Diamond Nexus Blog

A Customer Photo of the First Love Engagement Ring

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer London) — Sun, 20 May 2012 00:47:00 +0000

(picture taken by: Michelle Ann Allard and Emily Strong)

A customer recently shared this lovely photograph of the First Love solitaire engagement ring from Diamond Nexus. We love how they captured the beauty of the eco-friendly engagement ring against natural elements of Birch bark~ truly a lovely combination~

What’s In A Name? Part 5

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer London) — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:58:00 +0000

By the Green Queen

Sometimes when new jewelry comes to us in matching sets, I like to give them matching names as well. I’ve already mentioned how some pieces are named because they remind me of other pieces that we’ve had for awhile, but these are pieces that were given complementary names right from the start.

Speechless, Breathless, and Limitless.


Breathless


Speechless


Limitless

These mix-and-match stackable rings came out for Valentine’s Day in 2011. We loved the adorable “XO” look, as well as all the different ways these rings could be combined. Since they were all Valentine’s Day pieces and were intended to be bought in sets, I wanted them to have romantic matching names. For the “X” ring, I went with the name “Speechless,” because the “X” represents a kiss and talking isn’t really something you can do in the middle of a very deep kiss. For the “O” representing a hug, “Breathless” was chosen for the way a really big bear hug can squeeze the air out of you. (In a good way.) But it was the heart shaped ring that really had me stuck for awhile. The other two rings were named for things that a person would NOT be able to do. The heart, obviously, represents love…but what CAN’T a person in love do? Nothing, really. I went back and forth for awhile with some names that really didn’t make sense until “Limitless” popped into my head, and I knew right away that it was right. Limitless: because in love, nothing can stop you.

Speaking of love…Ariel and Miranda.


Ariel


Miranda

Around the time these rings came out, I had just seen a fantastic performance of Shakespeare’s The Tempest performed by Optimist Theatre, a non-profit theatre company out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin that performs free Shakespeare In The Park in the summertime. We’re talking phenomenal professionals who bust their backs on a bare-bones budget for this labor of love, and it really showed.

Jocelyn Fitz-Gibbons as Miranda and Andrew Voss as Ferdinand

Jim Pickering as Prospero and Angela Iannone as Ariel

This performance quickly became my favorite adaptation of The Tempest. I loved how rich and complex every character was. Among my favorites were Miranda and Ariel. In the text, Miranda is the sweet and dutiful daughter of the sorcerer Prospero, and Ariel is a spirit of the air who was captured by Prospero to be his servant. But in the performance, there was so much more to them. Miranda was indeed sweet and innocent, but also a bit of a wild child with a fiercely passionate heart. Ariel was ethereal and tricky, but also powerful and seductive, and had a complicated relationship with her master. To commemorate these performances, I chose two rings that had a very airy, feminine quality to them and named them for these two characters that I loved.

How one Diamond Nexus fan found love and the ring of her dreams with a Midnight Train

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer London) — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:26:00 +0000


The Midnight Train custom made with a Princess cut center stone

I’m sure many of you have seen me around the Diamond Nexus Facebook page as the resident part time customer service rep. Whether I’m answering questions, giving advice and experience, or pointing customers in the right direction when looking for that perfect ring, I’ve always enjoyed helping all of you because with every question and comment I found something new. Be it a new design I overlooked or a pairing I never thought of trying. But because of the questions that have been asked or comments being made, I have spent many hours (even if I hate to admit it) on the Diamond Nexus website and I found myself asking this question… How do they come up with names for your favorite Diamond Nexus engagement ring? Or how awesome it would be to name your own piece? I love the originality of names and how well they fit each piece of beautiful jewelry. In passing conversation I mentioned how awesome it would be to name something and was given the opportunity to actually name an upcoming Diamond Nexus engagement ring!! I knew right then what I would want to name it. I present to you, Midnight Train.

This ring is named in honor of my first date with my now fiancé. After a great dinner, neither of us wanted to deal with the crowd of a movie theater and decided a rented movie at his house was the best alternative. Neither of us can remember the movie we attempted to watch because we were so lost in our conversations of interests and similarities. The movie soon was over and our conversation continued. Before we knew it, it was after midnight and I needed to be home for work the next morning. Not wanting the night to end, we got in his truck and started the trip to drop me off at home but not far from his house were stopped at a railroad crossing by an approaching train. We started counting the cars, but soon realized the train was slowing down…and backing up. As the train began to back up, I got comfortable in the middle seat with his arm around me and we attempted to keep track of which cars we had counted and which ones we hadn’t. We spent the most AMAZINGLY memorable 45 minutes of our first date in his truck, after midnight, laughing and counting the cars of a train that couldn’t make up it’s mind whether it was coming or going. At nearly 2am I arrived at my doorstep, knowing this man was going to change my life. Little did I know, five years later, he would ask me to marry him with a ring WE NAMED presented in a little pink toolbox. It was the second most perfect moment of my life.

The Midnight Train reminds me of that first date every time I look at my hand. The row of five round side stones on each side of the center stone represent our separate lives before we met at the middle, center stone, and created a love much greater than either of us could have ever imagined. The trellis setting crisscrosses just as the railroad crossing sign we parked next to as we laughed and counted that perfectly timed train goodbye. I hope that with the Midnight Train you will be able to share with the love of your life how grateful you are that your path crossed theirs and made your lives complete.

Save 20% right now with our flash sale!

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer London) — Thu, 17 May 2012 21:16:00 +0000

As a special treat to our amazing customers we're having a flash sale for the next 24 hours! Customers can get 20% off all non-sale items simply by using the code FLASH20 at check out. Unfortunately this doesn't include custom or Dreambook items but everything else on the site is fair game. If you've been thinking about a Daimond Nexus piece than now is the time to do it since the sale ends Friday, May 18th at 5pm CST! Don't delay, great bling awaits!

Some Amazing Deals with Esteals

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer London) — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:14:00 +0000

Diamond Nexus releases ESteals of the Week on Thursday mornings. This special sale offers customers the chance to purchase custom rings and specially made items at a fraction of the cost! Affordable engagement rings, pendants and other jewelry pieces are featured. Rings stay on the site until they are sold out and there are usually just one of each item, unless specified so they sell out very fast! Check out all of the deals at this link: http://www.diamondnexus.com/e-steals

Here are several of the rings that Diamond Nexus is showcasing this week. Rings are noted as to what they can be sized to.

Jen's Budget Travel Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer London) — Tue, 15 May 2012 14:58:00 +0000

So, my boys are not little anymore and the appeal of theme parks is lost on them. Mother's Day was approaching and all I wanted was a day spent having fun and hanging out as a family. But I knew that we would have to do something that would keep their attention and interest. It just had to be cool. There was a famous saying that a supermodel once said: "We don't get out of bed for less than $10,000 a day" but if you were to talk to teenagers I feel like the saying would be " We don't log off of the computer for anything less than daredevil type stunts."

I decided to use our family's Christmas present from Grandma and take the kids ziplining for Mother's Day! The idea would be to jump in the car early on a Saturday morning and come back that night. The whole family would be going, including my brother, making this event even more exciting for the kids! Finding a time when everyone would be free to leave town could have been difficult but when I booked this trip, I told everyone a month ahead and kept reminding them so that no one would forget.

We went to an awesome place in the Wisconsin Dells called BigFoot Ziplining. They have 6 lines that zigzag through their park in beautiful terrain, above trees and water, giving you breathtaking scenery as you zip down the line going very very fast! it was great exercise but it was also quite exhilarating. My kids loved it, all of the grown ups loved it and the final verdict was that we all would go again in a heartbeat. In fact, it could easily become an annual family outing. Now to convince Grandma that she needs to try it too. The oldest person to have ziplined there was 83! The youngest was 3.


Minimap of the BigFoot Ziplining Course


Jen from Diamond Nexus~ Hangin' Out

Our guides were probably the best ziplining guides ever. Hands down, these guys were were high energy and hysterical. They made sure everyone was having an amazing time. We laughed the entire trip and would actually request Nick and Cole specifically the next time we come to town. "Nicole" the team, like super groups Bennifer and Brangelina before them, are truly a super couple. So be prepared, their charisma is magnetizing!

Part of the fun was just driving out to the Dells, which was about 2.5 hours from where we live in Milwaukee. My kids still haven't grown out of their love for road trip foods at truck stops. And for some reason, I never mind dropping $10 on random candy and snacks for them. It seems to make us all feel quite nostalgic for the good ole days when they were small and no matter what I remembered to pack for a trip, and let me tell you, I brought everything, there was always something delicious that the kids would talk me into getting for them.

I will never forget the time that my son and I entered a convenience store somewhere along the way to South Dakota. It was a very hot day and he was craving a slushy. He was about 10 years old. His world was all about Pokemon, football and cool refreshing sugary treats and this store had probably six different flavors of slushy, all ice cold and brightly colored. He approached the machine with a spring in his step and began to fill the largest cup available.

A short time into the pouring, probably less than 4 seconds, things took a horrible turn. The handle broke off in his hand. I looked at him, he looked at me. It was all over. The magnificent slushy machine was now pouring all of its glorious contents onto the floor, the clean white floor.

My son and I gasped. We called for help. Not knowing what to do, either grab cups and try to catch the oozing sticky drink or just stand back helplessly, I froze. My son took a step towards the machine just before one of the workers came around a corner and stopped him. He had been preparing to do what any kid would do in that scenario. He wanted to try to save as much slushy by mouth as possible but he chickened out once the worker came over to begin the clean up.

She was extremely nice and surprisingly calm about the whole accident and as we left the store quickly and empty handed, we made sure to hold our laughter until we were out of ear shot. The trip would forever be known as the time that my son broke an Icee machine. But to this day, he regrets not jumping underneath it and drinking the flowing slush as it poured out from the machine.

Happy Mother's Day to all of you moms out there! I hope you had a wonderful day and enjoyed some quality time with the little people that you love :) They grow up way too fast. (Yes, Mom, you warned me about that!)

More Inspiration for Indie Weddings

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer London) — Mon, 14 May 2012 17:46:00 +0000

Hi everyone! For those of you who liked the photos we posted from Artist Group Photography last week, check out the video they just released! It features our Diamond Nexus "Venice" affordable engagement ring with a lovely rose colored stone!

Tell us what you think about the shoot. The vintage headpieces were created by The Brass Rooster of Milwaukee! What are you wearing for your wedding? Feather? Flowers? A veil? We'd love to know what you think!

Bike to Work Week!

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer London) — Mon, 14 May 2012 15:59:00 +0000

By the Green Queen

Did you know that May is National Bike Month? Not only that, but May 14-18^th is National “Bike To Work” Week! Diamond Nexus loves finding new, affordable ways to live eco-friendly, and this is a great one. It really “greens” up your commute, saves gas money, and is fantastically healthy.

But there are good and not-so-good ways to go about a biking commute, especially if you’re not used to it yet. Here are a few pointers.

1.) Make sure your bike is the correct size, and is set at the proper height. There are a few different ways you can determine this, (such as using a chart like this one) but a good way to check the seat height is to sit on it and reach for the ground with your feet. Only your tippy toes should be able to touch. When you pedal, your leg should have only a slight bend in the knee when fully extended downward. Any more than that, and your seat is too low. You won’t be able to get the most power out of your pedaling, and you’ll likely tire yourself out or even put undue strain on your joints.

2.) Bring water with you. Even if you live very close to work, you don’t want to underestimate how fast you’ll dehydrate. Remember: once you start to feel thirsty, you’re already dehydrated. So drink water before you feel like you need to, and you’ll keep yourself going strong the whole way.

3.) Don’t forget food! Water is important, but your body needs fuel too. Make sure to eat a good breakfast before you leave. Keep it a bit light, though, so it doesn’t weigh you down and make you feel sick. You may even want to bring some small snacks with you, like almonds or raisins, to keep feeding the “fire” as you go. Just please, please be sure you can reach them without taking your eyes off the road or losing control of the bike. Nobody wants to tell the emergency room nurse: “Well, it all started when I was trying to eat a raisin…”

4.) HELMET! HELMET HELMET HELMET! Check out these guidelines** for how to properly fit a bike helmet.

5.) Know your limits. If you haven’t biked very far in awhile, give yourself plenty of time to make the ride as well as time to warm up and cool down.

Happy biking!

Check out the engagement ring that Floyd Mayweather gave his fiance!

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer London) — Mon, 14 May 2012 15:58:00 +0000


Floyd Mayweather and fiance Shantel Jackson


A ring made almost entirely of diamonds in a platinum setting

American Boxer Floyd Mayweather is currently undefeated, has won 7 world titles, holds the WBC Welterweight Championship title and has also been rated the best pound boxer in the world, by such names as ESPN and Sports Illustrated.

This super star is estimated at having a net worth of $115 million dollars. So when he went looking for the perfect engagement ring for his fiance, the pricetag was not something that he was too concerned about. Though the estimates on the cost of this ring are rumored to be in the millions, most couples don't want to spend even a fraction of that.

So if you like the style of this ring but you really want to purchase a much more affordable engagement ring, check out Diamond Nexus.

We have some very similar rings available on our website, like the Pompeii shown here:


Pompeii Engagement ring

Or, if you want to have a ring with less gold and more stones, then contact our Nexus Design Studio to custom make an engagement ring like the one that Floyd Mayweather bought for his fiance.

Happy Mother's Day from Diamond Nexus

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer London) — Thu, 10 May 2012 21:07:00 +0000

An Indie themed Wedding Shoot!

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer London) — Thu, 10 May 2012 00:57:00 +0000

By Meg Strobel

Check out this amazing shoot from Artist Group Photography! We just love these shots. Diamond Nexus was thrilled to partner with fashion photographer Katy Rowe of Artist Group photography for her latest "Indie Bride" inspired shoot. (See that ring amid the blooms? That's the Venice engagement ring by Diamond Nexus with a beautiful rose stone.) We love the Indie Wedding trend because we believe a stylish wedding should be affordable on every budget!

For more information about Artist Group Photography or to see more images from the shoot "Like" Artist Group Photography on Facebook.


The Venice Engagement Ring on the left is from Diamond Nexus

Mom deserves the very best!

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer London) — Tue, 08 May 2012 20:17:00 +0000

Mother's Day is right around the corner. What are you planning on doing for the woman who means the most to you? Certainly, the most important thing to do is spend some time with mom. Shower her with attention and lots of sweet gestures.

When it comes time to choose a card for her to open, do you opt for the Hallmark classics? There is definitely nothing wrong with them, but I have always been a fan of making homemade cards. It puts a touch of added icing to the cake, winning you lots of extra bonus points with mom!


Martha Stewart Living

You can get very creative on an extremely small budget using items that are already found in your household.Pictures of the kids will always be a winner with every mother!


Spinning Greeting Cards

For the sentimental, check out this lovely idea, using old family photos:


Family Tree Photo Cards

Most of all, just remember that even though it is her special day, your ultimate goal should be to remind her that she is special and important and much appreciated every single day.

Choosing the Metal that’s Right for You

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer London) — Tue, 08 May 2012 19:44:00 +0000

By~Christina Waller: Retail Visual Merchandiser/Diamond Nexus Jewelry Advisor

You have found the guy of your dreams and together, you have found the ring of your dreams! Now for the tricky task of finding the right metal that is going to work for you and your lifestyle. Diamond Nexus offers a variety of different options, with virtually something for everyone. Let’s start at the very top!

Lorian Platinum


Brandy

Diamond Nexus’ own proprietary mixture of silver, palladium and platinum plating, partnered with our very cost effective man made diamond simulants, puts any of our LP pieces at a very good price point. That being said, I do not suggest doing an LP ring for your engagement or wedding band. Although the metal is more durable and much more tarnish and scratch resistant than plain sterling silver, it’s not recommended for the everyday or heavy use that an engagement or wedding band gets put through. For the price though, it makes for fun cocktail jewelry!

14 & 18K Gold


Gwyneth

The standard for most engagement rings is going to be 14 or even 18K gold. While white gold has dominated the sales market for quite some time, we are seeing resurgence in yellow gold. The alloy of choice for Diamond Nexus’ 14 and 18K white gold pieces is palladium, making it more accessible and easy to wear for people who may suffer nickel allergies. Myself being one of those people, it is such a nice thing to have available as the standard!!

White gold does have some maintenance involved with its upkeep. The main one being rhodium plating. Rhodium is a metal within the platinum family and is used to plate pieces that are made with the intention of being white gold. This plating is what gives white gold it’s whitish hue, because all white gold is yellow gold underneath. Typically, most people find that this plating needs to be done once a year. There are some cases where it needs to be done more regularly, depending on the PH levels and oils found in the individuals skin.

Yellow gold is an even better option for those with metal allergies and doesn’t need to have the added maintenance of rhodium plating, but does still need to be treated with care. Gold, regardless of the color, is still a precious, malleable metal and should be treated as such. 14 or 18K is a great metal choice for any piece and because Diamond Nexus can save you so much money with our economical man made stones, you can still afford a quality setting like gold. Even with gold prices soaring, we have something for everyone’s budget!

Palladium

Although this metal has been used in jewelry since 1939, it’s seems to finally becoming more recognized in the last few years. Palladium is within the platinum family, but has a lower density and therefore is much lighter weight. It has a weight very comparable to 14K gold. Where it differs from white gold is that palladium is a metal that is naturally white. Because of this, there isn’t the rhodium plating maintenance that you encounter with white gold and it will keep its brilliant hue for life!

Since palladium gets its color and luster from nature, it is fantastic for people with metal allergies. Palladium can be cleaned like gold or any other fine metal.

Palladium is also found and mined, among other countries, here in North America. The only state where it is extracted is in Montana. By doing the mining here in the states, stricter codes and regulations are placed on the practices and initiatives carried out.

Platinum

Regarded as the most rare and precious metal, platinum is also going to cost you the most money. Once again, Diamond Nexus is there to help aid in the cost with our incredibly affordable man made diamond simulants to help cut down on your overall expense. The Cadillac of metals has finally been made attainable thanks to Diamond Nexus!

As I stated previously, platinum and palladium are in the same metal family. Platinum, like palladium is naturally white and will not need any type of maintenance to maintain its color like white gold. Platinum is, however, much more dense than palladium and is a whopping 60% heavier than white gold!

It is a very strong metal and I suggest to people whenever it’s possible, to have the peg head that holds in your center stone, be done in platinum for added security.

Platinum, being a rare and precious metal should also be treated with care. Even though it is incredibly strong, like all precious metals, it can scratch. Where platinum differs from other metals is that virtually no metal is lost when it scratches and is merely displaced on the pieces surface. Overtime, the metal will take on a natural patina or matte luster and would require buffing or polishing for those who don’t prefer this look.

No matter what metal you decide is right for you, anything you choose with Diamond Nexus is going to be much more cost effective than any of our competitors. For any of the pricing on metal upgrades beyond our 14K stock items, it is best to contact either of our retail locations or any of our Customer Service Representatives.

What’s In A Name? Part 4

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer London) — Tue, 08 May 2012 15:56:00 +0000

By the Green Queen

This week on “What’s In A Name?”, we’ll take a look at the names of some of Diamond Nexus’men’s jewelry.

First up: Sinclair.


Sinclair Men's Ring

This band was a huge hit with the guys in the office right from the start. It’s dashing and manly, but with a touch of the romantic. It made me think of Errol Flynn. But “Errol” is a bit of an awkward name on its own, and “Flynn” seemed more rugged than sophisticated. So I thought of the character Neville Sinclair from the movie The Rocketeer, who was a fictional re-imagining of the real Errol Flynn. (Stunningly acted by Timothy Dalton, by the way. You can’t blame Jennifer Connelly for falling for the bad guy when he’s played by Timothy Dalton.)

A somewhat similar piece is the Reese men’s ring, also with three stones in a segmented design.


Reese Men's Ring

This ring looked very mechanical or industrial to me. So…what’s more mechanical than a cyborg? And what’s more industrial than a factory? So I put the two together and…that’s right, I started thinking of the Terminatormovies. Specifically, the heroic Kyle Reese from the first one. “Reese” seemed a bit more unusual of a name than “Kyle,” and people in the movie usually called the character by his last name rather than his first name anyway, so I decided to go with “Reese.”


Konrad Men's Ring

Last but not least for this week…Konrad

The high-polish groove down the center of this band reminded me of a shining, meandering river. I thought of stories that involved a long voyage on a river and came up with Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad. I considered naming the ring after one of the characters from the novel, like Kurtz, but that name seemed a bit…well, curt.

curt (kûrt) adj.curt·er, curt·est

1. Rudely brief or abrupt, as in speech or manner. See Synonyms at gruff.

2. Using few words; terse.

3. Having been shortened.

Besides, I never really liked the character of Kurtz very much. So I decided that “Conrad” would do. But as a subtle nod to the character as well as the original Polish spelling of the author’s name, I changed the first letter to a “K.”

Diamond Nexus Cinco De Mayo Party

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer London) — Mon, 07 May 2012 15:01:00 +0000

It's Mother's Day~ Serve up something good!

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer London) — Fri, 04 May 2012 03:20:00 +0000

On May 13th, mothers all over will be getting treated to home cooked breakfast, possibly in bed and carried in by some adorable little munchkins who tried very hard to butter toast and scramble eggs. Dad might help the kids make pancakes, fresh fruit and french toast. But of course, the food is not what makes her day. It is the efforts put forth by the ones she loves that truly makes her holiday so special.

For all of the dads out there with small children who are looking for ideas on how to impress for Mother's Day, think about keeping things simple. Here are a few great ideas that will show her how much you all appreciate her.

1. Prep the kids the night before by telling them that you will be getting them up to make a surprise breakfast for their mom. Right after you do that, make sure that you have the groceries that will be needed to make your grand and delicious breakfast.

2. Very sweetly, hint to the one you will be surprising, and let her know that she should not jump out of bed early the next day. No matter who you are treating, whether it is a mother, aunt, grandma, or a female family friend, this person will be ecstatic to get some pampering and TLC.

3. Wake the kids up, cook breakfast and make sure not to stress if things aren't perfect. Have fun, this is all about the act of cooking and the magic moment when the kids walk into her room with the food that shows their love and appreciation for a mother or mothering figure in their lives.

4. Bring a camera. The moment the kids wake her up and catch her by surprise, snap! Grab the moment with your camera. Kids grow up so quickly, in all honesty, so these precious moments are what really need to be savored.

Some mothers will be taken out for breakfast, usually by children who are too old to offer home cooked breakfast. These grown children might be looking for some great ideas this Mother's Day to show mom how much they love her, and that yes in fact they did remember in plenty of time to get reservations at her favorite restaurant.

So, to make her day memorable when you have grown out of the cute little kid phase, follow these tips and you will be guaranteed to have an amazing Mother's Day with the woman who is near and dear to your heart.

1. Choose a restaurant that requires reservations and make them early!

2. Make sure that the food being served will please everyone in your group. Don't just jump at a brunch special, but choose a place that also offers excellent lunch specials as well. As a mother, I will confess that sometimes it is nice to have something unconventional. So surprise her, but make sure that she has options.

3. Take your time. Go out, eat slowly and talk. Give her your undivided attention, turn off your phone and make this day all about her. Fill her in on your life, listen to what she has been doing as well. Let yourself forget about all of the things that you might be needing to get done later. Give your undivided attention to the woman who devoted her time and life into raising you and loving you unconditionally.

4. Last but not least, tell her what she has meant to you. Remind her of some of the moments that impacted you, moved you, and always stay with you, from the time that you were young. Maybe you can recall a moment when you were young, making breakfast for her, and can still remember the look of happiness on her face when you entered the room, with a tray of burned toast and half spilled orange juice teetering on a tray. The efforts you had given, for her happiness, were all that she cared about. Those moments in life are so beautiful. Have a wonderful Mother's Day with the one that you love.

Vote for the next Miss USA

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer London) — Fri, 04 May 2012 01:47:00 +0000

Voting for the Miss USA contestant that you pick to win began on May 1, 2012. Fans can place votes online at http://www.missuniverse.com/missusa/members/contestants . Voting is allowed up to 10 times a day. Make sure to get all those votes completed because voting ends 24 hours before the live telecast. What makes this interactive contest so much fun is that the contestant with the most votes will automatically advance to the semi-finals!

So make your pick to win and tune in on June 3rd to view the 2012 Miss USA competition live from Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas! Diamond Nexus will be there as well, cheering on the next wearer of the crown designed by Diamond Nexus.


Alyssa Campanella Miss USA 2011

An Earthy Engagement Ring

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer London) — Thu, 03 May 2012 20:47:00 +0000

Zeina Engagement Ring

The Zeina is part of our latest collection of designer rings. What makes this affordable engagement ring so sweet are the lovely vines wrapping around the band to combine it's natural elements. Eco-friendly engagement rings that also call to nature lovers are growing in popularity. It is the best of both worlds, to have a conflict free engagement ring that also represents one's love for the outdoors.

Now, fashionable is also inexpensive with the Intersecting Hearts Collection of designer engagement rings, created by Michael Nashef and just for Diamond Nexus!

What’s In A Name? Part 3

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer London) — Tue, 01 May 2012 21:10:00 +0000

By the Green Queen

In the first installment of “What’s In A Name?”, I mentioned how the Diamond Nexus jewelry pieces named for ‘80s pop songs were all named before I began working here. However, there are a couple pieces that I did name after songs.

Like the Copacabana.


Copacabana Necklace

Originally, this gorgeous pearl and Diamond Nexus necklace was called “Lola” because the Y-shape drop made me think of the line “…and a dress cut down to there…” from the song “Copacabana.” (Note that this was for an older prototype of the necklace, which had a much longer drop. The final version is shorter and doesn’t…*ahem*…run into problem areas with its length.) However, shortly before the necklace’s online debut, I remembered that we already had a “Lola” – the Lola engagement ring. (Remember, there are almost 700 uniquely named items on our website. Sometimes I forget a couple.) Since we had to change the name in a rush, I changed it to the title of the song that I’d had stuck in my head when I named it the first time: “Copacabana.”

Speaking of songs stuck in my head…there’s the Black Magic.


Black Magic Engagement Ring

We have another ring called Fever, which was named before I started working here. Every time I see that ring, I get the song “Fever” by Peggy Lee stuck in my head.

When I saw this new ring with a halo around a Princess cut stone, it reminded me of the design of the “Fever” ring. So I decided to name it after the other jazz love song that always gets stuck in my head: “That Old Black Magic.”

Some references are a little bit more subtle, though. Such as Belleville.

This stackable set includes three rings that can be worn together as one for a modern, youthful look. I started playing around the idea of “three” with this one: trios, triads, triplets, etc. It was when I thought of “triplets” that I then thought of the 2003 film The Triplets of Belleville, which I adore, and which happens to have a really kicking jazz number by the same name. This stackable set became a little nod to that.

But inspiration doesn’t only come from jazz music. Take the Elise.


Elise Engagement Ring

When I saw this ring, I knew I wanted a really romantic name for it. Between the millgraine detailing and draped look of the band, it reminded me of 18^thcentury European grandeur. I imagined a glorious ballroom, like the ones sometimes used by wealthy music patrons to hold private concerts. This got me thinking about Beethoven in particular, which then made me think of the song “Für Elise.” I’ve always wondered who Elise was and why Beethoven wrote such a lovely song for her. (There are many theories on this subject, but no conclusive answer.) Since this song was written during the Romantic Era, it seemed even more appropriate for the name of the ring.

It's Not Easy Being Green~ Unless it's at Diamond Nexus

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer London) — Tue, 01 May 2012 21:08:00 +0000


Miss Piggy and Kermit the Frog

Diamond Nexus has been making eco-friendly engagement rings for almost a decade. We create our stones in clean facilities using environmentally friendly processes. We avoid using dangerous chemicals, and all excess material from production is melted down and reused.

With the growing interest in conflict free jewelry, Diamond Nexus customers can purchase affordable jewelry that has been produced without harming the earth or human life. It feels good to choose to wear products that have been produced in healthy and happy environments. We make sure our lab technicians are treated very good!

Our stones are guaranteed for life, not to chip, break, crack or discolor. Customers can treat them just like mined diamonds. The difference comes down to only the chemistry being different. But as everyone knows, it's not about the chemistry of the stone, but the chemistry of the couple that truly matters.

For celebrity couples that have that amazing chemistry like Miss Piggy and Kermit do, it's not what you wear but how you wear it. If she were shopping for jewelry, we are sure that she would opt for lab created stones~ As any woman can testify, more is always better! With Diamond Nexus, everyone can have their dream jewelry at a fraction of the price of mined diamonds.

There is only one gift you should accept on your first date – diamonds. ~Miss Piggy

Great Gifts Under $500

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer London) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 19:47:00 +0000

Diamond Nexus offers gifts for all price ranges, and if you are looking for the perfect gift for under $500 then here are some excellent ideas~


In the Mood Hoop Earrings

The In the Mood earrings sell for only $415 and are available in 14k White or Yellow Gold. Each earring has 8 round brilliant man made diamond simulant accent stones for lots of pizzazz!


Mimza Earrings

The Mimza earrings are part of the Diamond Nexus Black and White collection. These refined yet spunky earrings are only $345, are made in our affordable lorian platinum and feature a total of .76cts in each earring, for a dazzling effect for day or evening wear.


Witchcraft Pendant

The sophisticated Witchcraft pendant is set in 14K gold and comes in a variety of carat sizes. The cost of this pendant begins at $445 for the 3.31tcw pendant. For any woman who has it all, this pendant will compliment all jewelry and be a perfect statement pendant to wear every day!

Diamond Nexus offers Facebook fans an exclusive sale!

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer London) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 19:28:00 +0000

Diamond Nexus is excited to be offering a Mother's Day Deal of the Day app on our Facebook page!

There will be a new item released every day for the next 10 days! Check out these amazing prices and hopefully you will find the perfect gift for your mother~ Mother's Day is May 13th so don't delay. Each daily deal is only valid for 24 hours~

How to clean your jewelry from Diamond Nexus

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer London) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 16:06:00 +0000

Jennifer London, Social Media Coordinator from Diamond Nexus is here to offer some helpful tips to keep your jewelry looking great for years~ With proper care and cleaning, your gorgeous man made diamond simulant jewelry will always be the center of everyone's attention!

Royal Anniversary

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer London) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 20:02:00 +0000

By the Green Queen

We all remember the hubbub over the British royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton last year. Some of us couldn’t wait to snap up every last detail of wedding info that we could find, while others couldn’t wait to see it all over and done with. Whichever camp you found yourself in, you couldn’t deny that Royal Wedding Fever had a huge impact on fashion and wedding design.

So now here we are, a year later. How much of the royal influence is still around?

Well for starters, anyone who has walked by a bridal shop in the past year has probably seen one of these:

Once considered old-fashioned, bridal sleeves came back in style with the Duchess of Cambridge’s stunning Alexander McQueen gown. This trend continued to grow throughout the year with the release of the film Breaking Dawn, featuring another retro-style wedding dress with long sleeves. Although long-sleeved bridal gowns are still rarer than strapless alternatives, more people have begun to realize how sophisticated and romantic the long-sleeved look really is.

Then, of course, there’s the ring.

The Lady of Kensington ring, Diamond Nexus’ homage to Princess Diana, was released in 2008 when we first unveiled our lab created rubies, emeralds, and sapphires. Almost exactly three years later, Prince William used his mother’s original engagement ring to propose to Kate Middleton. In the past year and a half since then, the popularity of this gorgeous affordable engagement ring has increased roughly 150%. Really, is anyone surprised? This thing is beautiful, glamorous yet refined, and works equally well as either an engagement ring or a cocktail ring. And every time somebody mentions its name around the office, Meg pops up like a meerkat.


Lady of Kensington? WHERE?!

And then there were…the hats.

That’s right. Just when you thought it was safe, IT’S BACK

I don’t know what it is about hats, but people seem to love trying them on and finding the perfect one. Not just work hats and gardening hats, but pretty hats. There’s an element of playfulness in it, like we’re all six years old and playing dress-up again. At the royal wedding, everyone’s goal was to have the most impressive hat of all. (Princess Beatrice won by a landslide with the biggest “What the--?” accessory we’ve ever seen.) While most of those are far too…ahem…elaborate for daily wear, there does seem to be an increase in “fun” hats on the market. That is, hats that are bigger, floppier, and fancier than necessary, just because we like them that way.

Of course, there are different schools of thought regarding why people wear celebrity fashions. Sometimes people want to emulate the stars they most admire. Other times, people just see the new styles and decide they look interesting; they don’t particularly care about famous associations at all. Whichever your approach, the royal wedding gave fashionistas all kinds of fun new trends to work with, and continues to do so even as the first anniversary approaches.

Justice In Blood Diamond Trial

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer London) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 18:42:00 +0000

By Chris Foley

In the news today is a reminder of the bloody Sierra Leone War – a war that was fought for control of the diamond trade. Warlord Charles Taylor has been convicted by a special United Nations court for his role in atrocities ranging from sexual slavery to mass murder and from using child soldiers to amputation of limbs.

USA Today Article

Although the war ended a decade ago, its effects are far-reaching and devastating.

The Revolutionary United Front funded the war and all of its atrocities by the theft and sale of the country’s diamond resources. For that reason, the term “Conflict Diamond” or “Blood Diamond” came into common parlance. A Blood Diamond is any diamond that made it into circulation through the hands of warmongers like the ones in the Sierra Leone War.

Since the war ended in 2002, there are many who think they never have to worry about getting a blood diamond. Unfortunately that is not the case – for two reasons.

First, diamonds are unmarked and untraceable. When they go into circulation, there is no way to tell what their place or date or origin might be. Since the DeBeers cartel had a policy of hoarding diamonds to keep the prices high, thousands and thousands of blood diamonds are only now making it to market. They are everywhere – and they are indistinguishable from any other diamond out there. While certain precautions can help, no retailer can guarantee that the stones they are selling did not originate in the Sierra Leone War.

Secondly, Sierra Leone is not the only source of blood diamonds. There are many other hotspots around the globe that saw diamonds used to fund their conflicts – and slavery, theft, and atrocities to get the stones in the first place. Just this week, new information came out linking Zimbabwe and China to the use of diamonds to help their military efforts.

Zimbabwe/China Article

And there are countless other examples. I urge you to take a look at an interview I did with the author of the book Blood Diamonds, Greg Campbell.

That is merely three minutes of the hour I spent with Mr. Campbell – an eyewitness to the brutality of the Sierra Leone War. At this point, we have decided not to put the more horrific parts of his descriptions online, but I urge you to get his book if you have an interest.

Before I started working at Diamond Nexus, I had no idea about the dark side of the diamond world. Nor was I aware that science had made such a perfect alternative available to the public. I love hearing stories about our more affluent customers, who purchase from Diamond Nexus - not because they cannot afford to buy a mined diamond, but because their consciences will not allow them to. The fact that they saved so much money is just icing on the cake.