Meet the Nexus Design Studio Team~ Chelsea

1.877.202.9044
Mon-Fri 9am - 6pm CST
customjewelry@thenexusdesignstudio.com

 Diamond Nexus is very proud of the amazing work that our in-house design studio creates for customers. The Nexus Design Studio has a talented group of people who work diligently with customers to make every customer 100% satisfied. We would love to introduce our readers to each and every one of them. This week, for our first installment, we introduce everyone to Chelsea!

 My name is Chelsea and I have been with the Nexus Design Studio since July 2010.  What I love about creating custom jewelry is that you get a one-of-a-kind design and you can make it exactly how you want it.  Jewelry should be a reflection of your personality!  Creating a custom design gives you the freedom to make it how you want it, with all the spunk and romance you desire.  I love working with the Nexus Design Studio because I get to be part of making the dream of owning a custom creation come true!  

The Nexus Design Studio Custom Ring

Savy saving ideas, without sacrifice

Written by Blake Swanson

 Diamond Nexus Employee,  inspiration of the first "World's Best Husband" T-Shirt and rumored defeator of Chuck Norris

When it comes to saving money, there are a number of ways you can without really sacrificing a single thing.  Generic foods, turning your thermostat down a couple degrees, brewing your coffee at home instead of that expensive barista experience (is it really THAT much better?).  Even a Diamond Nexus ring with diamond simulants instead of a mined diamond (which will save you thousands!).  Who wouldn't be in favor of saving money and instead of losing something, gaining something?

We've all been to the grocery store, and we've probably all bought a ready-made rotisserie chicken.  But how many of us actually eat every piece of meat on the bird?  We end up throwing away something we paid a premium for, in an effort to save time.  One thing my family does with the remainder of the bird is make fresh chicken noodle soup. 

 It can't get much easier then adding water to a pot, tossing the carcass in, and letting it simmer for an hour or so.  Simply just strain the broth, pick out the bones and add the meat back in.  After that, I pretty much toss in whatever veggies we have in the fridge.  Carrots, celery and zucchini are our favorites.  Add a little black pepper, dry dill and salt to taste.  Depending on our mood, we'll add noodles or rice. 

 The great thing is we've used every bit of that bird, plus saved a ton of money on store-bought soup.  An added bonus, it freezes really well and you can enjoy soup for months to come!  Man made diamonds are (in my opinion) better then minded diamonds and home-made soup is better (fact!) then canned soup.  Win-win!

Valentine's Day Trends for 2012

The trends that Diamond Nexus saw this year, for Valentine’s Day ~

Many Valentine’s Day holiday gift buyers make the bulk of their purchases just before the big day. Which can lead to a lot of stress and who wants that during what is supposed to be the most romantic holiday of the year?

At Diamond Nexus, this year, the trend for ordering had changed. We noticed that a lot more customers placed orders ahead of time. We saw orders coming for Valentine’s Day in January and steadily increased through February. But very few customers waited until the last minute to order, which meant that a lot more women had presents this year that had been planned out, well in advance.

Good job to all of the men who planned out Valentine’s Day, with plenty of time to spare! We know that thousands of women are happy this year because of the proper planning and buying that was executed.

As for the most popular items sold this Valentine’s Day, Diamond Nexus saw a pattern with earrings, pendants and rings that repeated the trends from last year. Affordable engagement rings topped the list, with orders being places in early January. 

Earrings, namely the classic stud earrings were a close second.. Making a perfect gift, and the best choice as a present for any woman, the classic studs can be worn day and night, and are a wardrobe staple.

Pendants were third on the list, with the Venus pendant breaking Diamond Nexus records as the most sold pendant this Valentine’s Day. It has the double benefit of pairing well with the classic studs and can also be worn everyday as the go to necklace for any woman.

 Diamond Nexus employees at the retail locations saw many customers coming in earlier this year to purchase their presents. Especially, with all of the proposals planned for Valentine's Day! Wedding engagements are a  very important time, and with the inexpensive engagement ring selections that Diamond Nexus offers, couples can make the smart choice and have money left to spare. Now, with the wedding band sale that ends on Feb. 29th, the time to save 15% off all 14K Gold Wedding bands for men and women, couples can add the perfect band too!

Adrienne Matching Band

Actress Emily Blunt's stunning engagement ring

When actress Emily Blunt and her fiance, John Krasinski got engaged, she was given a stunning, custom-designed Edwardian style engagement ring. It is a Platinum setting, and holds a 3 ct. diamond in the center. It is created by famous celebrity ring designer, Neil Lane.

The Edwardian period is known as the "beautiful era" and it certainly was a period of extravagance, whether regarding clothing and jewelry. Diamond rings from this era were ornate and intricately designed. It takes a special designer to be able to create a custom ring like hers.

Diamond Nexus offers an affordable engagement ring option, for customers wanting the look of this ultra-detailed ring. The Nexus Design Studio custom-makes rings for customers looking for variety in their ring design. It is the perfect route to go for anyone wanting to have a ring that absolutely no one else on the planet will be wearing! So if you are looking for a custom wedding ring, then visit the Diamond Nexus website and check out the Nexus Design Studio to make your wedding ring dream come true!

A Beach Wedding

For many couples, the idea of getting married in a traditional service, in front of hundreds of family and friends, just doesn’t appeal. They prefer to be on a tropical island, surrounded by the crashing waves, fresh ocean air and pristine sandy beaches. Where the peacefulness and calm of the island locale calls to their souls. 

Destination weddings  held at resorts in tale little work needed by the couple. A full service resort will be able to provide the decorations, seating, meal and drinks. The guests not only get to attend a magnificent wedding in a dream location, but they can come early or stay late, and use it as their own mini-vacation as well.

Couples can keep it casual, and walk down the aisle, bearfoot, in true island spirit~

 Casual beach wedding dresses can be affordable options for those looking to keep that simple elegance of a laid back wedding~

 This beach wedding flower idea offers bright color and a bit of the ocean into the bouquet~

 These are a few gorgeous ideas for hairstyles that will be the perfect accompaniment to a beach wedding~

At Diamond Nexus,  we have just the right selection of man made diamond simulant jewelry to accompany an earthy wedding held at a tropical destination. 

The Kelly earrings shown here would be the perfect choice for any bride~ They are available in multiple stone color options, and would even be a great idea for the whole wedding party!

Large Pink Diamond Found

http://now.msn.com/money/0222-pink-diamond-australia.aspx

Diamond Nexus loves a great story of amazing stones being found throughout the world. Especially when the stones are as big as this one just discovered.

 The well-known mining company, Rio Tinto recently tweeted about the stone they had uncovered. It is a jaw-dropping 12.76 cts. and is named the Argyle Pink Jubilee, for the mine where it was found. I have to admit I am curious about what service provider they have, to be able to send the message out, while underground!


Some lucky person could make this into an amazing engagement ring! Though it could be pretty heavy to wear and would no doubt cost a fortune, given its size and the rarity of such a large colored stone. Good thing that Diamond Nexus offers man made diamond simulant jewelry set with Rose colored stones at much more affordable prices~

Christine Pendant with Rose colored center stone

 

Pastoral Symphony

A 50's Inspired "Classic Elvis" Themed Wedding

There are people who love the classic elegance of the Diamond Nexus Tiffany style affordable engagement rings and a traditional wedding. Others desire the opulence of the ornate Diamond Nexus Athala engagement ring and a wedding held in the mansion of a millionaire family member.But everyone can't fall into just these two categories.There is a whole space in-between for the duos that prefer something a bit more unexpected. A wedding and the jewelry to match that calls to their inner-rebel.

The couples I am speaking of today have tattoos, lots of tattoos. They listen to classic performers like Johnny Cash, Bill Haley and the Comets, and modern revival bands like the Blasters and the Fleshtones. They  might be spotted at the local drive-in, dressed in dark denim and plaid shirts, eating a burger next to their 1952 Chevy hot rod.   If they are truly passionate, the guys will be rocking  a pompadour or the Middy for the ladies.It's a sub-culture of fun, great cars and cool. Simple as that, everyone was just cool.

 So for those who embrace an era before disco balls were all the rage, and when a slapped bass was the instrument of choice, I give you all the endless cool of an Elvis Themed Wedding!

This couple used the inspiration of the timeless Young Elvis for their true rock n' roll wedding done on a budget. The bride found her dress for under $200 at David's Bridal. It was actually a bridesmaid's dress and she removed the spaghetti straps and viola, a smashing red dress with the perfect vintage flair!

Saying "I Do"

The Beautiful Bride

What I love about their wedding is that they didn't spend a ton of money, but they used amazing choices of color and clothing to stand out in their photos. 




















 
  The wedding cake stands out in black and white with red flower accents, but the mini gold-suit wearing Elvis steals the show~ The perfect touch for one cool wedding!

The couple relaxing in their gold and glittery suite, fit for a king~ or atleast a couple who are huge fans of the King ;)

Eco-Inspiration: Amy Smart’s Green Wedding!

By The Green Queen

A lot of Diamond Nexus brides are into eco-friendly weddings as well as eco-friendly engagement rings.  A conflict free ring is only the beginning, after all!  So if you’re looking for inspiration for your eco event, check out the nuptials of actress Amy Smart, who got married last September.  Her big day is a fantastic example of how to throw a truly impressive, stylish shindig where Mother Earth is an honored guest.

First of all, Amy and now-husband Carter Oosterhouse had around 220 guests in attendance…and after the whole day was done, only half a bag of trash was leftover.  Yeah, let that sink in for a minute.  220 guests…half a bag.  How did they do it?  By recycling and composting just about everything.  They held the event on their farm, so composting was likely easier for them than it would be for others who don’t have the space for it, but it’s still a fantastic idea if you can pull it off.  (Either in your own yard or the yard of a friend or family member.)  Especially because, in a few years when that stuff is ready to plant seeds in, you’ll get to remind yourself that you’re growing new life in compost from your wedding day.  Okay, it may be dirt…but I think there’s something romantic in that.

The second biggie of Amy and Carter’s eco-wedding was that all of their vendors were local, and all the food was made with locally grown ingredients.  This means they cut down dramatically on transportation costs and pollution, greatly supported their community, and many of the elements of their wedding were completely unique.  Furthermore, they probably avoided a lot of the headaches that are associated with scheduling vendors from out of town.  I bet they weren’t worrying where their cake was 20 minutes before the reception.

And would you look at that cake?!  It’s so simple, but so gorgeous!  I love how the flowers do all the talking, and how the natural beauty of the food itself (like honeycomb and blackberries) is allowed to shine through, turning it into its own kind of decoration.

Speaking of the natural beauty of food, I love these seating cards.  They’re written on leaf-shaped pieces of paper, which are pinned to apples.  On one leaf is the guest’s name, and on the other is the name of an herb to designate each table.  Then labels and bundles of that herb are found on the corresponding table, which is decorated with vintage glass bottles filled with flowers.

And may I just say…TREES INSIDE THE RECEPTION TENT!  OH MAN, I LOVE THIS SO MUCH!  Anytime the indoors and outdoors can be integrated, the effect is marvelous.

If you’re looking for eco-inspiration, I highly recommend taking a page from Amy and Carter’s book.  They blew the roof off of traditional celebrity weddings, and the result was a gorgeous “green” event that was exceptionally personal from start to finish.

What Missy wears from Diamond Nexus

Our Diamond Nexus 'Staff Pick of the Week' is the Equilibrium, chosen by Missy in the Nexus Design Studio~

This is what Missy wanted to share about her ring. "I love my Equilibrium ring because of the modern and unique design. I love how the black and clear pave stones interlock in this loop design. This ring goes with everything and can be worn with your basic jeans and tee as well as dressing up for a night out on the town. I get so many compliments every time I wear this gorgeous piece!"

The ring features a total of 2.02 total carats, and is set with 136 Round Brilliant cut white and black diamond simulants for the woman who wants the look of a modern ring with just the right amount of glamour, in this Old Hollywood inspired ring.

The Equilibrium makes the perfect right hand ring, but for someone looking for an affordable engagement ring, this could be a one of a kind option as well!

*The  Diamond Nexus Staff Picks of the Week will showcase an employee each week and the piece of jewelry that they own, or are planning to buy when the time is right.

See Jessica Biel's ring here for the first time

Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake

Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake are one of Hollywood's Hottest Couples, dating on and off for almost five years. So when news of their engagement was confirmed by our homey, Justin's grandmother, the whole country started talking.

The ring was rumored to have made it's own guest appearance during Timberlake's surprise guest appearance on Saturday Night Live Feb. 18th.

Unfortunately, for all of the couple's fans, no one has captured a photograph of her stunning ring. However, Diamond Nexus is excited to provide our amazing readers with a sneak peak of her gorgeous ring! Although this may not be a "picture," in the strict interpretation of the word, it is as imagined by the creative and powerfully psychic designers here, who work diligently to imagine what the next big thing will be in celebrity ring design.

Dr.Diamond, Head of Psychic Marketing and reader of tea leaves, shared some of his thoughts on her new ring, while humming a Justin Timberlake song. "It is no doubt, an engagement ring, and based on my extreme talent in the areas of jewelry and psychic design, I can also say that without a doubt, this spectacular ring is going to be all the rage."

"It is also evident to me that Jessica is wearing a ring that holds clear and/or colored stones and is set in some sort of a metal compound. This very well could be Gold, but it is definitely shiny and quite expensive. I am also inclined to say that it is extremely sparkly and has some sort of a round shaped band," Dr. Diamond further expressed.

"This also makes me think that in the future, she might be planning on purchasing a wedding band as well, though I might need to consult the tea leaves as to when that will happen," Dr. Diamond continued.

"This ring truly takes my breath away, and I would wear something just like this. Infact, I would have the Nexus Design Studio custom-make the ring and proudly wear it, exactly as her photo shows. It is perfect!" guessed Jennifer London, Social Media Coordinator at Diamond Nexus.

Everyone at the Diamond Nexus offices were excited to finally see the one-of-a-kind ring and were astonished at the amazing detail, evident in the highly professional close-up photo of the ring.

"That is a lot of bling, but it balances the lovely Miss Biel's hand just right. She is an active lady, so this ring looks like it will wear well, and no matter what she does, no one will be able to take their eyes off this absolute head-turner of a ring," declared Kyle Blades, Director of Marketing. "It is FAB-U-LOUS!"

Jessica Biel's Engagement Ring

The Diamond Nexus Design Studio Launches Custom Wedding Band Sale

(PRWEB) February 20, 2012

The Nexus Design Studio, the custom branch of the top rated online jewelry company, Diamond Nexus, recently announced a special offer to customers planning on designing a one of a kind wedding band.

Now through February 29^th, customers ordering a women’s custom wedding band through the Nexus Design Studio will receive a free Titanium or Tungsten men’s wedding band.

For those customers who prefer a 14K Gold band, they have the option of saving $150 off the price of a 14K Goldmen’s band available on the website, or by ordering a custom men’s wedding band.

The Diamond Nexus Tungsten and Titanium men’s ring collections offer a variety of styles in the durable solid metals perfect for everyday wear. “Rewarding our customers who are planning a one of a kind wedding set for their fiancé with a free men’s band is very exciting. This way, couples get his and hers bands at once and it saves them time and a lot of money,” shared Nancy Jaeck, Nexus Design Studio Manager.

Many couples prefer the man’s band to be in 14K Gold and to be set with lab created diamond simulants for added style. For anyone choosing to go that route, they will save $150 off of the band, either by ordering one of the many designs available on the Diamond Nexus website, or by custom-making the exact band that they are dreaming of.

“Couples can create unique his and her wedding sets, to match and make the perfect design statement. But the best part is that with the Nexus Design Studio, it will also be affordable. Saving thousands of dollars by choosing a custom ring set, while also being able to say that your affordable engagement ring and band is eco-friendly too!” added Missy Eggener, Nexus Design Studio representative. “With Diamond Nexus, it is easier than ever to create the jewelry of your dreams, and no one else in the world is going to be wearing it.”

Diamond Nexus was founded in 2004 with the purpose of bringing to the public the powerful benefits of the diamond simulant revolution. They have over 200,000 customers worldwide that have awarded them an "A+" rating with the BBB, and are rated a top ten online jewelry store according to the IR500 list. For two years in a row brides from The Knot have selected them as their Best of Jeweler. Diamond Nexus currently has two retail locations: their flagship store at Woodfield Mall in suburban Chicago, Illinois, and a second store at Mayfair Mall in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 2009 the company was named the official jeweler and crown maker of the Miss Universe Organization as part of NBC/Universal’s “Green is Universal” environmental initiative.

A Celtic Themed Wedding

There are a multitude of choices when a couple decides that they want to have a Celtic themed wedding.Research is key, studying the historic wedding traditions of the Celtic community. This will guarantee a celebration that you and your guests will always remember. 

 

• The perfect wedding dress~ Think romance, like this amazing dress from http://www.rivendellbridal.com/ There are many talented dress designers out there to make the perfect dress for your wedding, but this one in particular really makes an impression.

• Symbolic Traditions~ Handfasting, an ancient ceremony, which unites a couple in union and  is often referred to as "tying the knot". A couple stands facing each other, joining right hands and their left, as a friend or overseer of the wedding ties a rope or symbolic piece of cloth around the couple's interlocking hands. It is a beautiful tradition to incorporate into your wedding ceremony. 

•  Flowers~ The choices are made with great care, honoring the Celtic traditions. English lavender mixed in the bouquet symbolized love and devotion. Herbs worn in the bride's hair symbolized her fidelity, as does Ivy placed in her bouquet. Instead of a veil, many brides opt for wreaths of wildflowers in their hair.

• The Music~  A very popular choice is having a Bagpiper play. He can be incorporated during specific times in the ceremony-when the bride is walking down the aisle,  accompanying the ceremony or throughout the entire event. This traditional music adds a meaningful touch to the wedding.

•   Celtic Food~ For those who want a traditional faire, choose Shepards Pie or Beef Stew as main dishes, served with colcannon and potato rolls. Appetizers can include Irish potato and leek soup, soda bread with cheese and Scotch eggs.  

•   The Cake~ There are no traditional cake options, since ancient Celtic tribes tended not to bake sweets. So, the options are up to each couple, as to the color and flavor of icing and cake to use. I really loved this cake as an example of incorporating the Celtic theme with a romantic design:

• Wedding rings~ A beautiful Diamond Nexus ring would compliment any Celtic ceremony quite well. The Bramble engagement ring, an affordable engagement ring that has an enchanting design, really has the elegant romance of a vintage style. The Mariner Men's Ring is a great option that also has a Celtic look.

The Bramble Engagement Ring

The Mariner Men's Ring

What Chelsea loves from Diamond Nexus

Our Diamond Nexus  'Staff Pick of the Week' is the Angela Ring
Chosen by Chelsea in the Nexus Design Studio ~

 Here is what Chelsea had to say about her ring, that she wears as a right hand ring:

 " It has a low profile, great for an active lifestyle. I live in Wisconsin and it tends to be cold here. So, wearing gloves is required. Because of the low profile it is great if you have to take gloves on and off a lot. I love how unique the oval cut is, and the setting is a different look as well."

  Chelsea semi-customized the ring to hold a clear Oval cut center stone,  "I wanted to make sure I could match it to everything" as she told me during our chat.

 The ring is shown on the website with an Oval cut Sapphire center. Quite stunning, and with the synthetic sapphire or man made diamond simulant options, you can be sure that it will be the perfect ring for you!

*Staff Picks of the Week will be a series of interviews of Diamond Nexus staff, by your very own, Jennifer London. Watch for these weekly blog posts and hear first-hand from the people who see our jewelry every day, what we all love to wear!

Wedding Band Sale!

Diamond Nexus is excited to be launching a very unique sale~ 15% off all 14k Gold Wedding Bands!

Now through February 29th, 2012~ This is the perfect time to buy any 14k wedding band for the soon-to-be Mr. or Mrs., and save a ton of cash! This sale doesn't happen often, so don't miss it!

All matching bands, stand alone bands and even our stunning eternity bands are being offered at huge savings. Diamond Nexus has always aimed to sell affordable engagement rings, and now with this sale, the bands can be even better deals! 

 We know that the extra money can come in handy when planning a wedding. So take a look at these spectacular sales and hopefully find something for both of you!


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


 For customers who want the band that matches the ring, here are some popular choices that are all on sale:

Alyssa Matching Band

Adelaide Matching Band

For Customers who love the look of the Stand Alone Bands, here are a couple that are bestsellers:

Bridge of Lovers Band

Our Union Band

Last but not least, for those fans of Eternity Bands, here are two that customers absolutely love:

Simple Pleasures Eternity Band

True Treasure Eternity Band

Don't forget him during this sale! Men's 14K Gold Wedding Bands are all on sale. Here are two of our most sold men's rings:

Equinox Men's Band

Andre Men's Ring

Jen's Recommendations for the Best Valentine's Day Movies

On Valentine's Day, many couples enjoy a romantic evening at home, whether it is because they love the intimacy of a home-cooked candlelit dinner or the luxury of eating lobster and fine wine without the exorbitant price tag that some restaurants can charge.

There is also a good chance that a large amount of men are planning to propose soon. So saving money for the ring is a priority. Keeping the costs down for Valentine's Day, so as to be able to buy an affordable engagement ring is a worthwhile trade off! For any men out there doing just that, don't worry, she is going to appreciate the efforts that have been made to give her the perfect night.

After dining on a fine meal that has been prepared with the utmost love and attention,  the after dinner drinks have been served. Now, what to do next? It is the perfect time to bring out the trusty collection of romantic movies, sure to please her on such a romantic occasion. Warning to men, some of these movies are a bit over the top, so please note: Women don't expect this, we all know it's Hollywood, so relax, sit back, make some popcorn and enjoy a beautiful night together.

This is my list, in no particular order, of the top most romantic movies to watch together this Valentine's Day with a special someone! These movies are almost promising any man some extra credit boyfriend/fiance/husband points.


1. The Notebook

2.Ghost

3.Amelie

 4.Ever After

5.Princess Bride

6.Casablanca 

 7.Romancing the Stone

8.A Walk to Remember

9. Sweet November

10. Die Hard 1 and 2~ For the most hopeless romantics~