Friday, September 6, 2013

A Comparison of Diamond and Moissanite Engagement Rings

A Comparison of Diamond and Moissanite Engagement Rings For a very long time now, couples have been searching for an elegant and suitable replacement for diamond engagement rings. Recently, moissanite has emerged as a growing trend in the engagement ring market because it looks as brilliant and gorgeous as diamonds at a fraction of the cost. Also, unlike cubic zirconia and other knockoff diamonds, moissanite isn’t a cheap copy of real diamonds but an elegant gemstone. This major difference between moissanite and other diamond substitutes for engagement rings has led to a huge increase in their sales as the price of diamonds has become unreachable for many younger couples.

What is Moissanite?

Discovered in 1893, moissanite is a natural mineral that was found while Henri Moissan was examining samples of rocks found in the crater of a meteor in Canyon Diablo, Arizona. At first glance, Henri assumed that he has discovered a vein of diamonds that were either created by the meteor or incidentally were uncovered by the impact. However, upon closer examination in 1904, he realized that the beautiful crystals he had uncovered were made of silicon carbide; which doesn’t exist or form naturally on earth and is incredibly rare to find. Because the mineral was so rare, thus making it precious, there was a race to create a synthetic version of the moissanite in laboratories by scientists. In 1998, moissanite was first used in retail jewelry and introduced to the marketplace with a remarkably warm welcome. Since its release, it has steadily gained popularity as a valuable and quality gemstone that fits nicely into the fine jewelry market.

Benefits of Moissanite vs. Diamonds

Though most people would rank the lower cost of moissanite as its best property, there is actually another feature that makes moissanite a great choice for an engagement ring compared to diamonds. One thing many people don’t know is that moissanite has superior optical properties compared to diamonds; making them sparkler more brilliant and reflect light off of the facets more beautifully.

Drawbacks of Moissanite vs. Diamonds

Obviously, by most people’s standards, diamonds are a superior gem to virtually any other type of stone on earth. Though there are minerals that are more rare than diamonds, such as tanzanite, diamonds continue to hold their place in the market as the most expensive and popular stones. With this prestige comes a certain amount of pride when you show off a good quality diamond perched upon your ring finger.

Furthermore, since moissanite is all lab created, there is something to be said about a mineral that is formed geologically over millions of years by the earth compared to something created in a laboratory in a much shorter time span. Though moissanite is more brilliant and flawless to the eye, there simply is no replacement for the original and beautiful diamond for their engagement ring.

Monday, September 2, 2013

Where to Buy Wedding Sparklers in Colorado

Where to Buy Wedding Sparklers in Colorado With so many weddings each year, it’s easy to see why couples are wondering where to buy wedding sparklers in Colorado. Home to the Rocky Mountains, which offer majestic views and beautiful photo opportunities, Colorado is an obvious wedding destination for anyone looking for natural beauty or who loves the great outdoors. Also, with huge cities like Denver, Colorado Springs, and Boulder, the well over 5 million people who live in the state are getting married in record numbers each year. Areas like Rocky Mountain National Park offer couples the scenic and serene getaway that dream of for their wedding ceremony, but also offer a relaxing and romantic place to stay for their honeymoon.

With so many great venues and high demand in the state’s wedding market, the sales of wedding sparklers have kicked into high gear and are present at nearly 10% of all weddings. However, there are some major reasons that you need to buy quality wedding sparklers instead of generic sparklers that are made for the 4th of July, New Year’s, or another holiday, especially when you are in a dry state like Colorado. Unfortunately, Colorado is stricken with forest fires that decimate entire areas of this beautiful landscape, and many of these fires are caused by human negligence. From campers leaving fires burning at their campsites to people throwing lit cigarettes out their windows, some as small as a poor quality wedding sparkler can quickly create a raging inferno.

Fortunately, there are high quality wedding sparklers available that won’t fall apart as they burn and won’t smolder after you put them out. Until recently, many couples were just buying whatever was cheap or available after the summer sales for the 4th of July were over, but now a more educated population is actually seeking out where to buy wedding sparklers in Colorado that are going to be high quality and safe for their guests to use without incident. There are many good companies selling wedding sparklers online that can ship directly to your doorstep in Colorado, just make sure your take your time and buy from a reputable company that only deals in high quality products and the leftovers from other events.

Another thing to keep in mind when deciding where to buy wedding sparklers in Colorado is that you need to check with your local and state laws before you purchase. As we mentioned before, there can be restrictions on when you can use your wedding sparklers because of dry conditions and the potential for forest fires, so make sure you stay on top of the rules and double check the Colorado fireworks laws at the time of your wedding. You will also need to check with your venue to make sure you can use your sparklers, especially if you’re going to be in the mountains. Many campgrounds and National Parks ban the use of fireworks and sparklers as a safety precaution, so you’ll want to check into that before making your purchase. As long as you do your research and follow all the rules, you should be able to include sparklers into your Colorado wedding experience safely and legally.