Wholesale Diamonds And Fine Jewelry

Our focus is always on our clients and their needs.  We got to thinking about what is really important to our customers and potential customers at this point in time.  We tossed around the idea of giving away an Ipod Nano, Gas cards and Visa or AMEX gift cards; but nothing seemed to fit.  So, we’ve decided to give cold hard cash for referrals!   Yes, I said cash for referrals! Here’s how it works, you refer a friend or family member to Alexa Rose Fine Jewels.  They purchase an item from us, you receive a 5% cash referral fee.  It’s that simple!  I’m sure the old adage of – if it sounds to good to be true it probably is, well not in this case.    The only catch is the person has to make a purchase from us. Now, I’m sure the questions springs to mind; how do we identify the referral source?  We ask all of our clients how they found us.  The typical response, the web.  However, we have had clients who have said, my friend purchased an engagement ring here and was thrilled with the experience so I thought I would stop by.   It really is that simple!  We’ll even send you a gift certificate for your use toward anyone purchase! As always any questions, please do not hesitate to give us a ring at 480-656-0652.

Whew- the holidays are over; while many retailers are bracing for their final sales numbers.  Others of us are looking forward to the future.   Today, I’m stumped or left with the question  is the American consumer gone?  The tireless shopaholics, those who used to brag about continuously shopping and making it more of a sport?  If this gone forever?  Are we finally becoming more like our European brethren?   This question may go unanswered for months and potentially years.  I suspect that Americans given all of the media buzz over the state of the economy may finally well have reason to really shop around.  To pick up those time honored pieces really speak to the buyer and not just merely the impulse purchases.  Is this a shift in our shopping mentality in the US?  Or merely a sign of the times?  One may never know. Now, you may ask how does this fit in with engagement rings?  Simple – a woman has to fall in love with her engagement ring!   There is no room for the impulse or well maybes with an engagement ring.   It’s a complete commitment to not only the person but to the jewelry as well.    We’re lucky because when someone purchases an engagement ring or other piece of fine jewelry from us, we know that they love what they are buying.   We make certain that she, he, they are completely 100% happy with their purchased.    This is the most important aspect for us as it’s the corner stone of our business.   We’re also lucky as our price points are hard to match, with engagement ring settings starting at $595  and other pieces of jewelry starting at roughly the same price point.    Obviously, having price points tough to match helps but one has to back it up with style, quality and SERVICE.    I’ve challenged those in the past to come in and experience our service, once again – come see why we’re different. While the diamond is the most expensive part of the diamond engagement ring, there are ways to save.  If case you missed our post on tips to find and afford your dream ring, click here for the full posting.    Further, we’ll be glad to work with you to ensure you stay with in your budget and even offer money savings tips.    We may be in the retail  business but we know that our customers, our friends are our most important aspect of our business and we want you to walk away with your perfect diamond engagement ring or other piece of fine jewelry. Please feel free at any time to send us a question or concern at sales@alexarosejewelry.com; we’ll get back to you with in 48 hours.

I’m a student of people; I find customs from around the world to be incredible fascinating and enlightening.    So, for today’s post, I thought I would look at some engagement traditions around the world.   In the west, an engagement ring is worn by a woman indicating that she is to be married and typically worn on the left hand.  In countries such as Poland and Ukraine, it is customary to wear the engagement ring on the right hand.  In many countries around the world it is customary for a woman to give a gift  or a promise ring to her beloved.  While it is not common place in the US, it is becoming more common in the US for a woman to purchase an engagement ring or promise ring for her partner at the time of engagement.   As an example, Egypt and Brazil it is standard practice for a woman to give her beloved an engagement ring.   Typically, both wear matching bands and these eventually become their wedding bands.     I did come across a noted exception; Spain, where it is more common to give a gift of a wrist watch to a woman’s beloved rather than a ring.   For most men, I think this to be a more appropriate gift as many prefer to wear only a watch. No matter, what your choice, an engagement ring,  matching wedding bands or a wrist watch, brothel gift are something to celebrate and treasured as they are enduring symbols of love shared.   As I come across more traditions – I’ll be updating this post…..stay tuned!

The parties, the shopping, the baking and the wrapping are all about to become part of the annuals of 2008,  as the holiday season quickly draws to a close.  Many will be grateful to see the passing of the pages to 2009  as the economy took center stage for most of the year.  The mortgage crisis, the bails outs, the dismal economic news (jobs, durable goods, etc.) and of course the scandals of the year, none more disheartening than that of  Bernie Madoff .    These are many of the reasons we are hoping for a better year in 2009. I believe that 2009 will be a better year.    Setting aside analysts predictions and those pundits who believe that we are doomed, doomed – I say!  It’s as if Pinky and the Brain have taken over the world.   I say stop and take stock of those who are hopeful for the future.   In my mind there are no better examples than those who are getting engaged, having children and living their lives.   It’s all of those who continue to believe in love, life and are pursuing their dreams.   I’ve touched on this ideal previously and the beauty that exists in these simple acts. I’m in an industry that does have a tainted reputation of caring more about the dollar than the individual.   While this may be true of some; it is not all.   I’ve had the opportunity to talk to other jewelers and the vast majority of them want to bring beauty to their customers!  They want to know they played a role in the emotional high that comes like no other, when giving a gift of fine jewelry.   We share in the joy and anticipation of an engagement ring  purchase and the ultimate proposal.    We share in the gift of an anniversary band or eternity ring.   We share in the joy of a gift given for a special birthday.  We share in those just because, I love you gifts.   All of these are the simple and honest acts of love and hope!   A hope for the future and of gratitude for the past. All of our clients are special and I can call most by name and recall their situations for engagement, marriage and even the special occassions.   However, out of all of our clients, I have to admit the young men coming in for their first real jewelry purchase of an engagement ring are my favorite.  Many come to us filled with trepidation and uncertainty; once they sit with us watching all of that fad away is FABULOUS!    As our boutique is small and semi-private we are in a unique position when we work withour clients.     We can sit and create with them and just chat about what is important to them.   We’ve found this couple with our easy, no nonsense attitude that helps to melt away the fear and uncertainty. To illustrate my point, I’ve included two testimonials from actual clients, I believe these say it all. “You only have one change to truly surprise your spouse (in my case my wife) with a special gift and have your expectation of their reaction meet the quality of the gift. Without my wife ever knowing it, Alexa Rose Fine Jewelry perfectly coordinated with me using every trick in the book (I think they even came up with some new ones!) as I was traveling in and out of town during the weeks preceding my wife’s 40th birthday. The result was exactly the reaction I was seeking, and the necklace has brought my wife much joy and many compliments.”MarkSeptember 2008″I arrived at Alexa Rose Fine Jewelry at the recommendation of a friend who purchased his fiancé’s engagement ring. I wasn’t sure what to expect as I arrived but I was amazed that 20 minutes later I had an engagement ring! It was so easy and painless. Elan, the owner, definitely needs to receive some praise for recommending my setting. I surprised her with the ring and she loved it! She gets so many complement about how amazing it looks and people can’t believe I picked out the ring myself without her input! People are just amazed how the ring turned out and words cannot explain how happy we both are. The entire experience was just so easy ,painless and best of all convenient! Again thank you for all you did and thank you to your staff for all of their help!”RichardOctober 2008Happy Holidays from Alexa Rose to you and yours!

Recently, WSJ posed the question – could the traditional engagement ring be a relic of the past?   The post made some very valid comments on not only the economy and its affects on consumers but also of the jewelry industry.   However, I would disagree with the thought that the engagement ring will become antiquated.    Even in our egalitarian society, women still desire romance and the engagement ring plays a integral role.   Only one’s wedding bands carry as much symbolism as the diamond engagement ring.     It’s the symbol of love and fidelity.    It is this simple emotional tie that I believe will continue to endear bridal jewelry into the hearts of man.   Consumers may scale back but I do not believe for a moment that they will give up entirely on the engagement ring.This post also brought up a new way of saving money when purhcasing an engagement ring.  Many have opted to use color stones as the center stone rather than a diamond.  This is a brilliant solution as color gemstones are traditionally cheaper than their diamond counterparts of the same weight and shape.    Many of those commenting shared that they had gone this route and were thrilled with the results.     This is a great idea as it allows the couple to choose a stone that is meaningful to both and offers substantial savings in the process.While the engagement ring may take a different shape, it will remain a constant in our society. In closing or better yet as a side note, while reviewing the WSJ posting  – I noticed some comments as it pertains to Debeers and the engagement ring.   Many still believe that DeBeers is the sole creator of the diamond engagement ring.   While, DeBeers may be a driving force in the industry, they are not the source of the diamond engagement ring.   The original diamond engagement ring was given to Mary of Burgundy in 1477 by the Roman Emperor, Maximilian I.   He was the first to start a tradition and DeBeers capitalized  upon it but we still must give credit where credit is due.

Every little girl dreams about their wedding day; some in great detail and others in more general terms.   Most women however, dream about their perfect engagement ring!   The engagement ring  is the first symbol of love only followed by the wedding band.   An engagement ring holds more sentimentality, at least as we have seen.   An engagement ring carries with it the memories of the proposal and the beginning of a life shared.    It is the engagement ring that is most often held not onlyone lifetime but many lifetimes.  For this reason, we believe that your engagement ring should be as individual as you are!    While we do offer custom design services, it may not be in the monetary budget or there maybe time constraints as it can be quite involved.   So, why not do a semi-custom piece of jewelry?     Alexa Rose Fine Jewels allows  you to make subtle changes to our designs ensuring that you are purchasing the ring of your dreams.    Let us help you make your dreams a reality…..stop in today and talk with us about your perfect ring!  We may already have it in our vast inventory or we’ll be happy to help you create it!

Diamonds, the mere mention of the word conjures up a flurry of images, emotions and thoughts.   No other gem has the kind of power of a diamond.  Look no further than to our popular culture for proof;  we have movies, songs and books woven around this precious gem and even one famous diamond is said to be cursed – the famous Hope diamond.     But where have all of these ideas originated?  Are these myths only the creation of the masterful story tellers of our time?  Let’s start with the basics, the word diamond actually comes from the Greek word, “adamas” meaning unconquerable or invincible.  The Aryan root word “dam,” means to tame or subdue and interestingly enough it is also the root word for madam.   These two words came together to form the word diamond; the main objective was to describe a diamond and try to explain the very essence of the gem, i.e.  the hardness, the brilliant and its ability to subdue its audience with little to no effort.   Diamonds historically were considered symbols of wealth, power and royalty and  have been used to ward off evil spirits, impart virtue, generosity and even calm mental illness.    Even murder most foul, has been associated with diamonds or diamond powder.  These accounts involve sprinkling diamond powder on their food.   These stories of murder and intrigue are from antiquity but are also found in our current urban legends.   It’s no wonder with so many myths, urban legends and tales of intrigue attributed to diamonds that we have are fascinated with this gem stone.    Over the last 100 years, diamonds are making their way into the lives of mainstream America, Europe and other countries in the form of diamond earrings, diamond engagement rings, diamond wedding bands, etc.    And with this integration into our societies,  the legends of our past are merging with our present.   Let’s take a closer look at some common myths and legends. 1. You hear it frequently, a diamond is forever, its true if you care for a diamond properly.  Diamonds like any other organic material can break, fracture and even scratch.    So, be sure to take proper care of your diamond so it will last for forever. 2. Diamonds are the most expensive gemstone; not true.    Diamonds are valuable but its not the most expensive gemstone.   Tanzanite, Rubies and Sapphires in great quality can be more expensive than a diamond. 3. Diamonds are a good investment, not entirely true.    Most of us will purchase diamonds to be worn; the vast majority of diamond sales are for diamond engagement rings or diamond eternity bands not to be resold for a profit.   I would categorize investing in diamonds as a passion investment.  Passion investing requires education and skill to ensure a positive return.   My advice, buy the diamond engagement ring or diamond ring that you love and enjoy wearing it. 4. My other personal favorite is buy a diamond strictly on appearance!  Well, you can do this but “caveat emptor.”    Diamonds will look great in a retail jewelry store, the store’s lightening and environment are set up to make the product look great.    You need to be careful, make sure that you check the 4 C’s, ask questions and compare stones to see which one you are most comfortable. 5.  Emerald cut diamonds are more expensive – this is a complete myth.  Emerald cut diamonds are the least expensive as they use the natural formations of the diamond to cut.   In all honesty, cutting a round brilliant diamond is the most difficult.6.  During the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, every ring that was set with a precious stone (diamond or other wise) was not considered a piece of jewelry but rather an amulet granting magical powers upon the wearer.   If the diamond ring was worn on the left side then it was believe it would ward off evil spirits, night mares and  phantoms.  7.  Diamond Powder – a legendary poison!   Through out history pulverized gems and diamonds were used to commit murder.     In the late 15thcentury a Turkish Sultan’s son used powdered diamonds sprinkled on his fathers food to murder him so he could ascend to the throne;  a famou Italian goldsmith recounted an attempt on his life by an enemy who ordered diamond powder mixed in his salad.   It is believed that this association with poison has prompted the myth to discourage the practice of stealing diamonds.  It is believed to steal a diamond is to bring about bad luck to the theif. 8.  To the Romans, diamonds were worn in rings and pendants as it was believed that it brought magical powers over life’s troubles.  It was believe that a diamond granted the wearer strength, invincibility, bravery and courage during a battle.    In fact, royalty from Roman times forward had breast plates and armor layered with precious stones as it was believed that these stones possessed magical powers of protection in addition to courage, strengthth and invincibility. 9. According to the song, Diamonds are a girl’s best friend.  Not entirely true.  There are women that think diamonds are not attractive and would rather have a sapphire, ruby or other precious stone.  And there are even women that would rather not have diamonds at all.  Murder,  music and magic have all be associated with diamonds and each holds a thread of truth.   While there is no denying that diamonds still hold a power over us, its probably safe to say that most of us do not believe we’ll have magical powers or that it will protect us from harm.  Rather it just makes us feel good to wear our diamonds, whether its your diamond engagement ring, diamond earring or diamond right hand rings.      In short,  treasure your ring and wear your diamonds!

 While the marriage rate may be going up —  you need not be a bride to  be to wear an engagement ring.   Well, if you’re purchasing it for yourself then calling it an engagement ring is a misnomer.   Rather, an independence ring or right hand ring would be more appropriate. No matter the label, you are not bound by the jewelry gurus to set a diamond in an engagement setting.    Placing a precious stone instead of a diamond in an  engagement ring/bridal set is perfectly acceptable.   If fact, we routinely take engagement ring settings and bridal mountings  and set tanzanite, rubellite, sapphire and other precious stones.   This completely changes the look of the ring.    Take a look at some of the examples attached in the body of this posting!   And you can always have a look at our website for more ideas alexarosejewelry.com[caption id="attachment_170" align="alignleft" width="37" caption="Lime Beryl Pendant"][/caption]The best part is that you’re not limited to merely engagement rings and bridal settings this is applicable to just about all  jewelry.    Many pieces of jewelry can be made with different gem stones and in different carat weights thus creating your own semi-custom piece of jewelry.   A little creativity can help you create your perfect piece of jewelry and your creativity is always welcome  at Alexa Rose Fine Jewels. Please feel free to give us a call and discuss your ideas for your perfect ring, earrings or pendant.   Have questions?  Feel free to call us as we’ll be glad to answer address questions, too.

Just a short post today, we’re in the thick of the holiday rush!   We all love to find a “deal,”  personally, I love the screaming deals!  Those are the once in a lifetime, I can not believe it, finds!  However, there are those special purchases that you know you’re paying a bit more, you could find it cheaper somewhere else but you still buy it, why?  Well, for me,  I usually do this when its for a charitable organization or a business that I know is giving back into my community.   As an example, many years ago, I lived in Richmond, Va; I shopped at Ukrops, a local, family owned and operated grocery store chain that was closed on Sundays!  To this day this grocery store still is wildly successful.  Why did people shop there?  Simple, they were community oriented – they gave back!   It’s a simple thing really but it’s  powerful statement and its one that Alexa Rose Fine Jewels believes in as well. We give to a variety of causes but one that is near and dear to the Efunes and myself is the Phoenix Children’s Hospital.   The programs and the work that they do really has an impact on peoples lives.   So, we have partnered with the Phoenix Children’s Hospital; anyone who purchases jewelry from Alexa Rose we will donate 5% of that purchase price to the Phoenix Children’s Hospital at the buyers request.   This is for everything, engagement rings, wedding bands, earrings, necklaces and pendants. If you’d like to learn more please give us a call at 480-656-0652.

Black Diamonds – a gem stone from outer space? Some believe that these little precious gems are just that  — Space Rocks! While I am not opposed these little beauties from being from outer space; I prefer a more terrestrial version of events.   First, a quick and very simple science lesson. We are all aware of diamond formation; intense heat and pressure bare down on carbon to form a diamond crystal.    The process for a black diamond (aka Carbonado) to form is similar however,  it does not contain the some of the natural mineral inclusions that are found in white diamonds.   These minerals assisted in the creation of the diamond, where as in a black diamond the mineral inclusion were introduced after its formation.  Its interesting to note that black diamonds are more porous and are found in younger sedimentary rocks than a white diamond.   One other point of interest, black diamonds are primarily found in the Central Africa and in South America (Brazil).  There are many theories about the origin of black diamonds including the conventional to extra-terrestrial, below are the most popular;Direct conversation of organic carbon under high pressure conditions in the Earth’s interiorA shock metamorphism induced by a meteorite’s impact on EarthRadiation-induced diamond formation by spontaneous fission of uranium and thoriumAn origin in interstellar spaceI have to admit that the thought of wearing black diamonds and there potential origin being extra-terrestrial is dare I say – fun!   No matter what the origin there is no denying  the beauty and the exotic nature of this gem. Black diamonds add a hint of mystery to any diamond jewelry whether its a bracelet, right hand ring, necklace or even earrings.     So, when you want to add a bit of mystery to your wardrobe, give us a ring as we do have some of the most unusual and classicly designed black diamond jewelry all located right here in North Scottsdale, AZ.  Check us out on line at alexarosejewelry.com or stop in to see us at  9917 E Bell Rd #140 , Scottsdale, AZ 85260.  (click here for a map)