The Beauty and Brilliance of Hoop Earrings: A Must-Have in Your Jewelry Wardrobe

Silver Hoops: The Epitome of Versatility

Gold Hoops: Timeless Elegance

Diamond Hoops: The Epitome of Luxury

To Conclude

So, let your earrings do the talking and allow the timeless beauty of hoops to weave their magic. With a pair of hoops in your jewelry box, you’re always ready to step out in style.

Hi there! Marci Bailey here.

I love to work with women who are picking out their engagement rings, so I wanted to share my diamond story with you.

When I got engaged to Trey almost 19 years ago, we were fresh out of school at the Gemological Institute of America. I had all this amazing, new knowledge about diamonds, so I wanted a very, very high-quality diamond. It was so important to me that I chose to get a smaller diamond that was colorless and VS1 (Very Slightly Included) in clarity which is very rare. I could have selected a diamond with more color and less clarity to get a larger diamond, but because I was fresh out of school, it was important for me to have a very rare diamond. So that’s what I got. My original engagement ring is a three-stone ring with three princess-cut diamonds. The center diamond is under two carats.

Something I learned from my ring shopping experience and always tell engagement ring shoppers is to think not only about the engagement ring they want but also about the wedding band they will wear with it. Realistically you wear your engagement ring by itself for a very short amount of time. I was not thoughtful in the style of my ring with a band, so I ended up wearing my engagement ring on its own for three years before I found a wedding band I loved.

I approached shopping for my upgrade diamond in a completely different way. Around the time my first daughter was born, it was time to upgrade my ring. At this point, I had spent tons of time around diamonds and helped hundreds of women pick the ring of their dreams. After gaining all of that experience, I completely changed my diamond selection philosophy. Although there is nothing more beautiful than a colorless and flawless diamond, I found that to the naked eye, if a diamond is well cut, I could lower my expectations on color and clarity and still get a phenomenal diamond but in a much larger carat size. While before, my focus was on color and clarity, it really should have been on the cut of the diamond, as this is what affects the light performance of a diamond.

For my upgrade, I chose a triple excellent cut, round brilliant cut diamond. I opted for a round brilliant cut diamond this time because they are cut to exacting standards and scientifically created to have optimal light performance. I went from a colorless diamond in my original ring to an O/P color diamond in my upgrade ring. This is a huge difference in color, but I found it was just as stunning as my original diamond. My new diamond has much more warmth, but because of how well it is cut, it sparkles just as bright as my original diamond. I still opted for a diamond that is high in clarity because I chose a diamond that was drastically more colored. My new diamond is a VSII (Very Slightly Included Two) in clarity which is high on the clarity scale but lower in clarity than my original diamond. These changes in color in clarity created a huge difference in price, so I was able to go from a diamond that was under two carats in size to a diamond that was over five carats in size, and I couldn’t be happier with the decision.

When you start looking at diamonds, you’re going to gather knowledge about diamonds and ideal diamond standards, but I want you to know that the best way to select a diamond is to use your eyes and trust your gut. Every diamond is like a piece of art, every one is different and beautiful in its own way. Your diamond does not need to be colorless and flawless to be beautiful. More color in a diamond gives them a warm glow, and flaws in a diamond make them unique. All that matters is that your diamond is beautiful to you and meets the standards that you are looking for.

I hope my diamond journey gives you confidence when you start your process of looking for either your first ring or your upgrade ring. If you have any diamond questions at all, please reach out, and we will be more than happy to help!

One of our favorite things to do is partner with our MB couples to design one-of-a-kind engagement rings.  From design to completion, our team of jewelry experts and in-house craftsmen will be with you every step of the way on your custom ring journey. 

First, we’ll discuss your vision, design elements you like and dislike, and map out a design. 

Whether you dream of a diamond, sapphire, ruby, or anything else, our team will work with you to hand-pick the perfect gemstone. We have access to diamonds and gemstones in every shape, size, and color. 

Once we have all the details down, we’ll create a digital image of your ring using our computer-aided design system. This will allow you to view your ring design in color and from every angle. 

You’ll review this digital rendering with your jeweler, and we’ll make sure it’s just right. 

Next, our incredible, in-house jewelers will cast your ring, set every stone, and contact you as soon as it’s completed. Once the ring is finished, all you have to do is walk down the aisle. You’ll also enjoy all of our MB Bride Benefits!

If you have any questions about creating a custom engagement ring please don’t hesitate to reach out to us! We’re here to help! 

Let’s chat about choosing the right engagement ring for you.

One of the first things to consider is your setting. If you want something completely unique and one-of-a-kind, you may want to custom design a ring with our jewelers or opt for a vintage engagement ring. If you want to focus your budget on getting the largest diamond possible, you may want to consider a simple setting. If you are active and hard on your hands, you may want to consider a style that protects your diamond, such as a bezel. Alternatively, consider wearing your wedding band in place of your engagement ring when you’re exercising or working. 

Next, think about the diamond you want. When selecting a diamond, consider which of the 4cs is most important to you. 

If you want the largest carat weight possible but need to stay within a budget, you might want to consider a diamond with a lower clarity or more color. If you want a completely colorless diamond, you may want to consider a diamond with a smaller carat weight or a lower clarity grade. 

Grades for color, cut, clarity, and carat weight describe a diamond’s rarity, not its appearance! A diamond with clarity imperfections or hints of color can be just as beautiful as a flawless, colorless diamond. All that matters is that a diamond is beautiful to you! 

When selecting a metal for your engagement ring, you should know that platinum is more durable than white gold, white gold is less expensive than platinum, and yellow gold can make a diamond with more color appear whiter. No matter what metal you choose, if you take care of your ring and maintain it as needed, it will stand the test of time. 

If you opt for a platinum or white gold ring and don’t want a two-tone or mixed-metal look, make sure your wedding band is made of the same metal as your engagement ring. Platinum and white gold wear differently over time. 

When it comes to engagement rings, anything is possible. Not interested in a diamond, no problem! We have gemstones of every shape, size, and color! Have a design in mind? Let us bring it to life. We are here to make your ring dreams come true! 

If you have any questions feel free to reach out. Contact us to find the perfect engagement ring today and if you enjoyed this Gem of Knowledge, make sure to like, subscribe, and leave a comment below.

Hi there! Want a big diamond but need to stay within your budget? Let’s chat about how to maximize your budget to afford the largest carat weight diamond possible.

Before we begin, I want to remind you that diamond grades for color, cut, clarity, and carat weight describe a diamond’s rarity, not its appearance! A diamond with clarity imperfections or hints of color can be just as beautiful as a flawless, colorless diamond. All that matters is that a diamond is beautiful to you!

If you want to buy the largest diamond possible without breaking your budget, opt for a diamond with lower color and clarity grades. Choosing a diamond with lower color or clarity will bring down its price and allow you to focus your budget on carat weight without sacrificing beauty.

Choosing a diamond with more warmth rather than a colorless one is a great way to afford a larger carat weight. My diamond is actually an O/P color! Diamonds with warm tones are beautiful and will still give a bright, white diamond appearance when set in yellow gold.

Selecting a diamond with a lower clarity grade is another way to maximize the diamond carat weight you can afford. SI1 and SI2 inclusions are easy or very easy to see at 10x magnification but may not be obvious at first glance.

If you want the biggest, most beautiful diamond possible, it’s important to invest in cut. This is especially true if you opt for a diamond with lower color or clarity grades. Well-cut diamonds make better use of light and appear more colorless. A diamond’s cut can also make imperfections less noticeable.

If you have any questions about carat weight, diamond grades, or any jewelry questions at all, feel free to reach out. We’re here to help!

Contact us to find the perfect diamond today!

With so many diamond shapes to choose from, it can be tricky to pick just one!

Let’s start with the Brilliant Cuts: round, oval, marquise, pear, radiant, cushion, princess, and heart. Brilliant cut diamonds feature triangular or kite-shaped facets and are known for their dazzling sparkle.

The most classic and popular diamond shape is the beautiful round brilliant. This shape is specifically designed to maximize a diamond’s light performance and sparkle.

Oval-shaped diamonds are similar to round brilliant cut diamonds but have a larger surface area. This can make them appear larger than a round diamond of equal carat weight.

Similar to the oval shape, the elongated shape of a marquise cut diamond lends itself to a larger appearance. This slender shape can also make fingers appear thinner.

Pear shape diamonds can resemble a teardrop and combine the best of round and marquise diamond shapes. They are faceted to deliver optimal sparkle and brilliance like a round brilliant cut and have an elegant point like a marquise.

A radiant-cut diamond is a great option for someone who likes the rectangular outline of an emerald-cut diamond but prefers the sparkle of a brilliant-cut diamond.

The cushion is another brilliant cut with a rectangular outline. Modern-day cushion brilliant-cut diamonds are square or squarish-rectangular shapes with curved sides and either rounded or pointed corners.

Princess cut diamonds are often square but can also be rectangular. They are cut like an upside-down pyramid.

Heart shape diamonds are the most romantic and whimsical of diamond shapes. When selecting one of these brilliant-cut beauties, be sure to keep symmetry in mind.

Next, we have our step-cut diamonds: the emerald and Asscher. Step cut diamonds feature long narrow facets that create beautiful clean lines.

Emerald-cut diamonds are typically rectangular with four long sides and beveled corners.

Asscher cut diamonds are square to octagonal and often found in Art-Deco style jewelry.

Finally, we have antique cuts. At Marcilla Bailey we are big fans of these unique shapes.

A precursor to the round brilliant cut diamond, the old European cut originated in the early 1700s and is perfect for brides who like an antique look.

Another antique shape is the old mine cut. This historic cut has a squarish shape and is a precursor to the modern cushion cut diamond.

These diamond shapes are commonly found in vintage jewelry, but can also be put in modern settings.

Ready to find the perfect diamond? Contact us to get started today!

The 4Cs: Diamond Clarity

Almost all diamonds, except the rarest, have internal and/or external marks or characteristics. External characteristics are called blemishes. Internal characteristics are called inclusions. 

You can think of these characteristics as freckles or birthmarks. Almost all diamonds used in jewelry today have them. 

Inclusions result from the tremendous heat and pressure under which diamonds are formed and help gemologists separate natural diamonds from synthetics. Blemishes are found on the outside of a diamond and often form during the cutting process. 

These characteristics help identify diamonds and make them unique. Just like it’s unlikely for two people to have the same fingerprints, or two snowflakes to be the exact same, it’s just as unlikely that two diamonds have the same clarity characteristics in identical locations. 

The presence of some inclusions does not diminish a diamond’s beauty or durability, and most inclusions require powerful magnification before they are visible. Clarity ratings range from flawless to I3 or included. 

Ready to find the perfect diamond? Contact us to get started today! 

The Four Cs: Diamond Carat Weight

A diamond’s carat weight is exactly that, its weight. Not its size. A 1-carat diamond of the same shape can look completely different in size based on how it’s cut and how it’s carrying its weight. 

Even a small difference in carat weight can mean a big difference in value and price. If two diamonds have the same color, cut, and clarity but one has a higher carat weight than the other, the heavier diamond is much more valuable than the smaller one because it is rarer. For example, a .96 carat diamond and a 1.02-carat diamond can have dramatically different prices despite having similar weights. 

When shopping for a diamond, be careful not to confuse weight with size. For example, when comparing two 1 carat round diamonds, one might look much larger or smaller than the other because they are cut differently and have different proportions. 

A well-cut 1-carat round diamond should measure approximately 6.5 millimeters in diameter. If a diamond is too shallow, it will have a broader diameter, making it appear larger, but also duller. 

The same is true for a 1-carat diamond that is cut too deeply. It will appear smaller when compared to a well-cut 1-carat diamond and will not have the same sparkle as a well-cut diamond. 

Ready to find the perfect diamond? Contact us to get started today!