Just Ask Leslie: Jewelry Tips

There’s no reason why your pocket book should be hurting after all of you holiday shopping. There are great deals to be had for the special people in your life that are very budget friendly. Take for example these beautiful 1/4 carat diamond 14K white gold earrings. These dazzling beauties are perfect for just about anyone on your shopping list. The floral-themed design is elegant and feminine. Priced at just $125 these earrings will be able to go under your Christmas tree guilt free!

Dear Leslie,
There is someone in my office that has really helped me out this year. I’d like to get her something this holiday season, but I don’t have a lot of money to spend. Please help me find something that is inexpensive yet is a nice gift.
Thanks!
Virginia in KY

The holidays are a great time to give a little “thank you” to those special people in your life. We spend so much of our lives with our co-workers and they become important people in our lives for sure. Gift giving in the office can be tricky so be sure to check with your company’s policy about that.

This beautiful sterling silver drop pendant is a great budget-friendly gift for a co-worker. It’s very versatile and your friend will be able to wear it with just about everything. It is offered at an amazing price of just $25! This pendant is a great choice for your co-worker and would be appreciated by anyone.

Hi Leslie!
I’m newly married and was just wondering in what order wedding and engagement rings should be worn on your finger. I’ve seen different people wearing them different ways, and I’m not sure if there is a right or wrong way. Thanks for your help!
Laura via email

In or modern world there seem to be few hard and fast rules anymore. Wedding traditions change and evolve over time and this allows you to be more creative than ever with your wedding ring. There are many choices about wedding and engagment ring placement. One interpretation states that the woman wears the wedding ring below the engagement ring, thus making it closer to the heart. Another practice holds that the woman should wear the wedding ring above the engagement ring, thus sealing the atmosphere of the engagement into the marriage. Still others prefer that the wedding ring should be worn alone. A bride can even choose to wear her engagement ring on her right hand, and wedding ring on the left!

So after your wedding ring is on you finger then you can try out different options and see what works best for you. Congratuations and best of luck in your new adventure!

While we’re on the topic of engagement rings, I recently saw the beauty pictured above! This lovely engagement ring features a classic three-stone design. A trio of dazzling diamonds sparkles beautifully from an delicately slender band of lustrous white gold.

The holidays are quickly approaching! There are some great deals to be had this year. Beautiful pieces of jewelry – even diamonds – can make their way to under your Christmas tree without breaking the bank!

These 1/8 carat diamond earrings in 14K white gold are a perfect gift for any special woman in your life – mother, wife or sister. For just $85, these earring are very reasonably priced. They are perfect for enhancing an everyday look with the sparkle of diamonds. I especially love the way the white gold is crafted into an elegant loop. These earrings are perfect for any occasion!

Dear Leslie,I would like to know what is a good size gold chain necklace to buy a man who is 6′3″.. I bought a 24 inch, and it looks like it will work if he unclasps it to put it on.. But it looks small?

Buying jewlery gifts can be tricky. The great thing about online shopping is that most places have wonderful exchange policies. Ice.com, for example, offers an incredible 60-day return policy. They’ll even pay for the return shipping!

Your guy sounds like a big man. To be sure that you’re going to get the right sized necklace, it might be fun to do a little measuring. Take a measuring tape and measure his neck. Then you’ll know the what length of gold chain you should be looking for. The measuring can be a fun, flirty experience. Like they say, a spoon full of sugar and all that! Just keep in mind that most men prefer shorter necklaces.

The necklace featured in the image above is a wonderful choice for any man. You should check it out. It’s a 22 inch mens 14K flat figaro style necklace in rich, warm 14K yellow gold for just $495. The polished round and oval links are masculine and classic. It’s a wonderful gift choice for the holidays that will make any man happy!

Dear Leslie,I’d like to wear something new and fun to all of those upcoming holiday parties. Can you suggest something that is fun and unique?

The holidays are a wonderful time to add a fresh touch to your wardrobe. An outfit from last year will look brand new with a few sparkling accessories. Take for instance this lovely 1 1/6 carat emerald and diamond pendant in 14K white gold. The lush green emeralds add a touch of holiday color to this piece. The design reminds me of poinsettias. It’s a great holiday gift idea as well.

Another beautiful piece that will make a splash at any holiday gathering is this ruby and diamond pendant in 14K white gold. At just $225, this bubbly and festive piece is a great way to add luscious red rubies to your jewelry collection.

Dear Leslie,
The woman I’m about to propose to is very unique and untraditional. With any luck, I’ll be her third husband. I know she’ll want something really different and eye-catching in a ring, and I’m looking for some advice. It should be diamonds, but that’s it as for guidelines.
Julius in San Diego
Congrats on your wonderful news. The words “diamond” and “untraditional,” when combined, result in some of the most fabulous designs in jewelry. We should be able to find you something to get you to the altar (after that, you’re on your own, except where jewelry is concerned, of course!).
Let’s start with this amazing diamond and pink gold with white and black rhodium dome ring. What can we say about this one? If you can get away with it, and your soon-to-be fiance sounds like she can, it’s an incredible, incredibly unique piece. With this ring, you’re not just proposing, you’re asking her for a life of adventure with you.
Speaking of adventure, this diamond and white gold starburst ring is sure to set off fireworks as a great sign of fun times to come in your marriage. It’s delicate yet whimsical, a beautiful and original piece that she’ll treasure.
Finally, we are completely blown away by this black diamond and cultured pearl ring. This really sets a new bar in terms of innovation and beauty. Trust us: her friends will have nothing like it. The black diamond is a non-traditional choice, and when offset by the pearl, creates a dramatic style that she’ll be sure to love. Plus, the spherical motif of the ring symbolizes a marriage of completeness and fulfillment. Good luck proposing–just like these pieces, she sounds like a rare find.

….and thankfully, not the troubled kind. Trina, via email, writes:

What is meant by the jewelers term “Bridge over water” in the design or setting of an engagement ring?

A bridge over water design indicates that there is a stone in the middle that’s raised over a row of stones below, creating an effect of a bridge over water.
Seen here in this exquisite bridal ring set, the bridge over water design is traditionally chosen for engagement rings. This may be because of its unusual ornate style, or perhaps a metaphor for crossing a new “bridge” in life together. Whatever the reason is, we fully support this tradition and the gorgeous pieces it has resulted in. Enjoy!