February’s royally rockin’ birthstone
Source: American Gem Trade Association
For those of you who appreciate the finer things in life, it’s time to honor the regal birthstone of February: the amethyst. Through the ages, this dazzling purple member of the quartz family has been used for everything from love charms to symbols of royalty.
Amethyst is available in a wide range of sizes and shapes, including very large sizes. According to the American Gem Trade Association website, the Smithsonian Institution has an amethyst that weighs more than 1,000 carats. It’s no surprise that the very large sizes in rich, deep colors are rare.
Folklore
February’s birthstone is commonly associated with sobriety and spirituality. This beautiful purple stone also stands for wisdom and security. The ancient Egyptians believed amethyst could keep a person from being poisoned. In medieval times, amethyst was often put under the pillow to cure insomnia and bring pleasant dreams. Medieval churchmen used amethyst rings and jewels to promote divine revelations and wisdom, since amethyst was considered a symbol of Christian love and sacrifice. Amethyst also was said to enhance courage and creativity, to promote intuition, psychic development and even self-esteem, to deflect anger, and protect the wearer against evil.
Care
Amethyst is tough and durable and wears well. Make sure to clean your amethyst jewelry with mild dish soap and use a toothbrush to scrub behind the stone where dust can collect. Avoid exposure to high heat, which may cause its color to fade. For more jewelry care and cleaning tips, visit Jewelers Mutual’s website at InsureYourJewelry.com or AGTA’s consumer website.
Wear
Designers celebrate amethyst as an ideal gemstone for jewelry because of its royal color, variety of sizes and shapes, affordability, and wide tonal range, from pale lavender to dark purple. Amethyst complements both warm and cool colors so it looks right set in both yellow and white metals and complements almost every color in your wardrobe.
What do you like most about your February birthstone?
Valentine’s Gifts: The good, the bad, the ugly
Love it or hate it, it’s that time of year again. The National Retail Federation (NRF) predicts 2012 jewelry sales for Valentine’s Day to reach upwards of $4.1 billion. With so many jewelry options to choose from, it’s enough to make a person’s head spin. Here are some great ideas and tips to get the perfect gift that comes from the heart. Step away from the jumbo-sized teddy bear…
The good
You can’t go wrong with jewelry. Ignite the spark by choosing one of the most popular jewelry picks of the year, including the following:
Hearts On Fire "Amorous Journey" diamond pendant
- Heart-shaped pendants, like the stunning Hearts On Fire® diamond pendant Jewelers Mutual is giving away for their Show the Love photo contest. By the way, you can vote for your favorite entry starting Monday, Feb 13th and help determine the lucky winner of this sweet prize.
- Designer watches
- Dangle earrings
- Toggle heart and Swarovski crystal gemstone bracelets
- Vintage jewelry
- Charm bracelets (several brands have special limited-edition Valentine charms)
- Chunky rings
The bad
Be sure to make the gift personal. This means NO:
- Blenders
- Food processors
- Toasters
Tips to take to heart:
- Keep your budget in mind. Try and find the gift that says a lot without having to spend a lot.
- Be thoughtful. Ask yourself what this gift will mean to her. Will she wear it after Valentine’s Day?
- Take notice of the jewelry she likes and the items she already owns. Does she prefer sterling silver, platinum or 14K yellow gold? Petite or bold styles?
- Don’t forget insurance. If you plan to deliver the wow-factor, you’ll want to keep that “wow” properly protected. Visit InsureYourJewelry.com to get a quote, apply for insurance or add the new item to your current Jewelers Mutual policy and keep those precious memories safe.
The key is to follow your heart. Whether it’s a dinner out, a hand-made card or a stunning piece of jewelry, make sure you give with meaning and it will speak volumes about your love. Have a happy Valentine’s Day!
The ugly?
For a good laugh (or cry) check out these “horribly wrong Valentine’s gifts” I came across on ivillage.com. (Plastic flowers? Really?) What were some of your best or worst Valentine’s gifts?
What makes a ring “Super”?
- The Green Bay Packers Super Bowl I Ring
This Sunday, I’ll be among the 100 million+ football fans tuning in to watch Super Bowl XLVI. We’ll root for either the New York Giants or the New England Patriots as the teams battle for the Vince Lombardi Trophy and go after the honor of being called, “World Champions.”
Shortly after the big game, you’ll see star players reap the benefits of a championship season with instant notoriety, multi-million dollar endorsement deals, boosted salaries, auto dealership spokesman gigs, and so on. Among the many accolades that come with the championship title, one seems to glimmer brighter than the rest. I’m talking about the Super Bowl ring, of course!
For each Super Bowl, the ring is entirely unique, with the trend calling for bolder and brighter designs each year. The precious metals and stones come together to represent much more than a “blinged-out” piece of jewelry. The one-of-a-kind ring embodies the memories gained through a season of hard work, sacrifice and team effort.
Just as a wedding ring represents the love between a married couple, or as family heirloom jewelry represents history and nostalgia, the Super Bowl ring has its own meaning to each person who wears one. For many, the ring symbolizes the culmination of the highs and lows experienced throughout the championship season, or even throughout an entire career. From the painful bumps, bruises and injuries endured week after week, to the final moment when the confetti is dropped from the sky and the title trophy is lifted in the air. These are all special memories that the players treasure; and what better way to signify those moments than with a piece of jewelry.
Steelers Championship Ring
Packers Championship Ring
Did you know?
- The NFL awards the championship team the first 150 rings, and pays roughly $5,000 for each ring to be made. It‘s up to the team owner to cover the difference if the ring costs more to make. The team owner is also responsible for the costs if extra rings are needed to be distributed throughout the organization.
- The NFL requires every Super Bowl ring design to include the Super Bowl logo. The remaining design elements are chosen by the winning team and its owner. Most designs include the team name and logo, game score, and season record. Rings are also customized for each player with their name and number. Oftentimes, the number of Super Bowl titles is indicated on the ring by how many large diamonds are on the face.
- Some rings can bring over $50,000 on the resale market. The value depends on who wore the ring and the popularity of the Super Bowl game.
- The Packers’ Super Bowl I ring contained a single, one carat diamond. Since then, designs like the Patriots’ Super Bowl XXXIX ring boasted 124 diamonds and weighed over a quarter pound.
- The largest Super Bowl ring ever made was a size 23 for the Chicago Bears’ William (Refrigerator) Perry. The average male finger is between a 10 and 12.
- The national jewelry maker Jostens has made 29 out of the 45 Super Bowl rings to date.
Read more about the story behind the Super Bowl rings here. What Bowl ring is your favorite?
Who gets the ring when the engagement is off?
What happens to the ring when wedding bliss turns to wedding amiss? This is a question, which lawyers will tell you, does not have a simple answer. Etiquette may suggest that if the woman cancels the wedding she should return the ring, but keep it if the man calls it off. Or perhaps the ring should be returned in all cases. Cultural tradition may determine who keeps the ring.
However, in cases where the couple cannot reach an agreement, the decision may be left to the law. Concerning the topic of engagement rings, the law varies by state and can also change over time. There is no unanimous decision that has been made, so each situation can have a different outcome.
Courts might generally agree that the engagement ring is considered a gift. But what type of gift is the question. Below is a breakdown.
Conditional Gift:
There are many states that will determine that the ring was given on condition of a marriage, and that if there is no marriage then the ring should be returned.
Implied Conditional Gift:
Some courts may consider the ring an implied conditional gift. In this case, if the man is the one to break the engagement, the ring does not have to be returned.
Unconditional Gift:
Other courts may determine the ring is an unconditional gift that does not need to be returned.
Even if states have established what type of gift an engagement ring is, there may be other factors that come in to play that will ultimately determine what the court decides. What if one of the parents helped to pay for the ring? Do they have a right to be reimbursed? What if the ring is a family heirloom? Even the date the ring was given might play in to the decision as well. For example, if the ring was given on Christmas, or Valentine’ Day, some courts might consider it a present.
I hope that you’ll never be in this unfortunate position. But I think we all realize that it’s not worth taking the plunge if the only thing pretty about your relationship is the ring. Listen to your heart!
What do you think should be done if a couple calls the whole thing off–return the ring or keep it?
Due to the rapidly changing nature of the law, information contained in this post may become outdated. It should not be relied on as legal advice. In no event will Jewelers Mutual be liable for any damages resulting from use of this material.
Anne
Tyler
Jessica
Adam Festge
stephaniemm6
ben
mdeuster11
