Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

What We’re Loving Right Now…

Monday, September 26th, 2011
Let’s get ready for fall with this Goldtone watch by Michael Kors!

We all know the gold market is through the roof right now…which is good if you’re planning on selling your old gold, but not so good if you’re planning on buying gold.  Here’s a way to compromise.

With Michael Kors Golden Runway Watch with Glitz, you get the look of a gold watch for only $250!

How to Get your Girlfriend’s Ring Size

Tuesday, September 20th, 2011

When it comes to getting married, the hardest part of the entire process should be finding the perfect person you want to spend the rest of your life with… not buying the ring.  That’s why we’re here. We’ll make your engagement ring shopping experience they best experience you’ll ever have.  Trust us, it will be better than picking out your future tablecloth colors, wedding cake flavors, and centerpiece flowers your girlfriend will ask you do later.  Okay… maybe not the wedding cake flavors, but you get the point.

According to The Knot, approximately 88% of brides think the surprise factor is important when it comes to proposals. If you think your bride is among that 88%, then you’ll be on your own for most of the engagement ring buying process.  But don’t panic!  We’re here to help, and so are her friends.

If you decide to keep the proposal a surprise, we’ll have to get creative in order to find out your girlfriend’s finger size.

Here are our “detective options” to find her finger size:

1.  Ask her mom or best friend

We know you probably already think your girlfriend is the smartest woman in the world… but she may be even smarter than you think!  Most girls have a feeling that their boyfriend is ready to settle down.  In fact, according to The Knot, 64% of brides claimed they knew a proposal was imminent; they just didn’t know exactly when it would happen.  Due to this, your girlfriend may try to help you out by telling her mom or girlfriend her finger size—just in case you happen to ask them for help someday!

2.  Snoop around her jewelry box

It’s never a good idea to snoop around your girlfriend’s belongings, but this time, we’re giving you a green light to check out her jewelry box.  Find a time when she’s not around the house and look for a ring that she usually wears on her left hand.  Then, you can either trace the inner part of the ring on a piece of paper or “borrow” the ring and bring it to Murphy Jewelers where we can size it.  If you choose the latter option, hurry up and put the ring back before she finds it missing!

3.  Have her mom or best friend take her shopping

If she didn’t mention her finger size to her mom or friend, you can still ask them for help.  Have her mom or friend tell her they want to personally buy a ring at Murphy Jewelers and they’re wondering if she could just tag along for moral support.  While they are at our store, get them to have her try on a ring so everyone’s finger gets sized!

4.  As a last resort, buy the average ring size

Usually, when we help a guy buy an engagement ring who has no clue what his girlfriend’s finger size is, we suggest that he buys the average ring size—a size 6.  However, that is based on an average American woman who is 5’4” tall and weighs 140 pounds.  If you think your girlfriend is different than that average, you should describe her to our associates… they’ll have a better educated guess for what her finger size is.  For instance, if she is small-framed with slender fingers and weighs under 120 pounds, her finger will likely range from 4 to 5.  If she has a larger frame and weighs around 150 pound, a good guess is a size 7 to 8.

Celebrating a Birthday in September?

Tuesday, September 6th, 2011

Your birthstone is sapphire!

This gemstone got its name from the Greek word “sapphirus”  meaning blue.   In ancient times, people believed the world was set upon an enormous sapphire, which painted the sky blue with its reflection.

Hot Engagement Ring Trend

Monday, February 28th, 2011

History

Cushion cut diamonds became extremely popular in the 18th & 19th centuries.  At this time, cushion cuts were often referred to as “candlelight diamonds” because of their ability to shine from the low light of a candle and were thus preferred by many diamond cutters.  However, once electricity was invented, the round brilliant cut took its place as the most popular diamond cut.  Today, cushion cuts are making a big comeback with the renewed appreciation for vintage jewelry.

Shape

A cushion cut diamond is commonly referred to as a pillow cut due to its resemblance to an overstuffed pillow.  Its shape is somewhere between a rectangle and an oval, with rounded corners.  The cut of a diamond is perhaps the most important of the 4c’s because it ultimately determines the diamond’s light performance (or “sparkle”).  For instance, when a diamond is cut right, the light is returned to the top of the diamond resulting in a lot of sparkle.  When the diamond is cut too shallow, the light escapes through the bottom.  When a diamond is cut too deep, the light will leak out the sides.

Cushion cut diamonds are also known for having large facets, which bring out more sparkle and brilliance when light is exposed to them.  A facet is generally any flat part of the diamond.


Famous Cushion Cuts



10 Fun Valentine’s Day Facts

Wednesday, February 9th, 2011

1. Valentine’s Day Started with the Romans

There’s many thoughts about how Valentine’s Day originated, but one theory states that Valentine was a priest who served Rome during the 3rd century. During his time, Emperor Claudius II decided that single men were better suited to be soldiers that those with wives and families so he decided to outlaw marriages.  After realizing the injustice of this act, Valentine defied his ruling and continued to secretly perform marriages for young soldiers.  After Valentine’s actions were discovered, he was immediately sent to prison, however, he still continued to believe in love, as he wrote letters to his sweetheart and signed them “From your Valentine”…. sound familiar?

2. It’s not as much of a “hallmark holiday” as you think!

Valentine’s Day is actually the second most popular card-sending holiday, with about 190 million Valentine’s Day cards being exchanged every year.  Christmas is the most popular (2.6 billion cards are sent).

3. If you’re single, you can still mingle

Against popular belief, single ladies have nothing to stress about while trying to find a date for Valentine’s Day.  In fact, there are 119 single men (who were never married, widowed, or divorced) in their 20s for every 100 single women of the same age.

4. “Wearing your heart on your sleeve” is more than just a saying

During the Middle Ages, young men and women used to draw names to see who their Valentine would be.  After they selected, they would pin the name to their sleeve for one week so that everyone would know their heart’s desire.

5. We have a serious sweet tooth

According to the National Confectioners Association, about 8 million candy hearts were made in 2009.

6. People have been exchanging chocolate for a long time

The first Valentine’s Day box of chocolates was introduced by Richard Cadbury in 1868.

7. True love is not as hard to find as you may think

Over 2 million marriages take place in the United States each year… that means there are more than 6,000 marriages everyday!

8. There’s a reason why roses are the most popular flower on Valentine’s Day

It is believed that Venus, the Roman goddess of love, had a fond liking for roses and named them her favorite flower.  To this day, the flower stands for strong romantic feelings and is the most popular request for Valentine’s Day.

9. What’s Cupid got to do with it?

Cupid became associated with Valentine’s Day because he was the son of Venus, the Roman goddess of love.  According to Roman mythology, Cupid was known to cause people to fall in love by shooting them with his magical arrows.  But don’t worry… Cupid didn’t just cause others to fall in love, he also fell in love himself with a maiden named Psyche.

10. “X” marks the kiss

Many believe the ‘X’ symbol became associated with the kiss in medieval times.  People who couldn’t write their names signed in front of a witness with an ‘X.’  The ‘X’ was then kissed to show their sincerity.

Festive Proposal Ideas

Monday, December 20th, 2010

The holiday season is not only the most wonderful time of the year, it’s always one of the best times to get engaged!  In fact, the season makes the perfect setting for your romantic proposal since many of your family & friends are already in town and ready to celebrate.

Here are some festive proposal ideas for the holidays that will surely win her heart:


1.  Hang the Engagement Ring on the Tree

Before she wakes up on Christmas morning, place a ribbon around the ring and hang it from the tree amongst all of the other ornaments so it’s not in plain sight.  After all of the presents have been opened, tell her that you have one more surprise…you can either have her search for the ring on the tree or show it to her yourself.  This is a great idea if she is already expecting the ring for Christmas because she’ll think there are no more presents left…until she finds the shiny ornament!

2.  Send Her on a Holiday Treasure Hunt

When she gets home one day, let her find clues placed all around the house.  Each clue has a small Christmas gift that you were planning to give her, along with a hint to the next hiding spot.  After you’ve led her around the entire home, the final gift should send her to you, where you’ll be waiting on one knee with the sparkling ring! *Want to make it a little sappy? You can say “Will you be my treasure forever?”

3.  Get your Dog to Help

If you have a furry four-legged friend at home, this is the perfect Christmas day proposal idea!  Go to your local pet store and find some festive accessories for your pup (such as antlers or a santa hat).  Then, on Christmas morning, tie the ring to your dog’s collar & send the dog to wake her up…she’ll never forget this Christmas morning!

4.  Use an Advent Calendar

At your home, give her an advent calendar that has a piece of chocolate & a small note with a special memory behind each door.  Place the ring behind the door on December 25th & put “Will you marry me?” on the small note!  This is also a great idea if you are Jewish…simply use this idea for Hanukkah gifts, with the last gift being the ring!

5.  Let Your Words Shine

If you don’t mind the cold temperatures outside, write out “Will you marry me” with Christmas lights.  Leave the lights unplugged until she gets to the spot, then turn them on at just the right moment! *Tip: If it’s too hard to spell the words with lights, consider using roses or christmas ball ornaments!

What To Wear To: Summer Weddings

Wednesday, August 11th, 2010

Be Elegant

Who says the only gold you can wear is your jewelry? Not anymore… This Twelfth Street By Cynthia Vincent dress is the perfect attire for a fancy summer wedding.  With a sweetheart neckline, draped pockets, and silk chiffon material, you only need simple accessories to show it off, which is why we chose the classic Marco Bicego Jaipur Collection.

This Joan Ruffle Dress by Amanda Uprichard is the perfect choice for a bohemian chic look.  Since its summer, try to embrace the vibrant colors of the season (such as the lavender dress color seen here) and transfer the colors over to your jewelry! We love how the John Hardy ‘Rose De France’ gems blend perfectly with the color of the dress.

Be Budget Friendly…

Going to weddings can get expensive.  After you’ve bought a gift for the bridal shower, wedding, and possibly a hotel room for an out-of-town ceremony, you don’t have much money to spend on your yourself.  Therefore, you have to get creative in order to put together a budget friendly look that looks fabulous.  We love this LA Made Gwenyth Surplice Dress that compliments Pandora’s White Disk Collection perfectly…but, the best part is that everything featured is under $100!

Happy Birthday To You!

Friday, July 16th, 2010

Are you celebrating a birthday in July?  If so, your birthstone is the ruby, which you share along with Tom Hanks, Ringo Starr, Peggy Fleming, and Arnold Schwarzenegger… (not to shabby, huh?)

What Exactly is a Ruby?

The gemstone ruby is a pink to blood-red stone that is a variety of the mineral corundum (aluminum oxide).  All other gem-quality corundum minerals are called sapphires. However, the presence of the oxide, responsible for the red hue, is what makes a corundum gem a ruby. In fact, the trace element of oxide is the only thing that distinguishes a ruby from a sapphire.

10 Interesting Facts about Rubies:

#1:

The ruby is considered one of the four precious stones, along with the sapphire, emerald, and diamond.

#2:

Like many other gemstones, the ruby is said to have magical powers. One way royalty used the power was as a warning signal. The gemstone was thought to grow darker when danger was approaching and return to its original color once the threat passed.

#3:

It has been said that the Ruby’s red glow comes from an internal flame that is impossible to extinguish, making a gift of this gem symbolic of eternal love. This may be why the gemstone is traditionally given as a 40th anniversay present.

#4:

The ruby is one of the most durable gemstones, surpassed in hardness only by diamonds.

#5:

The name “ruby” comes from the Latin word ‘ruber,’ which means red.

#6:

Rubies, when given as a gift, are a symbol of devotion, integrity and success but it can also be seen as a symbol of power. As an engagement ring, a ruby is known to represent eternal love. Some famous ruby engagement rings include Sarah Ferguson, who along with Princess Diana’s sapphire ring, ignited a trend towards using precious gemstones in engagement rings.

#7:

The ruby has long been associated with kings and godlike figures. In the ancient Sanskrit language, the ruby is called ratnaraj, translated as “king of gemstones.” Ancient Hindus believe that the ruby is the “Lord of all Gems.”  In fact, a King of Burma once claimed all rubies over six carats for his own keeping, which entitled him to the nickname “Lord of Rubies.”

#8:

In ancient times, it was thought that the wearer of a ruby was blessed with health, wealth and outstanding success in all affairs of the heart – both physically and metaphorically.

#9:

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History has received one of the world’s largest and finest ruby gemstones. The spectacular 23.1-carat Burmese ruby, set in a platinum ring with diamonds, was donated by businessman and philanthropist Peter Buck in memory of his wife Carmen Lúcia. (Check it out)

#10:

A strong belief in Indian culture is that an offering of rubies to the god Krishna would enable you to be reborn either as an emperor or king, a decision based on the size of the ruby.

She Said Yes!

Monday, July 12th, 2010

Congratulations to Tamara Rogers & Matt Tirpak on their recent engagement!  Matt surprised Tamara with a beautiful ring from Murphy Jewelers while taking her on a hot air balloon ride at sunrise…What an awesome way to propose!

We wish them a lifetime of happiness!!


The Best Summer Watch

Saturday, July 10th, 2010