The Stunning Diamond is the April Birthstone

The birthstone for the month of April is the beautiful diamond which you typically see in the clear (white) color. However, over the past decade or so, colored diamonds have gained strength in popularity and are also suitable as the April birthstone.

The diamond gemstone has been treasured for centuries and can be quite pricey for the high-grade flawless or near flawless diamonds. Most diamonds have flaws and they are graded on a scale; the more flaws your gemstone has the cheaper it is.

A gift of diamond jewelry stands for "everlasting love" so that is why it is a prized gift for engagements, weddings, birthdays, anniversaries and other special occasions. No two diamonds are alike so all diamonds are one-of-a-kind.

The most common cut when it comes to diamonds set into jewelry is the round brilliant cut which enhances the diamonds sparkle and fire more than other types of gemstone cuts. These days you can find diamonds in all kinds of fancy cuts like the trillion cut, marquis cut, baguette cut and princess cut.

If you are getting ready to celebrate your 10th Wedding anniversary, a piece of diamond jewelry is a traditional gift to give. Many anniversaries are celebrated with an anniversary ring. Because the Diamond is the birthstone for April, it is also a very traditional gift to give someone special.

The diamond is a very hard stone and can be set in a multitude of settings. Care for your diamonds by keeping them clean so that the sparkle is evident with every movement. There is nothing quite like the brilliance of a sparkling diamond which is why it is given such high regard by millions of people.

by Gregg Nosaji, Contributing Editor for ChasingTreasure.com, online retailer of jewelry boxes, jewelry armoires and jewelry related gifts. Gregg is an event consultant and writes about gift ideas and special occasions.

Choosing a Jewelry Box? Compare the Different Price Brackets

Are you about to choose a jewelry box for yourself or for a gift? If so, then you can make your choice based on the size and type of the jewelry collection, or on the basis of who your gift is for. For most people, price is also a factor of importance, and in this article we will look at what is available in the different price ranges.

There is a large assortment of jewelry boxes and cases in prices ranging up to $75. In this category you can expect to find travel cases and travel wallets, musical boxes for children, trinket boxes, small to medium sized watch cases and small to medium size jewelry boxes.

In this price range the travel cases are often faux or fine leather, while the dresser top boxes are usually wood. If you shop carefully, you can get a jewelry box for $75 or less with a mahogany finish, multiple pull-out drawers and swing-out necklace compartments for necklaces. Though this is the budget range, many of these boxes are quality made and would make appreciated gifts or prized additions to any bedroom.

In the next two price ranges, from $75 to $150 and $150 up to $250, you'll find medium to large wooden chests and jewelry valets, multiple watch storage boxes, genuine leather travel and train cases, dresser top mini jewelry armoires and select floor armoires.  These two price ranges, from $75 up to $250 have a large variety of styles and here you can expect to find a jewelry box that would be suitable for most gift occasions and for just about any kind of jewelry collection.

For example, a good value in this range is a dark mahogany finished jewelry box with six pull-out drawers and two side compartments for around $190. This kind of dresser-top armoire, standing 13 inches wide and 11 3/4 inches tall is both impressive-looking and versatile, as it can easily hold necklaces, rings, pendants and other jewelry pieces.

When you move up to the $250-$350 price range you will find some truly luxurious jewelry boxes. Handcrafted jewelry boxes, floor standing jewelry armoires, real wood boxes with natural finishes, wall mounted jewelry mirrors and luxury watch boxes can be purchased online for $350 or less.

One of my favorites in this price range is a cherry jewelry armoire with six drawers. Standing 40 inches high it is a beautiful piece of furniture. In addition to the drawers, it has two swing out compartment for necklaces. You can easily find armoires like this for $350 or less.

If you are able to spend more than $350 then you can expect to find luxury jewelry boxes, luxury watch winders, solid wood jewelry chests and armoires and genuine leather jewelry trunks. These are hand-crafted items made from exotic woods and rich leathers.  Many of the boxes in this price range are handcrafted and have taken over 20 days to complete due to the careful attention to detail.

As you can probably see, the price of the boxes depends on the materials that are used and the construction process. That said, budget items that are mass produced can still be of high quality if they are made by trusted brands, though the quality of the hardware and attention to detail will be less than in the higher priced boxes. High quality luxury jewelry boxes are partially or completely handcrafted with luxurious hand applied finishes and solid brass, brass plated or nickel hardware.

So, choose your price range, and then take a look at the wide variety of jewelry boxes that are currently available.

Click here to shop our jewelry boxes by price range.

By Linea Riffel, contributing editor for ChasingTreasure.com, where you can purchase wooden jewelry boxes, leather travel cases, and more!

1960's Hippie Style Jewlery is Hot and In-Style this Spring & Summer Season

The 1960's were a time where we saw a trend in jewelry take a new direction thanks to the social issues going on at the time. We saw men and women wearing all kinds of jewelry pieces that reflected their thoughts and opinions about social issues that were ripping our nation apart at the time. We also saw a big trend in nature-inspired jewelry pieces going on at the same time.

Fast-forward to 2012 and we are seeing a return to the 1960's style jewelry trend once again. Men, women and even teenagers are wearing jewelry to support their favorite causes and/or sporting around nature-inspired jewelry once again. What was hot then is hot again now!

When shopping for this type of jewelry you can purchase new or you can hit some yard sales, flea markets or anywhere that you can find vintage jewelry. Here are some key pieces to look for.

* Look for beaded jewelry in all shapes and colors. If you really want to stand out from the crowd this spring and summer opt for the brightest and boldest coors like neon green, bright turquoise, robin egg blue or citrus orange.

* Look for jewelry with a heavy boho influence. Look for beaded or woven pieces made from hemp or hemp-like materials.

* Look for any type of earrings, charms, bracelets or necklaces with the oh-so trendy peace sign symbol. These are always a hit with those sporting around the hippie look with their fashion jewelry.

* Fringe, bib, multi-layered and multiple-dangle necklaces were hot then and they are hot again this season. Since this trend comes and goes we think you should look for these pieces in the fashion-jewelry marketplace which makes them much more affordable.

* Nature-Inspired jewelry was big then and to this day it continues to be big. This is one trend in jewelry that has never gone out of style so it's a great investment in your jewelry wardrobe.

Show your hippie throwback style with some of these great looks and have a blast with your fashion style this spring and summer!

by Kaye Lefier, Contributing Editor at ChasingTreasure.com, online store specializing in wooden jewelry boxes and leather jewelry cases. Kaye is an avid Jewelry Collector and writes about Jewelry and Jewelry Trends.