HOW TO CLEAN YOUR WEDDING BANDS AND ENGAGEMENT RINGS

Although our rings are designed to be long lasting, resistant to damage, and stay shining and brilliant for a lifetime, there are a few things that you should to do to ensure that they maintain their beauty. If you care for your rings properly, you can not only make them look better in the present, but you can ensure that they keep looking good well into the future. You need to make sure to do it right, though. It is important that you learn how to clean your wedding bands and engagement rings.

First, make sure you know what has gotten onto the ring

It is important to know what is on the ring because that could determine the best way to clean it. For example, if there is oil or some other kind of tough material, it is important to take it to a professional that has experience in dealing with this. You want to make sure that it gets done right so that you don’t damage the ring. If it is normal dirt, then you can probably handle it yourself, but it is best to be sure first.

Next, get some water

If your ring has been soiled by normal substances like common dirt, lipstick and the like, then all you need is some warm water and hand or dishwashing soap. Mix it together and soak your ring in it for about half an hour.

After 30 minutes…

After the time is up, take the ring out and gently brush it with an extra-soft tooth brush. Make sure to be gentle but thorough. Clean in the crevices and around the stone, especially in the setting where dirt tends to be stubborn. Do not use household cleaners like bleach – this is very bad for the ring. Once you are done brushing, run it under warm water. Your ring will be as good as new.

The sentimental value of your wedding band or engagement ring make it one of the most valuable things that you could ever own. It would be shame to not take care of it, and even worse to damage it instead. Follows these tips on how to clean your wedding bands and engagement rings, and keep them looking beautiful for a lifetime.

'til next time,

Bill Warren, Owner/Gemologist

The Gold Mine 828-726-1009

www.hudsongoldmine.com

RING TERMS DEFINED: CONTEMPORARY

Here at The Gold Mine, we are happy to continue the tradition of giving finely-made, breathtakingly-beautiful rings as gifts at many of life’s special occasions. This is a major purchase, though, so we want to make sure that you are as well-informed as possible before you make that selection. Modern-style or contemporary rings are different than their older counterparts, and knowing what the term means will help you make the perfect selection. Let’s cover it in-depth so you know what you are getting in to.

What does contemporary mean?

When dealing with jewelry, something that is contemporary means something that was made in the style of more recent times. This includes everything from material and color to look and feel. While an older ring might be made to fit the ideals of the time, so too does a contemporary ring reflect current values. That is why we are beginning to see new metals, more diverse colors, and different weights becoming popular.

What do they look like?

While a vintage ring might be large and bulky, a modern ring will usually be sleek and light. This is due to a more minimalistic modern style, and our movement away from past aesthetics. Contemporary rings will usually have minimal decoration and a smaller stone at the top; not only that, but metals such as titanium and cobalt are becoming popular instead of traditional silver and gold. What we are beginning to see is a trend toward shiny and sleek rather than large and elegant.

Who wears it best?

A contemporary style ring is best for the person who enjoys making a quiet fashion statement, or one who prefers to be minimalistic. They fit best on the hand of someone who values shine and feel rather in-your-face beauty. Lightweight and stylish, a contemporary ring might go best with a young, trendy couple or with someone doesn’t like to make a lot of noise in a social setting.

Modern or contemporary rings are very different than their old-fashioned counterparts. They differ in nearly every area. That doesn’t mean one is better or worse than the other, it just means that different styles will fit different kinds of people. Now that you know what it means and who it works best on, stop by to see the Gold Mine's vast collection to see if you find the right fit.

'til next time,
Bill Warren, DDJ (Doctor of Dynamic Jewelry) & Owner
The Gold Mine
www.hudsongoldmine.com 
828-726-1009

Tips For Taking Care of Your Engagement Ring

So you’re shopping for an engagement ring. You’re pumped, you’re excited and you’ve potentially decided on a style or on an era that reflects on aspects of your partner’s personality and demeanor. You went to The Gold Mine and found an absolutely flawless engagement ring. You’ve even found the perfect wedding band as well – a handsome gold rope ring. Now what?

Yes, you’ll get to show it off to all your friends and family on social media with the utmost grace and dignity. But here are some things to think about before you purchase your ring to take care of your rings post-purchase so you can enjoy your jewelry for the rest of your married life, worry-free.

Ring Insurance

Whatever the value of your ring is – you should highly consider insuring it so in case it is lost, stolen or damaged, you will be partially or fully covered. Ring insurance can be an extension of your homeowner’s insurance and personal property. As long as you save your receipts and have your rings appraised by a certified gemologist, you can easily have the ring insured along with other expensive and significant items in your home.

It is also important to have the rings appraised every 5 years as the cost of diamonds and precious metals is always fluctuating. This ensures that you know its worth at all times and there are no surprises if you do have to replace a missing ring.

Wearing it Out

If you wear your rings out in public, make it a general rule to never take them off till you’re back at home. This will ensure that you can never lose them down a bathroom sink or leave them somewhere where they can be stolen.

Maintenance

Avoid wearing your rings while you’re using hazardous household products. This will make sure your rings stay in good condition, as exposure to chemicals can damage or corrode it. The same thing goes for wearing then when you’re doing activities that can potentially put the ring in a rough situation.

Finally, have your rings professionally cleaned every once in a while.

Following these steps will help you ensure that you and your partner can enjoy the best of your wedding jewelry for the years to come. If you change your mind or still haven’t found your perfect ring, let us help you. Stop by, take a look at our wedding band and our engagement ring collections, and feel free to contact us with any questions you might have.

'til next time,

Bill Warren, DDJ (Doctor of Dynamic Jewelry) & Owner

The Gold Mine

www.hudsongoldmine.com

828-726-1009

goldman86@bellsouth.net

How To Find A Ring That Suits Your Hand

Everyone’s hand is a little bit different. Fingers can be long, short, thin or wide; they can be spaced close together or far apart. Rings can always be resized for a perfect custom fit, but there are certain ring designs that flatter certain types of fingers, in the same way that certain dress patterns compliment certain figures. If you’re looking for a ring that will perfectly embellish your finger, follow these helpful tips for finding a ring that suits your hand.

Short Fingers

If you have short fingers, your ideal ring should lengthen your hand. Narrow-width bands are the best way to create that elongated shape. Marquise, oval or pear-shaped centers are more elongating than rectangular or square centers.

Long, Slender Fingers

Many different styles of bands and stones will be flattering on long, slender fingers. The engagement ring or wedding band you choose is really dependent on your personality, so find a ring that suits your unique style. Rings with a princess-cut center diamond, are a particularly strong and dynamic choice for people with long, slender fingers.

Wide Fingers

Slender bands may accentuate the width of your fingers, so you may want to avoid them if you have wide fingers. A split-shank band can help to elongate the finger, drawing the eye along the length of the finger rather than focusing on its width.

Knuckles

If you’re trying to draw attention away from your knuckles, a ring is the perfect way to re-shift the visual focus of your hand. Wide bands and ornate centers are a great way to pull the eye along your finger away from your knuckles. Let the ring become the centerpiece of your hand, and all the other features of your finger will fade into the background. 

Finding the most flattering ring for your finger can be a challenge. It’s important that your ring be proportionate and attractive without compromising your personal style. If you’re looking for your dream engagement ring, wedding band, or anniversary ring, you’ll find it in The Gold Mine's wide range of styles and designs.

Stop by soon,

Bill Warren, Owner/Registered Gemologist

The Gold Mine www.hudsongoldmine.com

828-726-1009

3 Misconceptions About Buying Engagement Rings

Marriage is one of the beautiful things in life. Nothing rivals seeing two people in love forever joining together in holy matrimony. But nobody ever said it was easy! Working up the courage to ask is just the beginning. There’s a lot of planning, budgeting, adjusting your original plans when things change and actually managing all of the major issues in the process. Buying an engagement ring is just one of many tasks on your plate. There’s a lot of misinformation out there so we thought we’d clear up 3 misconceptions about buying engagement weddings rings to help you along.

It’s very complicated

Our selection at The Gold Mine is huge. We have many different types of rings and with all types of colors and styles – and it might be overwhelming to first-time buyers. In fact, getting an engagement ring at The Gold Mine is actually easy. All you need to do is talk to your partner, and then talk to one of our friendly sales associates. They will walk you through the process and even make recommendations. Find the right size, pick your favorite color, and voila! At the end of the day, it’s hard to go wrong with any of our beautiful rings.

Custom is too expensive

There are plenty of companies out there that might overcharge for customization, but getting a custom ring is less expensive than you might think. Technology has come a long way and the craft has been honed by experts around the world. You should never go into the process blind, though. Ask our experts for advice. Try on some of our rings to get a feel, and search our collections for something to your liking. Who knows, you might find one that you like and not need the customization after all.

You can’t find good rings at affordable prices

There are many persistent myths in the jewelry world: you need to spend several months’ pay on a ring, you need to buy a ring with a large stone, or that you can’t possibly find a good ring at an affordable price. That’s all false. The right ring for you is not a matter of price but of fit. You need to find the right ring for your partner and not worry about what other people say about spending money.

Buying a ring doesn’t have to be a stressful process. We deal with plenty of couples that are anxious for their big day, but want to find the right ring first. Finding the right engagement ring with one of our friendly staff will help make the whole process a lot easier – feel free to contact us for more information!

www.hudsongoldmine.com

828-726-1009

Should I Wear Yellow & White Gold Together?

Perhaps one of the questions we're most often asked is, "Should I wear yellow gold & white gold or sterling together?"  Let me digress with an answer...over the last 30 years I've been in the jewelry business, I've noticed a change in attitudes about this question.

Years ago, ladies always wore one color or the other and never the two should meet on the same hand!  Yes, when clients walked in..our sales staff always knew that this person was a yellow gold person while the next client might be a silver or white gold only person.

A unique thing started happening over the years and that was the development of "Two Tone" jewelry.  People immediately saw that the two colors could actually compliment each other in a bracelet, ring, necklace or earrings.

Now fast forward to today and we quite often see ladies wearing a yellow gold necklace with a white gold ring...in fact, my wife Angie loves to do just that!  Of course, each and every person has their own "Sense of Style" and whats right for one may not be for another.

All this being said, we've been a highly "White Metal" dominated market for about the last decade.  However, this past year we noticed many coming in our store asking for more yellow gold.  As a matter of fact, we sold more yellow gold this Christmas than all the past 5 years combined!

Personally speaking, I like a balance of both white & yellow colored metals instead of it being completely dominated by one or the other.

How do you feel?  Drop me a line at:  goldman86@bellsouth.net and let me know!

'til next time,

Bill Warren, DDJ (Doctor of Dynamic Jewelry) & Gemologist
www.hudsongoldmine.com
828-726-1009

Don't Miss Our Annual Summer Clearance Sale

Some things like Christmas, Thanksgiving, 4th of July only come around once a year and you certainly wouldn't miss them!  Well don't miss our One Day Only, One Hour Only Summer Clearance Event coming this Saturday!!!

Enjoy 60% Off Regular Price of our jewelry inventory for 60 Minutes on Saturday, July 18th from 1 PM 'til 2 PM..some exclusions apply. Enjoy 60% off savings on diamonds, gold, silver, gemstones & estate jewelry..and when the clock rings at 2 PM..its done..not to be repeated until next year! Don't miss this huge Summer Clearance Jewelry Sale!!

The Gold Mine is featured on "Life In The Carolinas" TV Show

To our surprise, we were recently contacted about appearing on Carl White's "Life In The Carolinas" syndicated TV program that is aired all over NC & SC.  The show features people, places and events going on in the Carolina's!

I have to admit it was a bit nerve racking during filming but also lots of fun as Carl and his staff put everyone here at ease.  He was also very kind to focus not just on us but our town and a charity that is very near and dear to our hearts.

He also showed our son Dillon performing as well as telling a bit of background about our family and our biz...I thought our friends would enjoy seeing this if they missed the original airing of it on TV.  Click on the link below to watch our portion of the show at:

http://hudsongoldmine.com/news-and-events

You just never know what is going to happen in downtown Hudson and this program came as a pleasant surprise to us all.  Let us know your thoughts!

Take Care,

Bill Warren, Registered Gemologist/Owner
The Gold Mine of Hudson
www.hudsongoldmine.com 
email:  goldman86@bellsouth.net

Store Address:  545 Main St. Hudson, NC 28638  Telephone:  828-726-1009

Checking In All The New Goodies From Atlanta!

Well...I'm sitting here tonight after returning from the Southeast's largest jewelry show in Atlanta and I'm looking over all the new pieces we purchased for our clients.  You see, for jewelers...Christmas is beginning right now..yes, I mean right now!  We have to be thinking many months in advance, anticipating what our clients will like and following consumer demand and trends.

It's not always easy to do either...but thanks to our good customers, they're great about letting us know what they like and we do watch purchases like a hawk.  No we're not doing surveilance like the government but we do try to see what trends our client's purchases show us.

Right now one of the hot items we see coming along is the "Rhythm of Love" diamond jewelry which is powered by her heartbeat.  What do I mean by this?  Simple...with every movement made, the diamond in the center of one of these pendants or earrings will vibrate and I'm here to tell you its like nothing you've ever seen!

We've been testing and tracking sales of these "Rhythm of Love" items and so far, you (our clients) have judged them a winner by the way you're purchasing them!  If you really want to get a good look at them..watch this short Youtube video clip and you'll see what I mean  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYb5eYfB-QM

Of course, we also picked up many new items such as a complete new line of men's titanium rings at super prices plus some diamond cocktail rings that will take your breath away!!!  Give us a few days to get all of this checked in and stop by for an early peek...yes, Christmas will be here before you know and your friends at The Gold Mine will be ready to serve you!

Take care,

Bill Warren, DDJ (Doctor of Dynamic Jewelry) & Owner
The Gold Mine
www.hudsongoldmine.com
828-726-1009

P.S. - mark your calendars now...this year marks our 20th Year Anniversary in Business and we've got great things planned for you in October!!

Memories of Mother's Day

Mother's Day is fast approaching on May 12th.  My dear mother has been gone now for a couple of years and I really miss her so.  Thinking back over the years, it was always a happy occasion to visit her over the Mother's Day holiday along with my two sisters, enjoy fellowship and a good meal.

Usually, we gave Mom a lil' something every year although she was just as happy if we just spent time with her.  One year I gave Mom a new Mother's Ring and it always brought me lots of joy to see her wearing it...it was also one of the first things I found after she passed away while going thru her cherished treasure box.

As a jeweler, I often see people who come in to buy their Mom's a present for Mothers Day and of course, fine jewelry does "Capture the Moment" but I also think its even more important to let her know just how much you love her and care.

If you're looking for a great Mother's Day present, I invite you to stop by...our staff will be glad to take lots of time to insure you pick the perfect gift for her.  But even more importantly, I hope you'll take time out of your busy schedule to spend some time with that important lady who brought you into the world!  Looking back, I have great memories of Mother's Day, but oh what I'd give to have one more Mother's Day with my Mom!

Take care,

Bill Warren, DDJ (Doctor of Dynamic Jewelry)
www.hudsongoldmine.com
828-726-1009

How To Keep Your Fine Jewelry Looking New

Perhaps the title of this article is one of the questions I get most!  How do you keep your fine jewelry looking new?  Of course, the answer can be different for every person but here are a few good basic guidelines to go by:

1. Have your jewelry cleaned regularly so dirt & oil doesn't build up on the metal by even more importantly, under the gemstones & diamonds which causes them to look dull & cloudy.  Most jewelry stores offer FREE professional cleaning...The Gold Mine does for sure!
2. Take your jewelry in for a "Spa Treatment" once a year.  What do I mean?  This means having your jewelry professionally buffed which removes scratches and brings it back to a high luster shine.
3. If you have white gold or silver jewelry, you'll need to have it Rhodium finished every so often.  This brings the metal back to a "High White" color instead of a yellowy white which in can turn into over time.  Rhodium finishing is routinely done at the factory to insure a fine white look and also prevents silver from tarnishing.
4. Buy a bottle of jewelry cleaner at most any jewelry store for either silver or gold jewelry to use as a good "At Home Cleaner" which is good in-between jewelry store visits.

So there you have it...a few basics step to keep your jewelry looking "Like New."  If you have any questions or maybe need jewelry maintenance or repair, feel free to call my office at 828-726-1009.

'til next time,

Bill Warren, DDJ (Doctor of Dynamic Jewelry) & Owner

The Gold Mine  

545 Main St. Hudson, NC 28638

www.hudsongoldmine.com 

email:  goldman86@bellsouth.net

The Life of A Jeweler at a Trade Show

So....here I am today in Atlanta, Georgia preparing to go to the southeast's largest jewelry show.  Surprisingly, for "Hotlanta"...its really cold here and I'll be glad to get warmed up at the show.  Some people ask me what its like for a jeweler to go to such a large jewelry show so I'm going to tell you..

First of all, when I go to a major trade show, I keep in mind what my customer's have been asking me  for in the way of jewelry and I also look for emerging trends in the jewelry industry.  Many times, I've been able to spot a hot and upcoming jewelry trend months ahead of my competition simply because I keep abreast of such things at these shows.

Going to a major jewelry show can be a bit overwhelming when you consider there is more jewelry under one roof to look at than going to 100 jewelry stores.  The security at an event like this is just like you think it would be...tight!!  With cameras, security guards, plain clothes detectives everywhere..it would be really hard for theft to happen although I'm sure it probably does.

With hundreds of jewelry vendors to see...the scope of the whole thing is quite amazing.  I simply try to look for things I think my customers will be interested in, visit my best suppliers to see what they're offering and of course we look at what everyone says is going to be hot.

Seminars are also of great importance to me as today,  I plan to go to two different ones.  One is on the four seasons of the jewelry biz and deals greatly with how to market to my customers and the other is on Estate Jewelry buying.  We are considering do even more estate jewelry biz at The Gold Mine so this seminar will help make me even better at it.

By the end of the day, we'll have walked 10 miles or more seeing everything, talking with friends both old & new..but it will all have been worth it.  Its fun but I'm always glad to get back to downtown Hudson.

Tim Call, our store's goldsmith will be trying out lots of new jewelry repair equipment and later on we plan to have some great brazilian food...so thats it..the life of a jeweler going to a major trade show.

'til next time,

Bill Warren, Owner/Registered Gemologist
The Gold Mine of Hudson, NC
www.hudsongoldmine.com
828-726-1009