What exactly is the GIA? GIA stands for Gemological Institute of America. The GIA exists to protect purchasers of gemstones, by providing the education, laboratory services, research, and instruments needed to accurately and objectively determine gemstone quality. Why is all this important to you? It’s important because when you buy GIA certified diamonds, you know you are getting a quality appraisal and true value of the diamond you’re interested in. I wrote a post some time ago about the 4Cs of diamonds. You can read that article here Diamond Jewelry. The 4Cs were invented by the GIA. Basically the GIA is in place to protect you, the purchasers of fine gemstones.

Why did I bring this up? Because I wanted to tell you about a website called I Do Now I Don’t. It’s is a website that specializes in selling used diamond and gemstone jewelry. This is not cheesy jewelry. They list and sell GIA certified diamonds and gemstones. Every piece of jewelry, whether for sale directly by I Do Now I Don’t, or listed for sale by owner has been certified by their resident gemologist and GIA graduate. You know that even though the jewelry is used, it is correctly appraised and valued.

As an example of the great deals at I Do Now I Don’t take a look at this 1.5 total carat diamond ring. It is assessed for over $6,000. The buy it now price is $2,500 with minimum bid $1,500. This is just one example of the many great deals you can get. Yes, it is a used ring, but many of the items are rarely if ever worn.

Do you know what the birthstone is for the month of April? It’s diamond. Easter is also in April. Why not combine a nice piece of GIA certified diamond or gemstone jewelry as a birthday gift and an Easter gift? I would have to say that diamonds are certainly one of the best gifts for easter.

If you happen to be in the market for a diamond gemstone ring, necklace, watch or even loose diamonds, keep I Do Now I Don’t in mind. Their GIA certified diamonds and gemstones are guaranteed to satisfy and are guaranteed to be the best gifts for easter. Don’t cheap out on a diamond engagement ring. Get a cheap diamond engagement ring that is inexpensive, yet very high quality.

There certainly are many great gift ideas out there, but there are also many not so great gift ideas. Things that people may buy themselves, but would never enjoy receiving them as a gift for a special occasion.

Here is our list of not so great gift ideas, or gift ideas that you may really want to think twice about.

1. Nothing at all. The worst possible thing you can do is to not buy a gift at all. This is especially important to remember on Valentine’s Day. Now it’s not terribly important to buy a man a gift on Valentine’s Day, but keep in mind many men do like a gift. However, it’s extremely important to buy a woman a gift on Valentine’s Day. If you don’t buy her a gift, think of how she’ll feel when all her friends are getting roses or even diamonds.

   If your relationship is just starting out, you need to refrain from getting anything to intimate. Don’t buy her a negligee or a romantic weekend getaway. That’s just not appropriate. Get her a nice friendship ring, or a box of Godiva chocolates.

   For those of you that have been in a relationship for a longer period of time, then get her something. It could be almost anything romantic. Just get something.

2. Money. We all like money, but it’s not a great gift idea for Valentine’s Day or Christmas. Nothing says “I don’t know anything about your likes and dislikes” more than money. You need to put some thought into it. When you give money she’ll know you didn’t spend any time at all thinking about her.
3. Re-gifted gift. Let’s face it, if you’re giving it away, chances are you didn’t like getting it. What makes you think someone else is going to like it? If you received a gift and you didn’t like it, then sell it on eBay or give it to good will. Don’t give it to a loved one or friend.
4. Be careful with chocolate. Yes, chocolates are a great gift item. Just be careful about who you’re giving it to. If you’re giving it to someone that you know is watching their weight, then it’s not a great gift idea. Think about who you’re getting the gift for.
5. Imitation or fake items. Cubic Zirconia? Forget about it. Plastic or paper flowers? No way! Imitation items are not great gift ideas. Yes they are much cheaper, but it’s just not worth it. Get the real thing and make them really happy.
6. Store purchased cards as stand alone gifts. You can pick out a card that really shows how you feel about someone. But don’t get that special someone a card and nothing else. If you truly only want to give a card, then spend some time and make it yourself. If you make it yourself, then you let them know that you really put some thought into it. Cards are ok for friends at work, but they are not one of the best gifts for her or best gifts for him.
7. Stuffed toys. Stuffed toys, like Teddy Bears, might be ok if you mix them with another gift, but as a stand alone gift stuffed toys don’t really cut it. I’ve seen too many guys walking through the mall with a big stuffed animal dressed in a Valentine’s Day outfit and I hope that’s not the only gift they are getting for her. For a younger crowd a stuffed toy with another gift might be ok. But a mature person really has no interest in a stuffed toy.
8. Books. Not all books are bad. Just be careful about what you pick out for them. You probably don’t want to buy the lady in your life a book about how to cook. Unless she has specifically asked for that particular book, it’s definitely not a great idea. Some books are really good. Just be careful.
9. Clothing. This is another one of those gifts that you need to be careful with. Clothing could be a great gift idea. But only if you’re 100% you know her exact size and tastes in clothes. Then you also need to be careful about brands. Most women would not find a gift of clothing from Walmart a romantic or caring gift.
10. Night or weekend getaway. As I mentioned above, this could be a great gift idea for a couple that has been in a relationship for awhile. But it is not, under any circumstance, a good gift for anyone that has been in a relationship for a short period of time. Talk about pressure. If you give this to your new girlfriend she is going to be very uncomfortable.
11. Fitness club membership. You might as well just tell her she’s out of shape :-) If she’s already a member of a club and you get her an extension to her membership that might be ok. But only if she has already hinted that she wants to continue. It’s another one of those “be careful” gifts.
12. Household appliances. A vacuum for Valentine’s Day. I don’t think so. I remember once my father bought my mom a broom for mother’s day. Oh…the look on her face when she opened it. Let’s just say it was mighty quiet around the house for a couple days.
13. Artwork. Unless the person receiving the gift has requested a particular piece of artwork, it’s best to stay away. Would you like to be the owner of a nicely framed picture of wild horses running loose in the plains of the mid-west? Maybe you would if you were a cowboy. But most people wouldn’t.
14. Pictures of yourself. Maybe if you’re giving your mother a picture of your family. But who really wants a picture of someone else in their family? Every year I get a picture of my brother-in-law and sister-in-law dressed in some kind of confederate army garb…ugh…They are all stacked up in my basement and every time they come to visit we find ourselves frantically digging them up and finding a place to put them in the house. Don’t give pictures of yourself to anyone.
15. A gift that brings you more enjoyment than the receiver. You like to golf, she doesn’t. So you give her a gift of a golfing weekend at a really nice golf club. Who is going to enjoy that gift more? Her or you? I think you know the answer to that question. Don’t be selfish. You’re buying a gift for someone, make them happy.

There you have it. Our list of not so great gift ideas. Some of the gifts are actually good things to get, as long as you’re getting it for the right person. Just use some common sense, check out our site often for our gift ideas and make sure the loved one in your life gets the kind of gift they deserve.

Happy shopping!

January 19th – January 25th
From January 19th to January 25th you can get 25% off carefully selected diamond jewelry. All chosen for their appeal and dazzle! You can also benefit from a 20% off discount on many other items.

January 25th – February 7th
On January 25th you can choose from a selection of beautiful diamond pendants and take 25% off. Diamond pendants are an extremely popular item for Valentine?s Day! Once again, you can browse their site for other items and benefit from a 20% discount.

February 8th – February 14th
From February 8th – February 14th you can take 25% of every item they sell! No holds barred! Whether it’s a diamond ring, diamond pendant or diamond earrings, you take 25% off. If you like to do some last minute shopping, then this is the deal for you. Please just keep in mind the shipping time. But you could surprise her. Give her a card and some Valentine’s Day roses and make mention that the best is yet to come. When your order comes in find a creative way to give her the diamond jewelry. Maybe put it in a Cracker Jacks box or make her do a scavenger hunt.

On top of these great offers, Diamond dot com will also be providing FREE SHIPPING with guaranteed Valentine’s Day delivery on all orders within the U.S placed before 12:00pm (EST) on February 10, 2010. You can upgrade to expedited shipping to still benefit from guaranteed Valentine’s Day delivery for orders placed by 12:00pm (EST) on February 11, 2010.

Most women pick out a perfume and they stick with it forever it seems. Why not break that tradition for her and get her to try a new perfume? But now you’ll ask, how do I know which perfume I should get for her? Admittedly, the possibilities are endless. There certainly is not one perfect perfume. How could there be when we are all individuals? What smells good to me, might not smell good to you. But you can be assured that no matter what the fragrance, a little research will tell you what perfumes rank high on the most wanted list.

One train of thought is to change perfumes with the seasons. Summer time begs for a light, airy fragrance. While winter seems to need a heavier, muskier scent. Some popular winter scent perfumes are The One by Dolce & Gabbana, and Secret Obsession by Calvin Klein. They rate highly on the customer satisfaction scale. Summer time brings popular perfumes like Armani Code Sheer and Envy Me by Gucci. Here are some picks from eBay for you.

Dolce & Gabbana The One D & G Women 0.17 oz EDP Mini New In Box
	USD 15.95 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-05-24 00:23:44

New Dolce & Gabbana The One 2.5oz/75ml Women's Eau De Parfum spray
	USD 26.00 (26 Bids) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-05-20 19:54:48

The very influential Coco Chanel once said “A woman who doesn’t wear perfume has no future.” Of course she was exaggerating a bit, but fragrance can be quite important. It doesn’t matter if the girl in your life is a professional or a factory worker. Just because she works in a factory doesn’t mean she wants to smell like one.

No matter if it’s Valentine’s Day, Christmas, Mother’s Day or any other occasion, you can always bet that perfume will be one of the best gifts for her.

Do you have to get the most popular perfume for her at the big box stores or the expensive online stores? No! You can shop at eBay. eBay always has a huge selection of the most popular perfumes available at prices which are far better than what you’ll pay in the brick and mortar stores. Some of the more popular perfumes are from Dolce & Gabbana, Calvin Klein, Versace, Sarah Jessica Parker, Elizabeth Taylor, Gloria Vanderbilt and Elizabeth Arden.
Here’s to your smealth :-)

★NEW★DOLCE & GABBANA★D&G★Light Blue★Eau De Toilette★3.4oz★100ml★Spray★BEST DEAL★
	USD 59.75 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-05-20 02:12:49

Versace Bright Crystal 3.0oz/90ml Women's Eau de Toilette Spray
	USD 29.00 (1 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-05-18 16:55:23

EUPHORIA for Women by CALVIN KLEIN EDP SPRAY 3.4 oz ~ BRAND NEW IN BOX
	USD 56.95 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-05-23 01:27:31

RED DOOR EAU DE PARFUM-SPRAY-ELIZABETH ARDEN 1.7 FL OZ-USED-95% FULL-LOW PRICE
	USD 9.95 (1 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-05-18 17:20:33

Versace Signature by Gianni Versace for Women 3.4 oz Eau De Parfum EDP Spray
	USD 44.99 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-05-22 21:38:06

Sparkling White Diamonds Perfume Gift Set
	USD / 15.00 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-05-18 14:35:15

Bright Crystal ~ Versace for Women 3.0 oz EDT NIB
	USD 47.95 (0 Bid) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-05-21 00:44:51

Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue 3.3oz Women's Eau de Toilette Spray
	USD 40.99 (2 Bids) | Buy It Now End time: 2012-05-18 20:48:14

One stone represents the couple’s past together. A second stone represents the present, and the third stone represents their future together. For every day, week and year, a past, present, future diamond ring will make her feel so very special and you’ll know you have chosen one of the Best Gifts For Her. Consider it your way of expressing appreciation for her love and dedication throughout the years and the dreams you hope to fulfill together in the years yet to come.

The past, present, future diamond ring is not just for birthdays and Holidays anymore. Often it is being given as a unique engagement ring. It is the perfect way to say “Marry me”. When given as an engagement ring, the past, present, future diamond ring is a symbol of the couple’s past as individuals, their present as husband and wife and a promise of their future together.

No matter what the occasion, when you give her the ring, you’ll see absolute love in her face and expression. She’ll know you picked this ring out with the love in your heart.

The past, present, future diamond ring is available in many styles. Yellow gold, white gold and sterling silver are just some of the available metals. The three diamonds can be princess cut, emerald cut, pear shaped, round, oval, marquise, heart shaped and many more. When buying a past, present, future diamond ring, be sure to choose the metal type that matches up to her existing jewelry. Pick the cut of diamond that you know she’ll love. Then make sure you understand diamond quality so you be sure you’re getting what you pay for. I’ve got a post on the 4Cs for picking out diamonds on my post here Diamond Jewelry.

There is no doubt the past, present, future diamond ring is one of the Best Gifts For Her. You can get an awesome deal buy purchasing online. Much cheaper than you could get at a brick and mortar jeweler for the same quality. I’ve picked out a couple for you to take a look at. If you’d like to see more information on them, or see more available styles click one of the images below to read more.

2.00CT 14k Yellow Gold Three Stone Round Brilliant Cut Diamond Anniversary Engagement Past Present Future Ring Color Size 7 Resizable

• 2.00ct total diamond weight
• .80ct center w/ .60ct sides
• 100% real diamonds G/H color I1/I2 clarity
• 14k yellow gold
• size 7

Product Description
This classic 3 stone ring features a huge .80ct center. All diamonds are prong set in solid 14k yellow gold. 2.00ct total diamond weight…. See More >>

14K White Gold 3 Three Stone Round Brilliant Diamond Anniversary Ring

Product Description

This 14k white gold past present future diamond ring is prong set with 3 round diamonds. The total diamond weight is 1 carat. The diamonds are GH color and I1 clarity…. See More >>

Diamond jewelry is without a doubt the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for that perfect girl. Diamond jewelry is an everlasting gift. It’s also a gift that can be handed down through generations. Diamond jewelry not only shows your love for her, it is also an investment. You cannot go wrong when you purchase diamond jewelry. You will need to know what to look for when buying diamonds, but with these tips and some common sense you can pick out some amazing diamond jewelry online. DanforthDiamond.com has a beautiful collection of diamond jewelry that is sure to please every woman.

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has established a standard system for grading diamonds, commonly known as the four C’s. This grading system judges a diamond by four factors: Cut, Carat, Color and Clarity. This system is the best way to assure the quality and value of a diamond. It’s tough to apply the four C’s to diamonds once they are already mounted, so your best bet when buying diamond jewelry online is to buy from a reputable source like DanforthDiamond.com. When you visit the seller’s site they should have high resolution pictures, good seller feedback, great customer service, and of course, competitive pricing. High resolution pictures are important because you want to be able to really enlarge the picture so you can examine the diamond closely on screen.

The four C’s
Cut – Diamonds are available in many types of cuts. Round, oval, marquise and heart shaped are just a few of the many cuts available. But even more important is the quality of the cut. A master diamond cutter will cut the diamond to ensure it will reflect light properly. A good cut will reflect the light shone into the diamond back out of the top of the diamond. A bad cut will allow light to pass through the diamond without being reflected back. A good cut is what gives the diamond that radiant glow. Sometimes a better cut smaller diamond can be worth more than a poor cut larger diamond.

Carat – In it’s simplest terms, carat is the weight of the diamond. Simply put, the bigger the diamond the heavier it is and the more carats. Now it’s not necessarily true that two diamonds that are the same size are the same carat weight. Diamonds can have a different density, making one heavier than another of the same size.

Color – Diamonds are found in a range from colorless to yellowish, and judged according to a color scale from “D”, which is totally colorless to “Z” which is rich yellow. The colorless diamond is most valued because it is the most rare. The difference between color grades is very subtle, particularly to the untrained eye. Although the more yellow a diamond is the less value, but it does not necessarily reduce its beauty. If a diamond is well cut, its reflection and dispersion of light will often hide some degrees of coloration. The average stone purchased is usually a grade of I or J for its Color.

Clarity – Most diamonds contain tiny imperfections called inclusions. Most are not visible with the naked eye but can be seen with 10X magnification. Inclusions negatively affect the dispersion of light and therefore the diamond’s brilliance. The fewer and smaller the inclusions, the rarer the stone and the more expensive. While inclusions do not generally affect the diamond’s beauty and usually cannot be seen, their presence reduces the price. Clarity is graded on a scale with a range from internally flawless (IF), very very small inclusions (VVS1-VVS2), very small inclusions (VS1-VS2), small inclusions (SI1-SI2) to imperfect (I1-I2-I3) with eye visible inclusions.

Buying diamond jewelry online will save you a lot of money. Just choose a reputable dealer, check that they have good feedback, good customer service and competitive pricing. Following these simple steps you can’t go wrong. I’ve found that DanforthDiamond.com offers extremely high quality jewelry at a really good price. Their customer service is impeccable and satisfaction rating is unparalleled. Visit DanforthDiamond.com. You’ll both be glad you did!

Mother’s rings came about when someone decided to take two wedding bands and connect them with gemstones of the sons of the family. Those early variations sold very well during the Mother’s Day season and quickly became one of the best gifts for her. Seeing they were big sellers, an industrious marketing person decided to expand upon the concept and add the birthstones for all the children. Obviously mother’s rings are very big sellers during holiday’s like Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, birthdays and Christmas.

There are many variations of a mother’s ring. Sometimes along with the birthstones of the children, the birthstones of the parents will also be set in the mother’s ring. There might also be different size gemstones for each of the children. Another popular variation is a grandmother’s ring. A grandmother’s ring typically has the gemstones of her children and the gemstones of her grandchildren. It’s entirely up to you how you design the ring. The most popular mother’s ring has a gemstone of equal size for each of her children.

Is it possible to purchase a mother’s ring online? Absolutely!  Amazon has a wide selection of mother’s rings from various reputable merchants. They have one of the best no-hassle return policies in the industry and great customer service.

If you do decide to purchase a mother’s ring from Amazon, you will pick out the ring you like and then you will receive an email or a phone call asking for your choice of gemstones for the mother’s ring.

Mother’s rings are on our best gifts for her list and we guarantee all moms will absolutely love them. Below are a couple mother’s rings we’ve picked out at Amazon. Click on one of them to see more about the ring or to see more mother’s rings.

Mother’s Ring Description
Four stone mother’s Ring crafted in your choice of 14k White or Yellow Gold. Four oval gemstones 5×3 mm., 6 Round Diamonds., 06cts. Creating your custom design is easy! Just place your order in 14k white or yellow gold. You will be contacted at your e-mail address or phone number for your choice of birthstones. If you don’t hear from us within 24hrs, please check your spam folder and contact us as soon as possible. – FREE LIFETIME WARRANTY, GIFT BAG AND GIFT CARD!
Genuine 4 Stone and Diamond Mothers Ring in 14k White/Yellow Gold LIFETIME WARRANTY

Mother’s Ring Description
Free priority shipping.

This item will be gift wrapped in a beautiful gift bag. In addition, a ‘gift message’ can be added.

3.00mm Round Cut Gemstone

Pace your order in 14k white or yellow gold. I will contact you at your e-mail address for your choice of birthstone and ring size. You can refer to the ‘stone map’ for stone placement. Pictured 5 Stone Ring. The ring is also available in 1 stone, 2 stone, 3 stone and 4 stone.
14K Yellow Gold Mother’s Ring – 5 Stone

Keep in mind when you’re searching for a jewelry armoire try to use the correct spelling for best results. Many people have trouble with the word armoire. I’ve seen it spelled jewelry armore, jewelry armories and jewelry armiore. It is just a tough word to spell sometimes. To get the best results when searching be sure to use armoire.

Jewelry armoires have been around for several centuries. Decorative and functional, a jewelry armoire is an attractive way to safely store your treasured jewelry. A jewelry armoire will protect your treasures from dust, environmental factors, other causes of damage and loss. Whether it’s a free standing jewelry armoire or a wall mount jewelry armoire, there are several things to keep in mind when choosing one. You need one that will fit with your current decor and have the storage features necessary to hold all your jewelry.

A free standing jewelry armoire typically has a number of stacked drawers, a flip up top, and looks a lot like a narrow dresser. The drawers are usually lined with silk or fabric to tenderly protect items from damage. At least one drawer of is divided into compartments for holding any small pieces of jewelry. Other drawers might also include ring pads or watch/bracelet pillows. A jewelry armoire that consists of drawers of varying sizes will increase your storage options, especially if you prefer to keep certain pieces in their original cases. Wall mounted jewelry armoires usually have the same types of drawers, only on smaller scale.

Many also feature side doors that swing open to reveal compartments for organizing necklaces and chains. A wall mounted jewelry armoire might not have the storage for necklaces or chains due to their smaller size. If you require storage for necklaces and chains be sure the jewelry armoire you intend to purchase has the swing out door feature and is tall enough to allwow your neckaces to hang straight.

Jewelry armoires may also include removable trays, a lock and key and hidden compartments. If you purchase a jewelry armoire with a lift-top it will usually have an inset or fold-out mirror. The mirror can be used to check the jewelry selection against the outfit chosen to be worn.

To ensure you have enough room to put the jewelry armoire, take measurements of the area where you plan to place it. This is especially important when purchasing a wall mounted jewelry armoire. Once you mount it you can’t easily move it like you can with a free standing one. Be sure the take into consideration the side opening door and flip up top. Some armoires appear small in size, but can take up quite a bit of space when all the doors are opened. Just about all jewelry armoire manufacturers include dimensions. So you can verify the area you want the armoire you want to purchase will fit the area you’ve picked out.

When choosing a finish you have a myriad of options. You can get a black jewelry armoire, white jewelry armoire, oak jewelry armoire, maple jewelry armoire or many other finish choices. Often times you can find a finish that matches your decor nicely. One thing to keep in mind is if you can’t find a finish that matches your decor very closely, sometimes it’s better to get one that is a total opposite. Just a little interior decorating tip for you :-)

A jewelry armoire is a resourceful piece of furniture that will bring a sense of elegance to your home’s decor. When deciding on what type of jewelry armoire to purchase and what features it should include, remember to look back on this article. I hope that this article has given you all the tools you’ll need to make an informed decision when purchasing a jewelry armoire. If the old saying “diamonds are a girls best friend” is true, then your girl deserves a jewelry armoire to safely protect those diamonds.

For more gift ideas for her, check out my list of best gifts for her.
Best Gifts For Her

For a great selection of jewelry armoires take a look at some on Amazon. I’ve done a search for you. Click below to see more.