Test Driven ::: Sparkle Sparkle Everyday Jewelry Cleaner vs Platinum Jewelry Cleaner

All photos by {accordingtoame}

Many of my longer term readers, and those that know me from around the web, know I am a rabid fan of the Sparkle Sparkle Platinum Jewelry Cleaner. It's my favorite product to clean my diamond jewelry with, and I have found absolutely nothing that compares to it. 

Diamonds like grease, and this particular cleaning solution seems to help repel it just a little longer than average. Somehow my rings and earrings just stay cleaner after using it, but without any weird film to keep them cleaner. 

Wednesday Wow ::: Baby Bezel Studs by Brian Gavin Diamonds

All photos by {accordingtoame} 

You may recall from a few weeks prior that I was lusting after a pair of tiny bezel-set diamond studs.  I had been for a long time.

Weekend Update ::: You're blingin' blangin' right I am!

So this month I had aimed to not buy much, spend much, and focus, instead, on saving a set amount and still haven't bought the new coat, which was all I wanted to allow myself to buy for the last two months.

Well, that road was paved with good intentions, but zero actual concrete.

Tech Time ::: Easy-Macro

All photos by {accordingtoame} including my rings and diamond!

So I am a bit of a macro nerd, and after backing the new Easy Macro on Kickstarter, I actually own multiple "macro for smartphone options." This past few days, the weather was amazing (yay for 60 in January!), so I played with the Easy Macro while I was doing some photos for upcoming blog posts. 

Wednesday Wow ::: "Pink Star" Diamond

Back when the news hit about the Pink Star Diamond going up for auction, my interest was immediately piqued. It sold for $83Million, to diamond cutter Isaac Wolf, shattering records on diamond sales. Obviously, this is a completely rare stone, not just in terms of estimated value and rarity, but because of it's incredible size and color.  

Wednesday Wow ::: Kim and Kanye's Engagement Ring

Photo: Via NYDailyNews/JASON LAVERIS, FILMMAGIC

Love them or hate them...or the amount publicity they receive, that ring is AH-MAZING.  

Wednesday Wow! ::: McTeigue & McClelland

Photo: McTeigue & McClelland

I learned of McTeigue & McClelland a few years back when I came upon an image of one of their pieces, I believe, in W Jewels Magazine and was just blown away at the detail and finish.  I have since stalked their website to check out any new additions. 

Weekend Update::: Bling Cleaning

Photo: By me of my rings

Speaking of bling, I get a lot of questions about how to keep rings/jewelry clean.  It's very simple to keep your pieces in great shape, and takes very little product-wise or much time to maintain that showroom glitter.  If you're ever worried that your ring is suddenly not sparkling like it once was, or your studs look duller than before, it's probably time to give them a little TLC.  And what better time to do it than over a weekend?

Wednesday Wow::: Sebastien Barier + Antique Emerald Cut Ring

Photo: Asscher_Girl from Pricescope.com

As a regular over on an online diamond mecca, Pricescope.com, I am often allowed the luxury of some pretty fantastic baubles.  Many feel redundant, however beautiful, as how often will a perfectly cut round brilliant in a solitaire or an antique-style cushion in a micro-pave halo really grab you when you've seen about a hundred almost identical to either before, other than the occasional masterpiece in a pretty astounding size.   How jaded does that sound?

PRODUCT REVIEW: SparkleSparkle cleaner by Nventa.

I have NO idea how I managed not to review this product yet. This is like...crack for me. Many of those poor souls that have the misfortune of having met me at least one time in real life know that my rings DO NOT get so much as a single speck of dust on them before they are again cleaned.  I just like my rings as clean as can be.  Well one of the linchpins of my cleaning regimen is Sparkle Sparkle.  I was turned on to this stuff by a vendor that I will not mention who made my original wedding ring that went awry. This was the only positive out of that experience.  

This stuff...I have no idea why it's so good but it is. I buy the Platinum Jewelry cleaner, obviously having platinum rings. (I linked to the little kit, which is a good thing to start with, just save the little bottle if you love it, and buy the larger one found HERE to refill the little one for travel.) If you have white gold or gold, get the cleaner made for Gold.  I spray it on my rings, let them sit for a few seconds and then use a little baby toothbrush to scrub them, then I rinse with hot water. I then spray again and let it sit for about 30 more seconds (usually while I do the other ring) and then rinse again with hot water. Then I dry meticulously with qtips and paper towels and then a blast of the blowdrier on a cool setting to get the last bits out.  That's on the days where I don't just dunk the baby toothbrush in 91% running alcohol.