Archive for the ‘Rings’ Category

Your New Wedding Rings: Things to Consider

Wednesday, May 8th, 2013

Wedding rings symbolize the union of two people, so it’s not uncommon for both the bride and the groom to work out together what they plan to do for them.  Although many wedding bands are designed as a set, you don’t have to stick with matching bands, though.  Oftentimes, one of the parties will want a showier ring while the other prefers more modest.  In some cases, one of the parties has a profession that requires certain things and certain designs to avoid the ring interfering with job duties.  Whatever your preferences, there are certain steps you’ll take to make the perfect wedding band for you.

Your Metal

The first decision you’ll need to make is to pick what metal you’ll use.  Although gold  is the most common, it’s not the only choice for your wedding band.  You can also buy rings in titanium, silver or platinum. Even in gold, you can chose white or yellow gold.  You can also have more than one metal incorporated into the design.  You truly can customize a ring based on your preference and your budget, so whether you enjoy the color of silver or appreciate its cost, you can get exactly what works for you.

There are, of course, decisions to make within the metal.  14 karat gold is less expensive than 24 carat gold, for example.  Platinum is expensive but very durable.  A quality jeweler will educate you on the subject and help you to make the decisions that will work out in your best interests.

Heirlooms and Antique Jewelry

When you have a family heirloom, you’re fortunate indeed.  However, a great many heirloom pieces are representative of a style different than you might like. A good jeweler should be able to help you adapt an heirloom piece to your particular tastes.  It could be you’ve fallen in love with an antique piece you’ve purchased, and your jeweler should be able to make that piece what you need as well.

In some cases, old jewelry can actually be melted down to provide the metal for a brand new piece.  This can create a unique ring that has special significance for you.  Of course, you’ll want to make sure that you have a skilled jeweler involved who will help you to get the best result.

Where to Shop

There are literally thousands of places to get a wedding band, both online and off.  It’s easy to therefore look for the cheapest or most convenient.  However, a good local jeweler can help you to make your ring exactly what it needs to be for far less than you might imagine.  More importantly, a local jeweler is ready to earn your business for a lifetime, and not just as a lucky result of mall foot traffic.  Your wedding is an important day.  Make sure you give your wedding band the attention it deserves.

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History of the NBA Championship Ring

Thursday, July 28th, 2011

History of the NBA Championship Ring

The NBA was established back in the late 1940s and has consistently grown in popularity whenever there are remarkable teams playing the game or championships being won. The word dynasty is used to describe an era of a team that cannot be compared to any other, and there have been more than one. The Boston Celtics in the 60s, L.A. Lakers in the 80s, and Chicago Bulls in the 90s all stand out as some of the best basketball ever played. All of this hard work was for one important goal, to walk away at the end of the season with a championship ring on their finger. Here is a brief history of important championship rings and who has more than anyone else.

Top 5 NBA Championship Rings

  1. Dallas Mavericks, 2011 – One of the greatest accomplishments in the history of the NBA has yet to be rewarded with a ring full of bling. The ring doesn’t exist yet, but should be on its way. Owner Mark Cuban decided he wanted to try something more creative, but with the backlash of the basketball community and media, he may just give in to popular demand. The Mavericks defeated the completely stacked Miami Heat, giving the Mavs, Jason Kidd, and Dirk Nowitzki their first championship and a chance to redeem themselves from the loss to the Heat in 2006. Now if Mark Cuban will just hurry up and get the guys their rings, the Mavs can be penciled in as one of the greatest stories in basketball history.
  2. Los Angeles Lakers, 2009 – The Lakers’ first back-to-back championship led by the larger than life superstar Kobe Bryant and crew. Kobe hadn’t tasted that sort of victory since his younger days with Shaq supporting underneath. Now Bryant has five rings, and there’s still a chance for more depending on how the team and their new coach work together this year.
  3. San Antonio Spurs, 2007 – The Spurs swept the young Cleveland Cavs and defeated LeBron James who is now infamous for losing in the championship round. Sweeping the finals is enough in itself to qualify the victory as one of the greatest in NBA history, but doing it to a team lead by superstar LeBron James makes it taste even better.
  4. Boston Celtics, 2008 – The team who first introduced “the big three” came through in a big way by bringing home the championship in the first year. Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen dominated in 2008, but we have yet to see the same performance shine through again.
  5. Miami Heat, 2006 – Despite all of the controversy this year with their artificial “big three,” Dwayne Wade made a name for himself in Miami with his first and only championship in 2006. He took the underdog Heat to the finals and saved the big games when he needed to.

Players with the Most Championship Rings

  • Bill Russell (11): Bill Russell stands alone with 11 championship rings, six more than any current player. He won the MVP award five times as a center for the Boston Celtics dynasty team during the 1960s. He earned 11 championships in his 13 years in the NBA and was the centerpiece to the most successful team in basketball history. He also holds the record for most champions won by any single American athlete in any sport.
  • Sam Jones (10): Nicknamed “the shooter” because he was one of the most successful clutch scorers in basketball history, Sam Jones is second only to his teammate Bill Russell in number of championships. If he had joined the NBA a year or two earlier, he would have surely been atop the list with Russell. Russell was the defense and rebounder while Jones was the guy who could win the game in the last second with an amazing shot. The two teammates created the most dynamic duo ever to play in the NBA and no other dynasty has come close to surpassing their accomplishments.
  • Tom Heinsohn (8): The only person to have been involved in an official capacity with the Celtics during all 17 of their championships and 21 NBA finals appearances was a player, coach, and is still a commentator. He played during the 60s dynasty alongside Bill Russell, Sam Jones, and crew.
  • KC Jones (Boston Celtics, 59-67)
  • Satch Sanders (Boston Celtics, 60-73)
  • John Havlicek (Boston Celtics, 62-78) – Havlicek played during the Bill Russell dynasty but also continued on to play on the 1974 and 1976 championship teams. Over 16 years, he became the highest scoring Caucasian player in NBA history.
  • Jim Loscutoff (7, Boston Celtics, 55-64)
  • Frank Ramsey (Boston Celtics, 54-64)
  • Robert Horry: The first player on this list that isn’t related to the Celtics dynasty of the 60s is Robert Horry. He won championships playing for three different teams. Two with the Houston Rockets, three with the Los Angeles Lakers, and two more with the San Antonio Spurs. His nickname “Big Shot Rob” comes from his ability to make the clutch shot in important games.
  • Bob Cousy (6, Boston Celtics, 50-70)
  • Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: The 80s were ruled by the Los Angeles Lakers and the obvious leader was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He started his dominant career with the Bucks but solidified his dynasty in the Lakers.
  • Michael Jordan & Scottie Pippen: The second best dynamic duo in NBA history is easily awarded to the leaders of the Chicago Bulls dynasty; Michael Jordan & Scottie Pippen. Both players acquired six championship rings playing together. The popularity of the NBA skyrocketed when the Bulls showboated into 6 championships in 8 years from 1991-98.
  • George Mikan, Jim Pollard, Slater Martin, Larry Siegfried, Don Nelson, Michael Cooper, Magic Johnson, Dennis Rodman, Ron Harper, Steve Kerr, Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher (5)

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Should You Buy Her a Necklace, Bracelet, or Ring?

Wednesday, March 30th, 2011

Most women love to receive jewelry as a gift, especially when it comes from a significant other, giving the piece special meaning. But certain types of jewelry, and certain gemstones, are more appropriate than others during the different stages of a relationship. Another simple, but very important factor to consider when buying a gift of jewelry for your girlfriend or wife is her own personal style and taste in jewelry.

Rings:

Rings are the trickiest piece of jewelry to buy as a gift for a number of reasons. Ring size is an important factor, because you want to get the size right the first time and give her something she can put on her finger immediately and wear for the rest of the night. The best way to get the correct size is to borrow another ring from her jewelry box and take it with you to the jeweler, but if it’s one that she wears frequently, be sure to return it as soon as possible so that she never knows it’s missing or suspects anything.

If you’re new to the relationship and want to buy your girl a ring, you may not be comfortable with taking a ring from the jewelry box in her bedroom. In this case, it’s better to ask one of her close friends or her sister for advice on the size. Another woman who is close to her will either know her ring size or be able to borrow the right ring for you. If you decide to purchase something in the spur of the moment or simply aren’t prepared with her ring size, make sure you at lease get a band that you think will be slightly too large, as it is easier to size down a ring than to make one bigger.

A final word on rings: be careful about giving a ring that isn’t an engagement ring if you are in a serious relationship. If she’s expecting an engagement ring and doesn’t get one, she may be so disappointed that you would have been better off giving her nothing at all. If you’re in a serious relationship and want to give your girl a gift of jewelry, but aren’t ready to pop the question, steer clear of rings altogether and give her a necklace, bracelet, or even a pair of diamond-studded earrings instead.

Bracelets:

Bracelets are appropriate for any stage of a relationship, but work especially well for new relationships because they seem to carry the least amount of commitment and symbolism. This isn’t to say that you shouldn’t buy bracelets as a gift for someone you’re committed to. In these cases it will depend on the woman, the types of jewelry she likes to wear, and the pieces she already owns.

Women are more likely to buy bracelets for themselves than other types of jewelry, so if she doesn’t own a lot of bracelets, this could be a sign that they’re not her favorite type of jewelry to wear. If you’re not sure, it is always good to ask someone who knows her better than you do. Her girlfriends will think you’re a great guy and be happy to oblige. Also consider what she does for work and in her free time, as a bracelet is the most likely piece of jewelry to get in the way.

Necklaces:

Necklaces are also appropriate for any stage of a relationship, but seem to work best as gifts for the girl that you’ve been with for awhile but aren’t quite ready to make a lifetime commitment to. Whether to buy her a necklace can sometimes be determined by her wardrobe. A woman who wears a lot of low-cut blouses will appreciate a necklace to accentuate her neckline, while one that wears clothing that always covers her chest may appreciate a piece of jewelry that doesn’t draw attention to it.

Necklaces often come with gemstones in the charm, and the type of charm and gemstone is another important factor at each stage of a relationship. For newer relationships, a metal or stone charm is often a good place to start, signaling a lower-level of commitment that won’t scare either one of you. Certain gemstones like diamonds, rubies, and emeralds should be reserved for more serious relationships and special occasions. If your woman loves to accessorize and you’re giving her a casual gift (not for Valentine’s Day or your anniversary), a chunky fashion necklace may please her and suit her style.

Earrings:

Earrings are also safe at any stage of a relationship, so the most important factor will be choosing a style she likes. Studs are generally classier and better suited for special occasions, although this is not always the case when a dangly earring contains beautiful gemstones. As a general rule, if she has short hair or wears her hair pulled back most of the time, she’ll be better suited to dangly earrings than if she has longer hair that will hide the earrings or get tangled up in them.

Gold and Silver:

It’s always important to note whether your woman prefers gold or silver jewelry, as most will almost exclusively wear either one or the other. You don’t want to buy her a gold necklace that she’ll seldom wear because it doesn’t match any of her other pieces. This is especially important when purchasing an engagement ring – the one piece of jewelry she’ll wear every day. However, this is an easy obstacle to overcome, since you can simply observe the jewelry she wears each day or quickly peruse her jewelry box when she’s distracted. You’ll be able to tell right away which type of metal she likes to wear.

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