Whiteflash Diamonds posterous

 

Dear Whiteflash Sales Team,

 

I actually just got home last night from our trip to Japan, and then had quite a return to work today, so your timing is perfect.

 

I can't thank you enough for all of your help and patience through the process of buying an engagement ring.  Even though I paid more than I've ever paid for anything in my life, I truly feel like I received way more than my money's worth in both service and product.  Rest assured I will recommend you at every opportunity I get.

 

The proposal went well.  On April 24th we climbed Mount Katsuragi in Gose, Japan.  We were setting up a tripod and taking pictures the whole way up.  When we got to the peak we decided to take a commemorative picture.  I set the camera timer, ran around, got on my knee and the camera caught the reaction. The lone Japanese man had no idea what was going on.

 

Oh... she said yes.

 

Thank you SO much again,

Tom

 

Filed under  //   diamond engagement ring   diamond engagement rings   diamond settings   diamond solitaire   diamonds   dimaond   engagement ring   engagement rings   tiffany style settings   whiteflash   whiteflash.com  

 

I’ll confess: I have an online shopping habit. I’ve spent many an evening pouring over the pages of zappos.com while sipping chardonnay. Too many sips, and 4-5 business days later I end up with some really peculiar and definitely impractical shoes delivered right to my front door. This is why I only drink-and-shop in cyber-stores that offer free shipping and have a very relaxed return policy. My husband has the male version of an internet shopping fetish, which drove him to impulse-purchase a new car on EBay a couple years ago. This is not that unusual in and of itself, but the thing that made it interesting was that the car was located several states away from us. This required him to buy two very expensive airplane tickets for us to pick up his great bargain and drive it all the way home. Practical? Not so much. But he gets points for spontaneity.

 

Given this spotty family history, you may be wondering if you should really seek guidance from me about shopping online for an item as significant as a diamond. Here are two reasons to heed my advice: 1. I did extensive research on the topic, in order to make the process a little bit easier for you (I hope), and 2. I haven’t had any chardonnay today…yet. So here are a few tips and resources to help make your diamond buying experience rewarding and safe. If you navigate the web wisely, you will be able to purchase your ideal ring at an excellent price.

 

Be an informed customer
Consider getting a guide book such as The Diamond Ring Buyer’s Guide before you shop. The more you know about the four C’s, the grading scale and certification process, the better equipped you will be to get the best bling for your buck.

 

Comparison Shop
Search various online retailers in order to get an idea of what a fair price for your gem should be. Helpful comparison tools include the "build your ring" and "compare diamond rings" features that most online stores offer. They should give you free quotes (if they don’t, look elsewhere) without any obligation to buy. Many sites allow you to save your comparison rings so that you can consider several options at once.

 

Reputation Matters
Shop with an online jeweler who has an established reputation for good business practice (one way to check on this is to make sure that they have a satisfactory rating with the Better Business Bureau). I recommend Whiteflash.com, which is the largest online retailer of certified diamonds and is consistently rated highly by customers and media publications. Whiteflash, and other highly regarded online jewelers like it, can often offer you prices that are as close to wholesale as you’ll get anywhere. Make sure that whatever company you choose offers at least a money back guarantee. They also must provide you with a GIA loose diamond grading certificate or equivalent for your diamond.

 

More Tips
Click here for more tips on buying a diamond, either online or in person.

Happy Hunting!

Debi

 

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The fun thing about planning a casual wedding is the flexibility. Instead of adhering to formal wedding etiquette, you can create a wedding celebration to your own liking - deleting or including whichever traditional wedding rituals fit your needs. Having so many choices, however, can be a bit overwhelming. If you’d like to plan a casual wedding, but aren’t sure where to start, follow these steps to help reel in your ideas and to begin formulating the wedding of your dreams.

• The Bigger Picture - First, ask yourself: Just how casual do you want your wedding to be? Do you want to wear street clothes and serve a homemade sheet cake or wear a gauzy white sundress and serve cherry pie instead of wedding cake? Run through the details with your fiancé and write down your ideas. Get a good idea of how you want your wedding to feel-both for yourself and for your guests. Casual means different things to different people-so get clear on what it means for the both of you.
• The Guest List - Most (but not all) casual weddings call for a smaller guest list. Inviting fewer people will ensure a less fussy, easy - going atmosphere and save you a lot of stress. Plus, when you have a smaller crowd you can afford to include a few luxurious details that you wouldn’t have otherwise been able to include in your celebration.
• The Venue - Another perk of planning a casual affair is that you won’t have to spend a fortune on your wedding ceremony and reception venue. Choose a location that reflects the "level of casual" you want. For example, if you’re thinking sundresses and flip flops go with an outdoor setting, preferably on or near a beach. Other ideas are: parks, backyards, community center, your favorite restaurant, or a farm.
• The Style - Casual does not have to lack style. If your personal style tends toward bohemian, for example, bring elements of this style into your wedding planning. Go with rich colors and vintage details. Your wedding can still exude elegance without being a formal affair. Make sure that your wedding style matches your diamond engagement ring style.
• The Food - If you’re hosting a smaller crowd, serve a family-style meal. Being able to sit at a table with your loved ones makes the occasion feel more intimate. Another idea is to serve a buffet-style dinner so your guests can help themselves to a simply cooked meal. Place pitchers of water, lemonade, and iced tea along with bottles of wine on a self-serve table as well. Also, set out tubs of ice filled with sodas and beer so that guests can reach for their own refreshments. Your wedding meal can feel more like a potluck dinner or a family gathering than a formal wedding. Just make sure someone is in charge of restocking food and drinks when supplies run low.
• The Details - Instead of spending an arm and a leg on flowers you can go with more casual, less expensive (however still beautiful) varieties such as daisies, sunflowers, or a mix of in-season wild flowers. If you'll only be addressing 50 invitations, get creative and make them by hand. You'll be able to communicate the tone of your casual affair this way to your guests. Be sure to mention what guests should wear to the occasion just so that there is no confusion. For example, you can tell your guests to wear whatever is comfortable and to refrain from wearing heels if you’ll be married on uneven outdoor terrain.

 

Filed under  //   casual wedding   casual wedding tips   diamodn engagement rings   diamond   diamond engagement ring   diamond settings   diamonds   wedding band   wedding bands   wedding tips   whiteflash   whiteflash.com  

 

Although brick-and-mortar diamond retailers are hurting these days online vendors are staying afloat. Stores such as Finlay's, Shane Co, Whitehall and Fortunoff have closed their doors as diamond sales have frozen in the stale economy. Whiteflash, however, has managed to keep consumers' interest with over 60,000 loose diamonds and hundreds of diamond settings. Their internet approach educates potential buyers without the pressure of a salesperson. Plus, Whiteflash keeps their inventory costs low, which they pass along to customers, by only purchasing diamonds once the consumer has made their order. That means a 20-40% reduction in price over other retailers. Incredibly, Whiteflash has even competed with Tiffany's engagement ring sales. It just goes to show, sometimes the better deal is more important than that little blue box.

Filed under  //   diamond   diamond settings   diamonds   diamonds by the yard   diamonds by the yard necklace   loose diamonds   tiffany engagement rings   tiffanys diamonds by the yard   whiteflash   whiteflash.com