Attention guys! Girls want the real deal.... 2011-02-08

Considering a CZ or synthetic diamond? You'd probably be better off handing her this drawing.

We know it may seem tempting considering the average person can't tell the difference, but being deceptive about something that is supposed to last forever will likely banish you to an eternal "dog-house".

To explain the difference, Cubic Zirconia is cheap, cut glass that dulls over time and shatters easily. Moissanite, made from silicon carbide, is created using a process in which carbon is placed into a large machine mimicking the environment in which natural diamonds grow. It is obviously much more complex than that, but instead of the diamonds growing naturally in the Earth over millions of years, they are grown in pressurized containers in a matter of days.

These "diamonds" have not been greeted with much concern by jewelry professionals. Consumer's associate diamonds with the longevity of love, devotion and appreciation...fake stones do not resonate well with those sentiments.

If budget is of concern we suggest simple diamond bands, semi-precious and diamond rings, modest diamonds you can upgrade later (especially with our buy back policy) or a stunning setting with a CZ you have discussed beforehand!

We know what we are doing at Ascot Diamonds and can save you a lot of grief. Visit us conveniently located right outside of DC and we will give you options you can afford.www.ascotdiamonds.compaul@ascotdiamonds.comYour Private Jeweler www.ascotdiamonds.com (more...)

Why not make her speechless for a change? 2011-01-18

In all seriousness, why not be completely confident in your purchase? Save your precious time and energy and make an appointment with Ascot Diamonds. There is a reason we are the highest rated jeweler around. We're diamond jewelry experts and have yet to disappoint.
The idea isn't to make her sort of happy so don't settle for mediocrity.
If you're lucky it will also be one of the best decisions you'll ever make!
Ascot Diamonds...the solution to blah...
www.ascotdiamonds.com

Your Private Jeweler www.ascotdiamonds.com (more...)

In the Doghouse? We can help you get out... 2010-12-07

There are varying degrees of severity on the "doghouse" scale and of course everyone is different but here are some general guidelines to help determine where you may fall.


Not calling to let your girl know you're running thirty minutes late for dinner is about a 2 on the doghouse scale...not telling her you are going to be twelve hours late coming home from a guy's night out and neglecting to answer her calls all night ranks around 7. Commit other offenses such as playing golf all day on your anniversary or forgetting a birthday (8), buying an outfit two sizes too big (4) or complimenting her girlfriend's attributes too much (5) and you will likely want to make amends.


Gifts are meant to excite the receiver or have thought behind them and while a vacuum cleaner may not rank you too terribly on the list (maybe a 2), you probably aren't going to get the kind of reaction jewelry will get you. Honestly giving a woman anything for cleaning or organizing is like giving them a chore instead of something for them to enjoy... Listen carefully men... jewelry is most always a surefire way to make your lady happy and in the end doesn't that make you happy?

Okay, so here are our suggestions based on your particular indiscretion. Make sure you understand where you land on the "doghouse" severity scale and act accordingly.
Anything in the 1-3 range... mild indiscretions, not showing appreciation, etc. really only requires putting a little thought into the item. Maybe a personalized pendant, something featuring her birthstone, a sentimental charm... we are skilled at making you look like you put a lot of thought into it.

Once you skip to the 4-6 range a little more is required to get you off the sofa and back into her arms. A second wedding band is sentimental and something she will likely love or maybe she would like a necklace she can wear every day.




If you land between 7-9 then you may be close to the point of no return and finding something that really suits her personality is a good idea. Let her know you are REALLY sorry with an ornate right hand ring or diamond studs.If you hit 10, unfortunately size does matter.......... UPGRADE her diamond or buy her a really big one.




We've been doing this for years and have done everything from delivering push presents to the hospital, wedding gifts to a wedding and even make-up gifts to a cruise ship. Put us on speed dial. We are here to help.

Please refer to the following video for more guidelines and contact us if you need a relationship doctor: http://www.ascotdiamonds.com/.

Your Private Jeweler www.ascotdiamonds.com (more...)

Have you ever found a diamond that turned out to be real? 2010-11-08

One of my favorite stories while working as a private jeweler with Ascot was with a wonderful couple, Melanie and Daniel. Our first meeting was all three of us because he wanted to be sure he selected a ring Melanie would love for years to come. When they walked in to tour the office they both loved being able to watch our master jewelers at work in the shop, were in awe of the pieces in our showroom and were just generally giddy and excited to be looking at rings. I love working with clients with the kind of energy they had! Once we sat down and I got a feel for Melanie's taste (which was very similar to my own) I started to pull some of my favorite settings. She wanted something she would never grow sick of but something different than she was used to seeing. She appreciated our craftsmanship and artistic details and fell in love with the ring below.



Daniel wanted to be able to buy her a high quality diamond that was at least a carat and get her the setting she loved but wasn't sure he could do everything at once. I suggested he purchase the setting and a lower quality diamond and upgrade down the road but he really didn't want to compromise.



He set his second appointment alone to go over options and had a diamond ring with him he was sure contained a Cubic Zirconia. After glancing at the diamond I was almost positive it was real but didn't want to get his hopes up until I looked through a diamond loupe. Sure enough it was not only real, but an exceptional quality, VS clarity diamond with an excellent cut and outstanding brilliance. I couldn't wait to tell him because I knew he was disappointed thinking about sacrificing on the engagement ring for Melanie. When I delivered the news he looked at me and just kept repeating "no way, NO WAY!", "another jeweler told me it was fake!", "stuff like this never happens to me!" His excitement was infectious! And even though he probably would never admit it his eyes welled up and honestly mine did too. I knew how important it was to him that he give her everything she wanted and now he could.



He proceeded to tell me he had been saving the diamond for 5 years. Daniel worked as a waiter at a local restaurant and had plans with friends after work one night so he was rushing his closing duties. His boss told him he couldn't leave until he swept the patio, a task he hated. Frustrated, he began sweeping and noticed something sparkling behind one of the tables. He picked up the ring with little excitement, assuming it was fake. His boss told him if nobody came to claim it within a month it was his. Obviously nobody ever came! Now he knows that the annoying task he tried to get out of led to the perfect ring for his love.



Melanie and Daniel are getting married this weekend...Congrats and may you have a lifetime filled with luck and love!Your Private Jeweler www.ascotdiamonds.com (more...)

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AscotDiamondsArlington/~3/xZFy2UzWuGY/diamonds-of-every-color.html 2010-11-11

Diamonds of every color... Tickle me pink, give me a splash of sunshine, a celebration with champagne or an edge with black...either way I am completely smitten. Let's be real. Rarity impresses everyone. Most people want what others covet. It makes us feel special to have something nobody we know has and probably never will, considering only .01% of all natural diamonds mined on Earth are colored. Rarity peaks interest and typically people enjoy being interesting.

Our fashion sense and choice of accessories are windows into our personalities. Just as colored diamonds often occur from varying reflections of light, different colors represent something unique to everyone. While some prefer to reflect the traditional, classic and timeless (of which we certainly have plenty), we've seen an increasing number of clients nurturing their innate girliness with pink, showing off their sophistication with champagne and cognac, drama with black, or individuality with green and brilliant yellow diamonds. Most like combining the traditional fine white diamonds with the non-traditional.

It comes as no surprise that many celebrities choose colored diamonds, considering much of Hollywood is about showing off what seems unattainable to the rest of the universe. Of course if your net worth is $200 million and your name is Mariah Carey you certainly CAN attain both a pink diamond and sapphire right hand "pop" and a 17 carat pink diamond engagement ring (said to be worth $2.5 million). Stars like Jennifer Aniston, Heidi Klum and Pamela Anderson prefer the sunny side with 9+ canary yellows, while Kim Kardashian and Lea Michelle walked the red carpet this year dripping in varying hues of champagne ice.


Colored diamonds though more rare don't have to be only for the copiously rich and mega famous. Of course when they are as substantial as most celebrities prefer the price tag follows suit. But the good news if you're interested in showing off your personality with a colored diamond is that you are reading this blog. Luckily you found us at Ascot Diamonds. Now I am not trying to shamelessly promote the company I represent...I'm being honest. We literally have connections to most every diamond vendor in the world and are one of the only jewelers out there invited to purchase directly from De beers. We aren't interested in hammering clients with inflated prices like some or misrepresenting ourselves like others who are most definitely not "your friend in the diamond business."

Working in an office like ours for several years often makes us forget that most people don't get to loupe a 20+ carat internally flawless, intense yellow diamond like I did last week or watch master jewelers carefully craft pieces showcasing diamonds from pumpkin orange to champagne, olive green, canary yellow, black or vivid pink. But being around the stunning and extremely rare is part of our daily lives at Ascot. Even still, every time I see a colored diamond no matter the hue, I am completely mesmerized. Each and every one is different and the individuality behind each one is worthy of infatuation...


To browse more of our collection please visit http://www.ascotdiamonds.com/.Your Private Jeweler www.ascotdiamonds.com (more...)