The iPad Factor

The APParent Boom in iPad Use for Jewelers

New technologies have revolutionized almost every field of life, and the jewelry industry is no different. Creative innovations combined with ever-improving technology has allowed jewelers to display and sell their gems in new and better ways. One such innovation is the use of tablets and, more specifically, the iPad.

The use of an iPad in a jewelery store setting really has enhanced the entire process of showcasing collections, customizing pieces and allowing the customer to be more involved in the entire process. Many retailers who use the iPad report that just bringing the customer closer physically, by having them interact with a program or app, makes the process much more personal and involved. This not only great for developing the customer relationship but also for efficiently finding what the customer needs.

With the vast amounts of information that can be displayed on the iPad coupled with a stunning high definition display, entire collections of jewelery can be easily browsed with a mere swipe of the finger. Many jewelers store their collections and catalogs of different lines on the iPad for easy accessibility to any customer. Whether they are simply browsing or looking for something specific, the ability to effortlessly show an entire collection on one device allows for more interaction with the customer as well as the ability for the jeweler to determine what the customer is really looking for. This is especially true and helpful with bridal customers.

The newest adaptation in jewelers using the iPad is the development of apps for specific stores and vendors. Even famous high-end vendors such as Tacori and Cartier have jumped onto the app bandwagon.

And of course, we here at Timeless Designs have developed an app of our very own! Our newly-designed app features a stunning display of our collections, on-the-spot retail pricing, and a Google Maps locator to help find nearby jewelers who carry Timeless Designs pieces. You can even create your own unique 3D rendering of a ring in the "Your Couture" section! A number of our vendors have already downloaded and use the app in their stores! Nettles Jewelry in St. Augustine, FL and P. Church Jewelers in Chelmsford, MA are just a couple of examples of jewelers benefiting from having the app on hand for customers to play with.

From the exceptional visual display and browsing convenience to increased interactivity with customers and vast amounts of information at one's fingertips, using the iPad is a fantastic new way to enhance the jewelery buying experience.

The Timeless Designs iPad app is currently available for download from the iTunes store. You can check it out and learn more about it here!

Diamonds Weren't Always Forever

The Evolution of the Engagement Ring

The charming R1333

The practice of giving your betrothed an engagement ring dates back all the way to the days before written history. Early civilizations used a number of different things to symbolize their dedication to their partner, from braids of grass to iron bands to silver and gold wire worn on the third finger of their left hands, believed to be connected directly to the heart by the ancient Egyptians.

SR43942, a diamond is forever

Over time, the style and connotation of the engagement ring changed and still widely varies, especially across different cultures. The first time a diamond was even used for the purpose of a marriage proposal was in 1477 when Archduke Maximilian of Austria proposed to Mary of Burgundy. The ring was set with thin, flat pieces of diamonds modeled in the shape of an "M".

A classic, R1125

In 1886, Tiffany & Co. changed the engagement ring game by introducing their "Tiffany setting", a six-prong ring designed to maximize a diamond’s brilliance by raising it up from the band. As this has become one of the most common designs for an engagement ring, many of them still hold true to that classic style.

A fiery emerald for the R1245E

Actual diamond rings, though, were not as popular as you might think! Up until the 1940s, colored stones were used much more widely than diamonds to adorn a ring's center. Sapphires, rubies and emeralds were among the most commonly used in these engagement rings. In recent years, we've seen a slight comeback in this as these other precious stones are seen more and more as an engagement center stone.

The spellbinding shank of the R1228

However, it was not until 1948 when the legendary De Beers diamond company introduced its famous slogan, “A Diamond Is Forever” , that diamonds quickly became a symbol of everlasting love and took its place as the much sought after engagement ring stone it is today.

A two-tone R768

With the diamond set as the prominent stone to use in engagement rings, it soon became the style of the ring that began to change and evolve. Starting in the early to mid-1900s, fashion and breakthrough metal techniques provided by new mechanical technologies allowed for crafters and designers to make engagement rings to look just about however they wanted. And the evolution of the engagement ring still continues to this day! From twisted bands and engraved shanks to colored accent stones and two-tone metal, the modern engagement ring really has no standard design. Only the imagination of the wearer limits what ring we can create.

Black rhodium completes this R1305PS

Though the engagement ring has indeed evolved much over the centuries, and continues to be ever-changing in its style and composition, the reason why we give and wear them remains the same. It is a declaration of one's undying commitment to another, a timeless and valued symbol of happiness and love.