Most people are fully aware of sizes: their shoe size, their waist measurements, their height, even the clothing size of their significant other.  Unfortunately, most people are utterly clueless when it comes to the question of hteir ring size!

Why do you need to know your ring size?  Having a properly-sized ring ensures that the ring will fit well and reduce the chances of it slipping off your finger, or worse, cutting off your circulation.  Also, knowing how to determine ring size is essential if you are a hopeful groom who wants to pop the question on your unsuspecting bride (there is nothing worse than getting to that crucial, emotional moment where she says “Yes,” and then not being able to jam the ring over her swollen knuckle!).

There are three simple ways to find your correct ring size:

1.  Go to a jeweler and ask.  Most jewelery stores will tell you what your ring size is free of charge; in fact, if you are trying to find out someone else’s ring size (hint hint, husbands!), you can even bring in one of the rings that the receiver wears and the jeweler can base the size on that ring.  Diamonds International has over 125 locations world-wide, and you can waltz right into any of them to instantly find out your ring size.

2.  Mail away for a ring sizer.  ShopDI.com has a quick and easy form that you can fill out online, and within a week or so you’ll receive your very own personal, reusable ring sizer to use on yourself or your loved ones.

3.  If all else fails, you can always find your ring size the Macgyver way - with some string, scissors and a ruler.  Start by cutting a long piece of string, and then wrap it around the finger on which you’ll be wearing the ring.  Mark the point where the string meets, and then measure the length of that stretch with a ruler.  Once you know how long the string is, you have the circumference of your finger, and you can use this handy chart to see how that translates into your ring size.

If you are still uncertain about whether you have the correct ring size, keep a few things in mind:  ShopDI.com has a 30-day return policy, so if it’s not the right size you can send in your ring to be re-sized to the correct fit.  Also, avoid ordering any ring that is titanium or comfort-fit if you think that your ring size is inaccurate, or that it might go up or down in the future - comfort-fit and titanium rings are almost impossible to size once they’ve been cast.

Bright, bold colors are all the rage this season, and there’s no better gemstone to follow this trend than Ammolite. With its rainbow of hues and its earthy look and feel, Ammolite is the perfect stone for fall accessories! Top-grade (AA grade) Ammolite features a full spectrum or rich reds and oranges, deep greens and bright blues that compliment every skin tone, age and personal style.

One of our favorite Ammolite items for fall is this dazzling 14k Gold Ammolite & Diamond Ring; it’s bold colors and modern design will add instant “wow” to any outfit. Another great way to wear Ammolite is with these 14k Gold Ammolite Earrings, whose warm tones will make any eye color pop! A wide variety of stylish, affordable Ammolite jewelry is available at Diamonds International.

14k Gold Ammolite & Diamond Ring

14k Gold Ammolite Earrings

When at work, piling on the gaudy jewelry is up there on the list of “things that make you look unprofessional” (along with wearing too much cologne, bringing really stinky food for lunch and sporting flip-flops with your suit). Savvy pencil-pushers know that the right jewelry can make your outfit, but too much can be, well, too much. Women, you don’t want to look like an extra from Dynasty - your jewelry should give you a polished, sophisticated look. Fellows, the Mr. T look is soooooo last decade, so leave the heavy gold chains at home and opt for a more subdued look.

Women in business want to be taken seriously, and don’t want their accessories to take attention away from their professional strengths. Barbara Walters, Michelle Obama, Carolyn Kepcher, Sarah Palin and Oprah Winfrey have all mastered the concept of adding feminine touches, such as jewelry, to a business suit while still looking respectable and classy. Stud earrings, simple pendants and wide bangles are accessories that these women have adopted as staples in their professional wardrobes.

The Gordon Geckos of the world know that looking like “The Man in Charge” makes clients feel like you are a capable, well-groomed gentleman who takes personal pride in everything to do with his job, including dressing for work. However, too much jewelry on a business man can look vain, boastful or downright cheesy. It’s best to stick with functional basics that add a splash of character to an ordinary suit, like interesting cuff links, a monogrammed money clip or a unique tie-bar.

Whether you’re an entry-level newbie fresh out of grad school or a seasoned, stock-holding CEO, ShopDI.com has the right jewelry to take your office look to the next level.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you probably already know that this past week was Fashion Week in NYC - a time for designers to preview some of the newest trends that they have in store for the upcoming season. This year, we saw a lot of retro-throwback dresses, tailored suits, and eye-poppingly bright colors but the one trend that grabbed us most was the return of the Statement Necklace.

What is a Statement Necklace, you ask? It’s that extra “something” you add to an otherwise “meh” ensemble; a Statement Necklace is what turns a nice dress into an AMZAZING outfit. Acclaimed veteran designers like Anna Sui and Oscar De La Renta used Statement Necklaces at Fashion Week to punch up their new lines, adding a touch of pizazz and glamor that gives an outfit edge.

Choosing and wearing a Statement Necklace is easy, since the only rule to follow is “big and bold”. For a classic look, multiple layered necklaces with colorful gemstones, such as this gorgeous multi-strand freshwater multi-color pearl necklace from ShopDI.com, let you follow the Statement Necklace trend in a very elegant way (and for a tiny price - it’s under $100!). If you’re feeling a little more playful and adventurous, this bold 14k yellow gold citrine & diamond pendant will add a burst of color to an otherwise “blah” getup. These and many more Statement Necklaces are available now at Diamonds International, where you get free shipping all year long!

Multi-Strand Freshwater Cultured Pearl Necklace

14k Gold Citrine & Diamond Pendant

Every year, musicians, actors and various “other” celebrities (think those who are “famous for nothing”, a la Paris Hilton and Lauren Conrad) gather together to celebrate the year’s greatest recording artists at the MTV Video Music Awards. The 2008 show featured appearances by Britney Spears, the Jonas Brothers, Christina Aguilera, Kanye West, Katie Perry, Rihanna, Lil’ Wayne and many more superstars that both presented and performed at the famous award show. Britney proved to everyone watching that she has fully recovered from her recent reputation as an out-of-shape train-wreck, showing off her new svelte figure in a body-hugging, silver sequined number and taking home three MoonMen.

Although the MTV VMA’s are really all about the music, many viewers tune in for a totally different reason: to see what their favorite celebs are wearing on the red carpet! The 2008 VMA’s brought some outrageous outfits into the spotlight, like Solange Knowles’ crazy raincloud-mixed-with-a-jellyfish dress and Pink’s strange red & black striped frock that looked like it was made out of Tim Burton’s bedspread. No matter how crazy the outfits got, one thing was for sure: EVERYONE was accessorizing with diamonds! Thick white gold chains with large diamond pendant, diamond pinky rings, diamond stud earrings and diamond cufflinks were top choices for the gents, while ladies went for everything from diamond bangles, diamond drop earrings, lavish diamond and gemstone cocktail rings, and even diamond hair clips!

So let’s face it - chances are you weren’t invited to the MTV VMA’s, and your Oscar invite is probably lost in the mail too. That doesn’t mean that you can’t steal the red-carpet look for your own special occasions, such as weddings, prom, graduation, and even super-fancy cocktail parties. Adding some celebrity-grade sparkle to your evening wear is easy with the huge selection of diamond jewelry at Diamonds International, where you’ll find everything from cuff links and tie-tacs to cocktail rings and diamond cuffs that will polish off your look and make you feel like the real star of the event. Find it all now, at unbelievable prices, at ShopDI.com.

Parents want what’s best for their children, and when it comes to kids’ jewelry it doesn’t get any better than the Little Treasures Collection from ShopDI.com. Adorable 14k gold earrings with safety backs ensure that your tot won’t lose her treasures in the sandbox, while pint-sized bracelets and necklaces are available in shorter lengths to prevent them from slipping off.

From durable pearls and leather to classic gold ID bracelets, and flashy pendants to trendy earrings, Little Treasures has everything to keep your mini-me looking fabulous for a mini-price!

Some things never go out of style: Anna Wintour’s bob haircut, Coco Chanel’s little black dress, Tom Cruise’s wayfarers. Classic fashions are both timeless and elegant, and can be as effortless as they are glamorous when worn correctly - so when choosing traditional jewelry, your basic baubles should be sophisticated enough to dress up the most luxurious evening wear, but simple enough to add just the right amount of polish to jeans and a t-shirt.

The key to classic jewelry style is to walk the fine line between flashy and practical. Traditional jewelry is meant to compliment, not compete, with your wardrobe; it also needs to be sturdy enough for regular wear, but pretty enough to look special. When it comes to jewelry, there are four traditional pieces that no woman should be without: a tennis bracelet, a pair of diamond studs, a single strand pearl necklace and a simple gold watch. All of these items can be found at incredibly affordable prices at ShopDI.com, in a variety of sizes, colors and shapes to suit any taste and budget!

This 16-inch Freshwater Cultured Pearl Strand Necklace adds a Jackie-O-esque touch of class to any outfit, and at only $99, it’s almost a crime not to snap it right up. Bring some bling to your pretty face with these sparkly 14k Yellow Gold Diamond Stud Earrings, only $350 for .33 ctw! No woman should ever leave the house without a 14k Yellow Gold Diamond S-Link Tennis Bracelet draped around her wrist, boasting a full carat in total diamond weight for under $500. And to finish off the look, a gorgeous solid 14k Yellow Gold Diamond Watch from Geneve, because we wouldn’t want you to be late to all your pressing social engagements, you superstar! All items are available now at Diamonds International.

16-inch Freshwater Cultured Pearl Strand Necklace

14k Gold Diamond Stud Earrings (.33 ctw)

14k Gold Diamond S-Link Tennis Bracelet (1.00 ctw)

Geneve Women's 14k Gold Diamond Watch

I can hear my mom saying it now: “A man needs to spend at LEAST two months’ salary on a diamond engagement ring if he even wants a chance at making you his bride.”

We’ve had this hammered into our heads for years, and most men follow the rule out of pure fear of rejection. But with an economic recession looming, unemployment climbing steadily and inflation running skywards at breakneck speed, can the future grooms of America really afford to part with 16.6% of their yearly income in order to buy an “acceptable” engagement ring? And ladies, if you know that your boyfriend is struggling to pay for your dream ring - could you be happy with an affordable alternative? Or do you need to know that the two-month spending requirement has been met before you call your parents with the good news?

After my husband proposed, it was probably a full 5 minutes later before I actually looked at my hand and noticed the ring itself - and shouted a very unladylike word at a rather high volume. The diamond was huge; I was simultaneously thinking “Wow, he must really love me,” and “Wow, he probably doesn’t have any money left over for a house… or dinner.”

Don’t get me wrong - I appreciated the fact that he spent two months’ salary (possibly more) on my engagement ring. I’ve been exposed to the same advertising messages as the rest of you have, and according to my tv/radio/computer/fashion magazines/mom/hairdresser, the more a man spends on your ring, the more he wants to marry you. Money = Love. Bigger = Better. It’s like an unspoken law. But I would have said “Yes” even if he had given me a LifeSaver candy that he had sucked on until the hole was big enough to cram on my finger. Well, I would have said “Ewwww!… Yes.”

So as a woman, the price of the ring was never a factor in my decision to marry. And uh, I’m no Dr. Phil guys, but I’m pretty sure that if you get shot down by your fiancee-in-waiting because you didn’t spend enough on the ring, then count your lucky stars because you just saved yourself years of misery before the inevitable divorce in which we both know she would take half your assets (that is, if you even had any assets left after Mrs. Moneypenny blew it all on bizarre end tables and accessories for her gaggle of equally bizarre miniature dogs).

Therefor in times like these, when money is tight and it’s only getting tighter, I’m going to have to disagree with DeBeers and say that a man does NOT have to spend 1/6 of his salary on a ring in order to get a “Yes”. Boyfriends, I recommend saving whatever money you can until you can comfortably afford a ring that you think fits her personality as well as your budget - as opposed to a ring that the media machine has spent millions of dollars convincing you that she needs in order to be happy. The truth is, the only thing she needs to be happy is YOU.

The average American salary was $42,028 in the year 2007. This means that the average American man would need to spend $7,004.66 on an engagement ring in order to meet the two-month rule, and thus guarantee himself an acceptance for his proposal. I say that’s nonsense, and that $7k is better put towards a healthy start to the down-payment on your first house (and trust me, you’re going to need a down-payment in our current market). Here are some affordable engagement rings - all under $2,000! - from ShopDI.com that will look AMAZING on her finger without wiping out your life savings.

Stressed out about popping the question? Need a Birthday present for your pre-teen niece? Repenting for “forgetting” about dinner with your girlfriend’s folks? Pondering what to buy for the woman who has been doing your laundry for 20 years and counting (this is hopefully your wife, and not your mom)? Look no further, male friends! The Diamonds International Jewelry Blog is proud to present a new feature, “Ask Dr. Diamond”, that puts the experience of a personal shopper with a specialization in jewelry gift-giving right at your fingertips!

Simply click on the “Ask Dr. Diamond” link on the top-right corner of the site (under Pages), and you can get professional help from a real jewelry expert on what to buy for your wife, mother, girlfriend, or friends. Never sleep in the doghouse again!

For over 1,000 years the people of Asia have been sold on the power of the number eight to bring good fortune. Today, the Eighty-Eight™ blends the magic of that legend with a singular patented diamond. This super-sparkly 8-sided diamond boasts a whopping 88 facets, which is 30 more facets than an ordinary 58-faceted round brilliant diamond.

For fashion-forward brides who want an ultra-brilliant diamond with exceptional fire, but also want a unique, modern look, the Eighty-Eight™ offers that superior brilliance paired with a style that will set her apart from the rest. Diamonds International offers several Eighty-Eight™ diamond engagement rings, along with matching earrings and pendants to complete the look. One of our favorites is this jaw-dropping 18k Gold 3-Stone Diamond Eighty-Eight™ Ring, available at ShopDI.com.

18k Gold 3-Stone Diamond Eighty-Eight™ Ring