Friday 23 December 2016

A Diamond Buying Guide on How to Prioritize the 4Cs

The 4Cs of the diamond are the very basic specifications you have to learn before making your actual purchase. It will affect not just the pricing, but its overall appearance and durability.

Which of these 4C is the most important, which one can you compromise?
Watch this video to learn more!

Enjoy!



- Joy Barcelona


Thursday 15 December 2016

Top 5 proposal ring designs for November 2016


One of the most common questions we often receive is, “What’s the most popular one?” or “What do people normally go for?”. If it’s for food, it'll be a stress-free question. Staffs will  probably recommend you their best-sellers or maybe dish of the day they want to promote. But when it comes to a proposal ring, it’s a very tough question to answer. With thousands of design choices out there, how would you even know where to begin?

To help you with your dilemma, I’ve gathered all the information of orders that we have for the past month and here are the top 5 picks for designs for November 2016.

But before that…. 😀 as mentioned, there are thousands of ring designs out there, but then again, I will be very honest. For the month of November, about 30% of our clients have opted for ring customisation services and created something personal and meaningful to them. 

This is when guys want to put more thought on the proposal ring that their future wife is going to wear in her lifetime. So ladies, give your man a little credit, flaunt your diamond rings! 

Moving on, here are the top 5 picks for the month of November.

  • 6 claw twisted band in rose and white gold

This is an elegant solitaire ring design that gives the ring an overall delicate look. One of the bands is made in rose gold to give it a more feminine charm and at the same time to create a beautiful contrast. This white and rose gold twist band gives a very whimsical charm to your proposal ring.

If your girlfriend is a fan of bling, you can even take it a step further by adding some side diamonds.




  • 6 claw tapered band 



Tied on the second rank are two 6 claw designs. They’re very similar; both of them are classic and sophisticated. If I didn't mention this, you probably haven't noticed, there is a slight difference in the side profile design of these two rings. One of them has a heart shape cut out at the bottom of the prong head, while the other is a triangle hole.

They look alike from top view. They’re tapered towards the main diamond with 6 claws that make the centre piece look more rounded. It’s either you go for a girlish heart or a classic triangle design.


  • 4 claw tapered band 


The next design is another classic 4 claw (4 corner orientation) ring design. This engagement ring design is tapered towards the main diamond as well. On the side profile, the curvature of the prongs stretches to the tip of the diamond, giving it a very organic elegrant feel. This is further complimented by the triangle cathedrals on the side. 

This proposal ring design is one of my all time favourite :)

  • 6  claw knife edge band


Another 6 claw design that has made it to the top 5, is a uniform knife edge band design. Knife edge bands essentially makes the band appear thinner than it actually is. So you can retain the thickness of the gold while keeping the ring pleasing to the eye. My only concern is that some ladies may not find this ring design very comfortable to wear as the edge of the band might protrude more between the fingers. However, I know of some ladies who doesn't mind at all.

  • 4 claw spiral twist ring


The next design is very unique and gorgeous but slightly risky to choose when you’re not buying with your girlfriend. As compared to the rest, this is a wavier design which is really exquisite and stunning. However, it’s very dependent on a girls liking. Some ladies love it, while some may not be a fan of it. If your girl likes the wavy and flowy feel, this is definitely a good option for you. Overall this design gives soft and luminous appearance.

However, these type of wavy designs tends to be harder to match with your wedding band if you plan to stack your proposal ring and wedding band together on the same finger. Wavy designs may cause a gap between both rings, which makes them harder to match than the classic band designs.


So here it is guys! The top 5 designs of November 2016.
If you notice, all 5 of these designs are solitaire rings without side diamonds. Not that we don’t offer side diamonds, it just really so happened that these are the top 5 :)

Let me know if this has been helpful and if you want me to continue with these top monthly designs.
I’ll be more than happy to help you with your diamonds ring search.


Here’s the link to our facebook page for more ring designs.
For classic solitaire ring design:
https://www.facebook.com/pg/JannPaulDiamonds/photos/?tab=album&album_id=206482112717611

For side diamonds setting:
https://www.facebook.com/pg/JannPaulDiamonds/photos/?tab=album&album_id=142693949096428


written by: Joy Barcelona

Add me on facebook: www.facebook.com/jp.joybarcelona

Friday 9 December 2016

What JannPaul Signature Cut Diamonds say about you?

Are you one of the lucky ladies who have a JP Signature Cut Diamond? Or are you one of the confused guys who don’t know which among the Signature series to go for?

Either way, do you believe that the type of diamond you chose could actually tell something about your girlfriend’s personality?

In my experience in the diamond industry, I’ve already encountered a lot of clients who came in alone, with friends, family or as a couple. And because of those circumstances, I became more conscious to some indication on what cut suits what character. If you’re still on your diamond search, you can use this as a guide in choosing the best diamond that complements your girlfriend’s personality. Continue reading and let me know if you agree. 😉



Super Ideal Cut: Simple but Elegant Woman




Classic round shape diamond has been very popular due to its simplicity, brilliance & timeless beauty.


Lady who prefers this diamond is said to be versatile. She’s a bit conservative and is a believer of traditional romance yet modern in her own ways. A woman who likes this cut is said to be very sophisticated and graceful.



Solasfera: Glamorous Bride


Solasfera, despite being round shape diamond, hold its own 
individuality to it.

A lady attracted to this shape is glamorous, confident, and adventerous. She has a very good sense of what she wants and what her goals in life are; but still knows how to have fun and is not afraid to show it.

Wearers of this like it due to the quiet elegance and regal feel it holds.


Brellia:  Fashionable and romantic Lady



Cushion Brellia is the choice of brides who are looking for a diamond with a vintage appeal, but with a modern twist to it. So if you consider yourself to be stylish and lively, this shape is for you! 
This suits ladies who are contemporary and at the same time equally romantic and passionate to everything she does.  She will act as a leader and is very detail oriented.


 Octagon: Modern Chic


If you’re fashionable, modern and self-assured woman, Octagon would suit you best. This cut compliments woman who always stands out in a crowd and who will never back away from the spotlight.

It’s for women who love to be trendsetter, who’s creative, bold and innovative. They like how this shape makes them unique.

They’re said to be strong willed yet the sweetest lady you can come across. 




So which are you among these shapes???? 
Only you can tell!

Whether you're a simple but elegant, glamorous, strong willed or fashionable and romantic girl, one thing is for sure, you deserve no less than the JannPaul Signature Cut!

Do let me know guys, if the one you bought or you have matches your girls character.

Set an appointment with us today to learn more.
Our appointment timings are from Monday to Sunday, 10am to 6pm.



written by: Joy Barcelona

Add us on facebook: www.facebook.com/jp.joybarcelona

Sunday 4 December 2016

Ivy and Aaron's Engagement Ring Story

“Hi Joy! Just wanted to share this with you. It's been a while but I still love the ring so so much. If only this is something that I can purchase once every few months. Haha! We really appreciate your help in the whole ring-searching journey and hopefully I get to go back to JP and pick yet another ring soon 😊” - Ivy 

These are the lines that made me smile after a hectic day at work.

It’s been a year since I met Ivy and Aaron while they’re on their diamond search. 
The problem, same as most of the ladies, is when we see diamonds and designs: we just love them all, don’t we? This made the whole process a tad bit harder to finalize as we want the best of everything for the ring that we’ll be wearing lifetime. 

Ivy and Aaron’s journey was no different, they were torn between which JannPaul Signature Cut to go for and what design suited Ivy best. 

One year down the road, Ivy decided to write her experience in the Dayre app. In her own words.. 
“Here’s a post dedicated to my engagement ring + wedding bands before I forget about our journey to choosing the one!”

Let’s start with the diamond, after visiting different shops, Ivy have shortlisted 2 cuts - both of which are from JannPaul, one was a Super Ideal Cut, the other an Octagon Hearts & Arrows. If it’s only Ivy, I know for sure, Octagon is the one she really likes. But aside from the cut, she was also considering their budget versus the carat that she can get. After much discussion, they decided on the Super Ideal Cut diamond.

Diamond Settled! 😉

If you think that’s all, you got it wrong! The next part is even trickier! What design to go for? Should they get 4 or 6 prongs? Classic or side diamonds? Would a twisted band, crisscross or normal band suite her hand better? Should they go for white, rose, yellow gold or platinum? 

After 4 appointments, Ivy and Aaron shortlisted a few designs. By a few, I meant 3-5 designs. What? We’re ladies! And this is our diamond ring! It’s just so tough to choose one.  

What convinced Ivy was actually my revelation. On all those 4 appointments, I have always kept track of what designs Ivy liked, from the very elaborate split shank halo setting to the very classy tapered band.


On all 4 occasion, there’s this one ring design which always caught Ivy’s attention every single time without a miss. 

  I guess, if you really like something, you may not know it, but somewhere along the way,   you’ll still find yourself going back to the same thing.


A year after the successful proposal, it’s good to reminisce the experience and hear that they are still pleased with their final selection..

Congratulations again Mr. & Mrs. Loke! 

For the full blog of Ivy and Aaron’s journey, you can visit Ivy’s post in the link below..
https://dayre.me/ivyyt/mDGRGfyFwp


Written by: Joy Barcelona

Wednesday 30 November 2016

JannPaul Signature Cuts


Happy Holidays! It's already December and we're moving to the New year!

Still not decided on what diamond cut to go for?
Watch this video to know the basic differences of the 4 JannPaul Signature Cuts 
(Super Ideal, Solasfera, Brellia and Octagon)


It might help you decide or shortlist a few cuts you can consider for your proposal.





So there you go guys...
It's an Octagon for me! :)
I'd love to hear from you guys.. What's your current favorite?
This might help other guys out there in their decision.

Here's some other useful links you can check out, to know more about the JannPaul Signature Cuts

Difference of Super Ideal and Solasfera:

Wednesday 19 October 2016

What is Verragio?

Albert Einstein once said that the definition of insanity was “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”. This is the exact theory that has fueled one of the most well-known engagement ring designers to believe that one should never settle for average.

Verragio is one of the most popular brands of engagement ring designs in the world. With its wide array collection, ranging from contemporary to vintage design, it is of no doubt, a brand that exhibits timeless beauty and elegance. What makes their line very unique is the stunning lacy designs called filigree.

In this blog, I will share with you the 5 popular collections of Verragio.

1) Parisian Collection

This collection accentuates on the 4 customizable wraps on the band, giving a distinctive look to the ring. To add on, it’s one of the budget-friendly collections that Verragio have.
Ranging from around SGD1,500.


2) Venetian Collection

It is Verragio’s tribute to the vintage era focusing on the extremely detailed side profile of the ring. It even allows you to customize the most commonly unnoticed bottom part of the band.

However, one thing to note is, making this wavy design on the bottom band will make it more costly to resize as we would require sending it back to Verragio’s workshop.  




But then again, Verragio is now introducing a more revolutionary way of resizing your ring called “Fit-right Solution”. This will allow you to resize your ring without having the need to cut, alter, reshape and possibly damage your engagement ring on the process. Fit-Right by Verragio is a simple, yet innovative way to solve your ring sizing needs. This new sizing method will now allow you to have your Verragio ring sized down anywhere from 1/2 to 1 1/2 sizes.


3) Couture Collection

I would say, the initial time you look at this, it would be kind of similar to the Venetian collection but actually this line highlights the multi-colored gold band (white & rose) setting. If you want a more dramatic look, I feel like this is definitely the design youwant to shortlist as the intricate detailing of its band sets it apart from the rest of Verragio designs.



4) Insignia Collection

The Insignia collection features fluidity, style and design. It has heavy influence of the signature scrolling design and crown of the Verragio logo. What I personally love about this collection is that, despite its extravagant internal scrolling design, it is made for comfort. Overall, it gives a majestic feel on the ring while keeping the ladies wearing it at ease.



5) Classic Collection

This is the newest line of Verragio which is also one of the most cost effective. It is custom made to showcase French bidding on the interior of each ring that gives it an elegant vintage feel.

What’s more interesting is that, all Verragio settings are individually hand crafted to achieve superior quality in both appearance and feel.




Question: Where can I try and buy this incredible setting?

Verragio’s authorized retailers are carefully selected to carry the Verragio line and represent the quality of the brand name. Each authorized Verragio retailer is dedicated to promoting the Verragio message of quality and luxury. And we’re proud to be the Verragio representative in Asia.

Hope this blog’s helpful to you guys, for more details you can visit Verragio’s website, I’ll provide the link below. Or better yet, if you wanna try out some of their settings, just book up an appointment with us now. See yah!




-written by Joy Barcelona

Thursday 15 September 2016

5 Ways to Start Customizing your Ring

Every lady is exceptionally diverse. We have different preferences and taste when it comes to style or design. A guy proposing ones in his lifetime, would definitely go out of his way to find the most unique yet suitable ring design for his queen.

Searching online for the most unique engagement ring design would most likely lead you to photos with over the top elobrate designs that is often ''extremely unique'', or rather ''too much''.

To give you some idea what I mean by ‘customization’, let me share with you my own top 5 most interesting ideas for customization.

1. Engravings with Milgrain

Cameo is a technique of carving object including gems, jewelries or even vessels that are made way back during 3rd Century BC in Greece. But in ancient times it is mainly used for signet rings.
It orignated from the word ‘Kame’o” a word used in kabbalistic slang to signify a magic square – it’s like a kind of talisman where magical spells were carved.

After sometime, Romans began personalizing rings, shifting from the “fede” which depics 2 hands clasping in agreement to marriage or love into carvings of the couples themselves with the faces or full bodies of each couple.


At present, this term is used loosely to objects even without symbolism.

Since diamond became the centre piece of rings, modern day carving designs are a lot simpler, and work towards the bands instead of signet rings.


Carvings are often accentuated with tiny beads that adorn its borders. These are called milgrain, which literally translates to a thousand of grains. This gives the ring a more vintage feel. 



2. Vines, Twigs and Twirls

It’s been now a trend to hear customers looking for design apart from what is norm. Of course, people want their ring to be totally different from the rest. This is when we suggest an out of the box intertwined bands. From the simple braids like this design.....



to the twig like settings that adds texture to your ring.




If your girlfriend prefers something more diverse, you might consider adding up some smaller diamonds on the sides, making it look like vines elegantly surrounding your main diamond.


3. Disney Inspired Designs

This design looks normal from the top view, with some small detail on the band. But when you observe from the side, you’ll see that this is actually a Little Mermaid inspired ring created with 5 closed seashell shapes!


From the depths of the sea, let’s travel the land with Alladin’s Monkey inspired design. Holding a 30 pointer diamond is “Abu”, one of the popular characters in the Disney Film Alladin. Just be extra careful as he might steal your diamond ;)


Next in line would be the design based on Winnie the Pooh’s wise old Owl. Guarding the Super Ideal Cut diamond, are 2 owls with huge eyes studded with diamonds as well. For the final touch, the main diamond was surrounded by melee diamonds.


Last among our Disney inspired creations would come from the most popular Disney Princess. Yep, you guessed it right, none other than Cinderella’s pumpkin Carriage! But don’t you worry, this ring won’t turn back to scratch after midnight. Your fairy godmother will make sure everything’s perfect before your collection date.



4. Celtic Designs

The Celtic designs originated in 2000 BC to 550 AD. Even though time has advanced and the procedure of making Celtic rings has been developed, what remains prominent is the significance and meanings of the ancient Celtic symbols; the knot is formed from the intersecting lines of three arcs that connect at a pointed end. This knot represents the notion of Trinity (three parts united as one). The symmetrical lines symbolize the balance flow between the three parts. These are the harmonious connections between three related aspects of life, such as body, mind and spirit. In ancient Celtic goddess lore, this knot symbolized the maiden, mother, and wise old woman.

The symbolic representation of Celtic design makes it very interesting. Doesn't it?


5. Slot-In Rings

As a lady, we always wanted everything neat and matched up, and this is similar with our engagement ring and wedding bands. One of the considerations is whether it would be easy to stack or match your engagement ring with your wedding band.

Hence, on top of our unique customized design ideas is the slot ring – solving 2 of your concerns at 1 shot :) There are different design you can play with for the slot ring.




At the bottom shank of your slot rings, you can customize your own symbol, such as an infinity sign or even your own initials!


There you go guys! These are some ideas you can start customizeing your proposal ring.
Where it is a simple or intricate design, there are many ways you can customize your ring to suit your personality. What matters most is the thought and effort you put in to find the perfect proposal ring for your wife-to-be.
Don't worry if you don't know where to start. We will guide you on your ring customization journey!
You can also watch our ring unboxing videos here.

Schedule an appointment with us at,
sales@jannpaul.com
67332925

-Written by Joy Barcelona

Wednesday 31 August 2016

Platinum or White Gold?

Two of the most popular materials in making engagement rings are Gold and Platinum. But what’s really the difference between these two and which is suitable for you?

      1) Composition
Gold is a precious metal used for coinage, jewellery, electronics and other industries since its discovery.  However, because of the softness of pure (24kt) gold, it is usually alloyed with other metals to make it durable for jewellery.

Gold comes in 24kt, 22kt, 18kt, 14kt and so on.. As opposed to Carat (Ct) which refers to the weight of the diamond, Karat (Kt) refers to the purity of the gold.
Let’s say for example an 18kt white gold - it is made by mixing 75% (750 parts per thousand)  gold with 25% (250 parts per thousand) of other metals such as silver and palladium while 18kt yellow gold is made by mixing 75% gold with 25%  other metals such as copper and zinc. So the amount of gold is the same but the alloy is different, and these alloys can modify the gold’s hardness, ductility, color and other properties.

Nickel was commonly used in white gold, however, it is found to cause skin reactions hence, we never use this alloy. For all JannPaul white gold jewelleries, we guarantee that it is hypoallergenic.

Platinum on the other hand is used in jewelry, in almost its pure form (usually as a 90–95% pure platinum and 10-15% alloy). It is frequently mixed with similar metals or non-precious base metals. In general, the higher the percentage of pure platinum, the higher the value of the jewelry will be. In JannPaul, we offer 95% pure Platinum (also known as Pt950).



        2)   Physical Properties
  •          Color
Metals like palladium have a bleaching effect that gives gold a white-ish result depending on the exact formulation. To make the white gold even whiter, rings are rhodium plated.
Platinum, on the other hand, is extremely long wearing and is very white, so it does not need to be rhodium plated like white gold does.
  •         Weight
Platinum is much denser than white gold. Hence, a platinum ring would feel more substantial and luxurious to some. Depending on personal preference, some ladies will still go for the light-weight material for comfortability measures on a daily wear.

       3)    Durability – Hardness & Malleability
The hardness of a substance refers to its resistance to be scratched by another material, while malleability is the ability of metal to be moulded, shaped or bent without breaking.

While it’s true that pure gold is softer than platinum, an 18kt gold alloyed with other metals makes it harder than of a Platinum (Pt 950). So despite being denser, platinum can get scratched a little easier than 18kt gold does. It is however less malleable, which makes it difficult to bend out of shape, gripping the diamond more securely in its place over the course of time.

Moreover, an important thing to note is that scratching platinum does not mean material lost; instead it’s purely metal displacement, developing patina finish over time which gives the ring a more antique look. (So if you’re a fan of vintage designs this is something you can consider).18kt gold ring on the other hand is harder to scratch, but when it does, it’s a tad bit more obvious as the top layer of the gold is lost and it will leave a mark. But don’t worry! We can still restore the ring close to its original appearance after re-polishing and re-plating.

      4)      Long Term Care
While white gold and platinum looks very similar, over time white gold will oxidize and its rhodium plating will wear off and fade to a yellowish tinge. Platinum on the other hand, which is naturally white, will not fade to yellow. Nevertheless, once you re-polish and re-plate the white gold ring, it will look white again.

For more about our after sales services, click here.

An important thing to note is that white gold is more widely used than platinum; hence more jewellers are able to resize and repair this type of jewelry.

      5)       Price
Since platinum used in jewelries are purer, in order to achieve the same design made in 18kt white gold, more material weight of platinum will be required. To add on to that, platinum is trickier to work with, hence labour cost will be more. This results in platinum being significantly more expensive than gold. With all other things being the same, a platinum ring will be approximately twice the price of an 18k white gold ring.

Both Platinum and White Gold are great metals, It will still boil down to your individual preferences and budget.

-written by Joy Barcelona

Friday 12 August 2016

She Deserves One!

Here at the shop it's a daily routine to meet guys looking for diamond rings and seeking to get some advice on customization. One Friday afternoon in January was no different.

That afternoon, having some available slots, we accepted a walk in client looking for a diamond ring and as usual routine, I have done the full 1hr+ diamond education session.

That was where I had the opportunity to assist Sebastien, who had his eyes on a Super Ideal Cut. He wanted to customize his ring's band design to resemble a flower with 2 small butterfly-like designs that are studded with smaller melee diamonds. He shared with me how Rita loved nature so much, hence, he want to give her a flower-like design. 




After everything was settled comes the bigger question..

Me: "When would you need the ring by? Are you looking to propose at any specific date?"

And an unexpected answer was heard..

Sebastien: “No it's actually not for proposal, I'm married for 8 years”

Me: “Oh! So it’s for anniversary is it?”

Sebastien: “Nope.”

Me: “Oh maybe her birthday?”

Sebastien: “Not really."

Feeling confused, I asked again...

Me: “So what's the occasion?”

Sebastien: “No occasion. Just that i havent given her a diamond ring before....
                        And she deserves one...”





And my heart melts...

(Oh well im a girl! Eye roll there. LoL)

It's easy to fall in love, the challenge is to make her fall in love with you all over again every single day.

Salute to all the husbands who go extra mile to surprise their wives even after years of being together. Who said that diamonds should only come before the wedding? Every lady deserves one!

Thanks for choosing JannPaul! 
I wish you guys lots of love, joy and happiness to the many years to come! :)

     Sebastien & Rita

-written by Joy Barcelona

Thursday 28 July 2016

She said yes! ..but the diamond ring is quite loose man

Making the actual purchase is the first step in buying a proposal ring, not the last. After which comes the questions about 'after-sales services'.

One of the many considerations of meticulous buyers nowadays, is how to go about guesstimating the ring size and still be able to resize the ring without further hustle. In JannPaul, we offer 2 times free resizing into bigger or smaller ring size for 18k gold and 1 time for platinum. Furthermore, we would prefer to have your ring re-crafted when the size difference is too big, as altering the original ring would make the band go oval shape.

What's more amazing is that, as white, rose, or yellow gold oxidizes as part of the wear-and-tear process of the band, we offer 2 times free re-polishing and re-plating for gold and 1 time for platinum, which would turn your scratched or oxidized band back to its original glory!

Also, we thought of one of the many little things most ladies appreciate. What do you think of engraving a personal message inside your band, say your special date or maybe your initials? We offer 1 free laser engraving in either standard or cursive font. 

However,  I would recommend that you do it after your proposal for her to try the ring for a couple of days. This is to ensure that the ring size is suitable as further re-sizing of the ring will polish off your engraving.



All this, you can do any time after you made your purchase, no due dates, no deadlines…
Polishing and resizing would typically take 3-4 weeks (still depending on how big the ring size difference is) while engraving can be done in about 2 week time.

In addition, we would recommend for you to visit us at least once a year for us to do a quick prong check of your ring. This is to ensure the security of your diamond. In case that we need to tighten up the claws, we’ll do it free of charge as well.

Please do visit us for the full diamond consultation session, to answer all your inquiries for the biggest event of your life.

To schedule an appointment, you may email us at sales@jannpaul.com or call our office at +65 6733 2925.

Like us on Facebook 
https://www.facebook.com/JannPaulDiamonds
https://www.facebook.com/jp.joybarcelona

- written by Joy Barcelona