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Q. What's better: gold, white gold or platinum? And why?

A. Platinum is the best in terms of being the most valuable. Gold is very nice, especially 18kt gold, and looks good against a warm skin tone. White gold is also good if you like the look of platinum but cannot afford platinum or would rather put the money towards larger diamonds or gemstones.

Q. What do the markings on my ring mean? It just says 10k.

A. 10k refers to 10 karat gold, which means that it is 41.7% gold.

Q. What does this one particular ring mean? I've seen this ring from someone. It's shaped as two hands holding a heart and there's a crown on the top of the heart. She told me there's a story behind the ring but I couldn't remember clearly now. It was about some king who lost his favorite woman, so he decided to build this ring or something... Does anyone know about the story?? Thanks.

A. That's called a claddagh ring, and it's a popular Irish ring. There are various origin stories. You can read about it on Wikipedia.

Q. Ring finger size help? I want to get my girlfriend a ring but I don't know her ring size. I don't want her to figure out that I'm getting her a ring. We live long distance so I was wondering if I give a description about her size, can someone tell me or suggest what ring size she is. She is about 5'1" and only 95-98 lbs, pretty skinny. Sorry if this isn't descriptive enough. I appreciate all the help.

A. I would guess that she is anywhere from a size 4 to a size 5, based on her height and weight. The average woman is a size 6 to a size 7. You could ask her friends or family if they know her finger size. If you do guess, you should buy from a place that will allow you to exchange for a different size or is a ring that can be sized easily. The chances of guessing a finger size and getting it exactly right is very tricky unfortunately... everyone is different, and some people have large knuckles, or long slender fingers, or short stubby ones. If it's not a promise ring or an engagement ring, it might be easier for you to buy her earrings or a necklace as a gift.

Q. Which one is more costly? Gold or white gold?

A. They are usually the same price. However, white gold requires periodic rhodium plating in order to keep it looking very white. So over time, the white gold ring could cost a little more in maintenance.

Q. How do I know if I will be able to get my ring sized bigger? We just got my engagement ring and it is about a half a size too small. I totally fell in love with it so I couldn't pass it up. It is a past, present and future diamond setting with about 3 diamonds down each side. The whole back of the ring is solid. What will determine whether I will be able to have them size it up one size? I am so nervous now that I won't be able to and it will have been a waste. Please help me out!

A. I think you should be able to have it sized, but there are a couple of factors that come into play: the type of metal and the ring design. From what you have described, it sounds like a fairly simple ring consisting of a plain band with six to nine diamonds. If it's a gold ring, then most any jeweler can size it for you very easily. You can expect to pay around $20 or more, depending on where you live. If it's another type of metal like platinum, titanium or bronze, you will have to find a specialist who works with that type of material.

Q. How do you clean white gold? I have an engagement ring that is white gold with white diamonds. Over the years it has gotten dirty and appears to be discoloring underneath. Is there any way I can clean it at home or does anyone know of any affordable and effective solutions I can buy?

A. If possible, I would get it professionally cleaned and inspected. Prices vary, and some places might do it for free. A nice jewelry store with an in-house jeweler will offer to clean your ring while you're browsing the showcases. It's a simple process, and it's good to have it done at least once a year just to make sure the diamonds are not loose or chipped. If you don't have time for that, you can try this at home: For gold or platinum diamond jewelry, combine one part ammonia (e.g. Windex) with one part water. Let the jewelry soak overnight. Use a soft toothbrush to clean crevices. Don't forget to plug the drain. Use a drain stopper in the sink if you choose to clean your jewelry in or around the sink. Please note that these are recommendations only, and we are not responsible for what may happen in unusual or unforeseen circumstances.

Q. What does a shared prong diamond ring setting look like?

A. A shared prong setting is one in which two prongs are holding two diamonds, one diamond on either side of the prongs. The diamonds can be any shape (round, princess, cushion, Asscher, etc.). This is a secure setting that allows for less metal and therefore more light to go through the diamonds.

Q. How much does a 2.3 ct. diamond cushion cost?

A. Diamond prices will range depending on color, clarity, certification, etc. There are many factors when pricing a diamond. For example, currently (as of March 18, 2013) a 2.30 ct. D color, IF GIA certified diamond could sell for $65,000 on up. However, a G color, SI1 cushion cut diamond with the same carat weight and GIA certification could sell for $23,000 on up.

Q. Does a solitare diamond look good in a square halo setting?

A. Yes! We can make any shape halo for any shape diamond. We have lots of customers who purchase a princess cut diamond (square shape) but want a more rounded, cushion shaped halo setting. With CAD, we can create the exact diamond halo you desire for your center diamond.

Q. How much does a diamond halo ring cost?

A. deBebians offers halo engagement rings starting from just $890.00 (setting only).

Q. Does 18 kt white gold need rhodium?

A. All white gold is rhodium plated. 18kt white gold is actually 75% yellow gold. All white gold is rhodium plated for that super white look. Rhodium will wear off as it’s just a surface treatment. However, it’s very easy to just send the ring back for us to clean, check any diamonds and re-rhodium.

Q. How long does it take to engrave a ring?

A. Most of our engraving is done here in our office which takes anywhere from 1-2 business days. Our hand engraving can take a few days longer, about 3-4 business days.

Q. How much does a pure titanium ring 8 mm size 12 weigh?

A. Gram weight for titanium rings can vary slightly depending on the thickness of the ring. However, a domed 8mm titanium ring in finger size 12 will weigh approximately 5 grams.

Q. What does a band with five diamonds mean?

A. A five stone diamond ring symbolizes the stages of your relationship including friendship and marriage all the way to the birth of a child. A five stone ring can also be a way to symbolize a five year wedding anniversary. Many couples purchase five stone rings as a wedding ring, a five year wedding anniversary gift or even to celebrate the birth of a child.

Q. When you order an engagement ring how long does it take to receive it?

A. All of our engagement rings are manufactured once your order is placed. This means that we manufacture the ring for you in the metal, finger size, diamond quality, etc., that you purchase. Manufacturing time can vary but typically you will receive the ring anywhere from one to two weeks after your purchase is made.

Q. On which finger does a man wear a signet ring?

A. Of course it’s personal preference but men typically wear a signet ring on either their ring finger or their pinky finger.

Q. Does a bigger table make a round diamond appear bigger?

A. A larger table can make a diamond appear larger. However, it is important to stay within the proper table percentage range to maximize the brilliance and sparkle. The preferred table percentage range for round diamonds is 55% to 65%. This is indicated by the cut grade assigned to the diamond.

Q. Does a double halo cost more than a single halo?

A. This depends on the total carat weight. A double halo may contain more diamonds and can therefore sometimes be more expensive. It really all depends though on the total carat weight, color and clarity.

Q. Does a wedding band fit inside a split shank?

A. A wedding band can be manufactured to fit inside a split shank. It really depends on the style of the split shank ring as well as the style of wedding ring you are seeking. Another option is to have a wedding ring made that can sit flush against one side of the split shank engagement ring.

Q. How long does it take an engagement ring to be sized?

A. The time to size an engagement ring depends on the style of the ring and how much work would be involved. Typically, we can size most engagement rings within a few business days.

Q. How many carats does a 7 inch tennis bracelet have?

A. The length of a tennis bracelet has nothing to do with the total diamond carat weight of a bracelet. We sell tennis bracelets from 2.00 cttw to 9.00 cttw, and all are available in 6.5, 7 and 7.5 inches.

Q. How much does a 1.83 ct. yellow diamond cost?

A. Diamonds with the same carat weight can vary in price based on color and clarity. With yellow diamonds, the intensity of the color can drastically increase the price. Fancy yellow diamonds are graded from faint to fancy deep in terms of color intensity. The price can vary significantly for a 1.83 ct. yellow diamond.

Q. How much does a 2mm eternity pave ring cost?

A. A 2mm eternity pave ring can range in price depending on the metal as well as the quality of diamonds used. Our 2mm pave eternity rings start at $825.00.

Q. How much does a loose 5.5 ct. round diamond cost?

A. A 5.50 ct. round diamond can vary significantly in price depending on the color and clarity.

Q. What does a real black diamond look like?

A. A real black diamond is faceted like a typical diamond. Typically a black diamond is opaque, meaning that light is not able to penetrate it.

Q. How long does it take to buy an engagement ring?

A. Customers spend all different amounts of time when they are purchasing an engagement ring. There really is no right amount of time. Just make sure to spend time doing research and educating yourself on loose diamonds and engagement rings.

Q. Does a halo make a diamond look bigger?

A. Absolutely! A diamond set surrounded by a halo of diamonds or gemstones will appear larger than a just a diamond by itself.

Q. Can you add an eternity band to your wedding ring set and how does that look?

A. An eternity ring is a great ring to add to your wedding ring set. Customers purchase all diamond and diamond and gemstone eternity rings to stack next to their wedding sets.

Q. Does 14 kt white gold need less rhodium than 18 kt white gold?

A. All white gold is rhodium plated. 14kt white gold is a less pure gold (58.5%) as opposed to 18kt white gold (75% gold) so yes, it may require rhodium plating a little less often.

Q. Does a cushion cut diamond work in a halo setting?

A. Absolutely! Cushion cut diamonds are gorgeous in halo settings. The great thing about our halo settings is that we can manufacture the halo in whatever shape you are seeking. For example, we can set a cushion cut diamond into a square halo setting or we can set a cushion cut diamond into a cushion shaped halo engagement ring.

Q. Does a square halo setting need to be modified for a round center stone?

A. No, a round diamond can fit perfectly into a square halo setting. We manufacture each halo setting specifically for each diamond so there is no gap between the diamond and the halo. This is the correct way to manufacture a halo ring so that the diamond and halo are a perfect fit.

Q. Does a bezel halo engagement ring appear larger than a prong halo engagement ring?

A. Not necessarily. A bezel setting hugs the girdle of the diamond (the perimeter of the diamond) so typically bezel set diamonds are set a little lower than prong set diamonds. This doesn’t make a diamond appear any smaller though.

Q. Are F-G diamond stones the good kind?

A. F color diamonds are considered "colorless" and G color diamonds are "near colorless." F-G color diamonds will face up white and show no yellowish body color.

Q. How long does it take to make a custom engagement ring?

A. The length of time to make a custom engagement ring can vary depending on the design and the labor involved. Typically the average time to custom manufacture an engagement ring is about 2 weeks.

Q. How long does it take to set an engagement ring?

A. Setting a center diamond takes only about 2-3 hours. An engagement ring with more diamonds can take anywhere from 1-6 business days with the diamond setter. For example, style # HT5011 has about 200 pave set diamonds. A ring such as this can take upwards of one full week with our diamond setter.

Q. My 5.00 ct. oval diamond does not sparkle (not purchased from deBebians).

A. The sparkle of a diamond depends on many factors. Cut grade is extremely important in determining how much a diamond will sparkle. If a diamond isn’t cut to proper proportions, it may lack sparkle and brilliance.

(Please note: Every loose diamond we sell is personally inspected by our GIA graduate gemologists, who are very picky about the quality of diamonds we allow to be shipped to the customer. We work closely with our customers to understand what they want and make sure all expectations are met.)

Q. What does a ring mean as a gift?

A. Giving a ring as a gift can mean many different things. Some customers present a ring as a promise ring while others propose marriage with a ring.

Q. What does a typical mens platinum wedding band weigh?

A. Platinum ring weights will vary depending on the width, design and/or finger size. Our platinum comfort fit rings are 2mm thick. For approximate measurements, please click here to view ring weight charts.

Q. What does G-H body color grade mean in diamonds?

A. G-H color diamonds are considered "near colorless." True G-H color diamonds will have no yellowish tint or body color.

Q. What does girdle medium faceted (3.5%) mean?

A. The girdle of a diamond is graded from extremely thin to extremely thick. There are eight girdle grades. A girdle can be polished, polished and faceted or not polished. A recommend girdle is anywhere from very thin to slightly thick. The thicker the girdle, the more diamond weight you won’t see face up in terms of the overall mm size of the diamond.

Q. What does PT950 and 18 kt mean on a ring?

A. PT950 means that the ring is platinum 950 — meaning it's 95% platinum, the standard used in fine jewelry. 18kt means a ring is 18kt gold. We sell 18kt rings, platinum rings and platinum & 18kt rings.

Q. What metals does 18kt yellow gold consist of?

A. 18kt yellow gold consists of 75% gold with other alloys, such as nickel, mixed in.

Q. Where does deBebians get its diamonds?

A. At deBebians, we maintain a zero tolerance policy regarding conflict diamonds. We strictly adhere to the mandates of the Kimberley Process and absolutely do not engage in any business concerning conflict or blood diamonds. We work only with reputable diamond suppliers who are public affiliates of the global diamond industry and have fully complied with the Kimberley Process. All of our diamonds are purchased through these legal and legitimate channels and are guaranteed to be conflict free. We are proud members of the global diamond industry, and your purchase of a conflict-free, beautiful diamond is our priority.

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