out price on comparable products and find someone you can talk to try to buy from.

© Manhattan’s Diamond District Jewelry Stores