Today I'll grace these pages of my blog with a Shakespearean Tacori Love Sonnet:
Love me not to the marriage of Tacori. Admit Tacori. Love is not loveWhich alters when it alteration finds,Tacori engagement rings bend with the remover to remove:O Tacori! it is an ever-fixed mark That looks on tempests and is never shaken;It is the star to every Tacori wedding band Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.Love's not Time's fool, matching my Tacori engagement ring or not. Within his mens Tacori ring and compass come:Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks, But bears it out even to the edge of Tacori ring.If this be error and upon me proved, I never writ, nor no man ever loved Tacori.
Posted 4 days, 11 hours ago at 4:48 pm. Add a comment
We’ve always carried an extensive amount of Tacori engagement rings and Tacori wedding rings, but what I want to discuss today is a new line of Tacori jewelry, called Tacori 18k925. The brand new Tacori jewelry line ranges from $400 – $3000 and is a perfect compliment to a girl’s Tacori engagement ring or Tacori wedding ring. Tacori recently launched The Tacori 18k925 jewelry collection, which is made of 18k gold, 925 silver and colorful gemstones. It’s a fabulous addition that was clearly in demand from this well sought-after brand. Tacori brings their signature crescent silhouette design into fine jewelry
The other day I was chatting with a personal shopper, Cathy Phillips, about diamond studs and we were discussing how they’re just the most versatile piece of diamond jewelry available. We agreed that they look dazzling both with evening wear as well as with jeans and a t-shirt. So my question to Cathy was simple: When are diamond studs not appropriate to wear? And her answer? She was speechless for a few moments and then politely corrected my line of questioning. They’re ALWAYS appropriate. Bam bam, thank you ma’am. She should be writing our advertising for us.
So, before I get carried away here, let me write up a few pointers about diamond studs. In honor of our old friend David Letterman, we’ll do a Top Ten Things to Know about Diamond Studs:
10) When listed by carat weight, it’s important to remember that a pair of 1 carat studs means that each one is half a carat. Typically, it’s the total weight that’s listed.
9) We typically sell our studs in a white gold four prong setting. That’s the classic and timeless way to do it. If you’re totally set on platinum or have allergic reactions to white gold, we can also use platinum for a slight charge. Also, we can do a three prong setting if you’re so inclined. That’s also known as a ‘martini setting.’
8 ) Of the 4 C’s (Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat Weight), you should concern yourself most with Cut and Carat Weight when buying diamond studs. Remember, go for what you can see. With studs in particular, you won’t be able to see the inclusions when they’re set in the ear. So forget about clarity. What you’ll be able to see is the flashes of white light and brilliance. That’s a function of a good “Cut” — meaning precision of angles. There’s 57 angles on a diamond and each one has to be just perfect in order for the light to bounce around and refract out to hit the eye. With a poorly cut diamond, the light is leaked out the side or bottom.
7) Diamond studs can vary in cost, totally dependent on size and quality. With Mervis, our entry-level of studs begins around $500 and goes to roughly $25,000. Anything larger is possible too, but it’s not pre-set. We’ll custom set them for you.
6) Shape: We sell most diamond studs as rounds, but it’s also possible to also make princess cut diamond studs. For those of you who don’t know, princess is a shape that is square-like. We recommend round diamonds for studs because they’re simply always in the right position. What I mean by this is that diamonds turn on the ear, and with square-shapes, you’ll often times be in a position where the diamond is turned on its side and looks wrong. One ear won’t match the other. Maybe this bothers you, and maybe it doesn’t.
5) Upgrade policy: At Mervis, we have a very generous upgrade policy, wherein we’ll exchange your diamond studs at any time in order for you to trade up to a bigger size. We’ve had many couples take advantage of this and come back to us year after year, anniversary after anniversary.
4) Backings: All of our diamond studs have a double friction backing. This is preferable and superior to a screw-on because a screw-on backing can unscrew. There’s simply less chance of losing your diamond earrings.
3) Cleaning: Every now and then, it’s a good idea to clean your diamond earrings with a solution of ammonia and water. You can just use Windex or some other light household cleaning product.
2) When are diamond studs too big? Never?
1) And the number one thing to know about diamond studs is: They make the perfect gift item. You simply can’t go wrong with them because they’re the ultimate classic accessory!
Posted 2 weeks, 6 days ago at 2:54 pm. Add a comment
Today I’m sitting with Cristina Curcio, a fabulous wedding planner in Washington, D.C. Let’s ask her a few questions and pick her brain:
Jonathan Mervis: What made you want to become a wedding planner?
Cristina Curcio: I’ve always enjoyed helping others. Wedding planning came to me through my many years of event-planning experience. People came to me and just begged me, “plan my wedding, plan my wedding!” The greatest joy of being a wedding planner is being able to help others during such a joyous time and make the process as stress-free as possible. The biggest payoff is the day of–letting the bride just soak up the experience and not have to worry about the details.
JM: What is one of the first things a couple should do after they get engaged, to start the planning process?
CC: Firstly, just sit back and relax! Enjoy the engagement and the moment for all it’s worth. But, once you start the actual planning process, it’s best to start with your budget. Before you even start talking to vendors, consider your guest list. More often than not, couples will solicit vendors before even thinking about the wedding size, the money, who’s invited, etc. That’s a mistake. The budget and the list size go hand in hand. Set that first and it will be a cornerstone of the rest of the planning. It makes everything easier.
JM: How is a couple meant to arrive at a reasonable budget?
CC: You need to determine how much you can allot, and how much will be allotted by third parties, like parents or other family members. Be realistic with a working budget. It’s best to give yourself a 10% cushion. Even with the most thorough planning, there’s always stuff that will come up at the end. There’s so many great resources available out there now, with DIY projects and whatnot, that you can do a wedding at any budget!
JM: Are there any rules of thumb regarding budget, as in ‘2 months of salary’ with a ring, or anything similar?
CC: No, because some people have decent savings and some don’t. The average wedding nationally is $25,000. Around DC, or any metropolitan area, it skews upward. But that should give you a starting point. Also, talk to others! Ask friends, ask wedding planners! Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
JM: Knowing me personally, what kind of wedding do you foresee for me?
CC: I like to do events that are uniquely about the person. I know you’re very invovled with family and so that shoudl be a part of the wedding. And maybe something with South Africa, whether that’s with decor, the invitation, or whatnot. The overall feel would be elegant and casual, but very friendly. People should walk in and say, this is totally Jon. The wedding would definitley be all about fun. The dance floor would be crazy.
JM: What are some of the most unique wedding concepts you’ve done?
CC: I did a destination wedding in Puerto Rico… They wanted to tie-in the destination into the wedding. So they did miniature bottles of Bacardi with a mojito hammer (used to crush the mint) and a recipe card as party favors. It really represented the couple because they like to travel a lot. But also the groom is a graphic designer and he personally designed the recipe card. The guests loved it!
JM: How long it did take before that bottle of Bacardi was empty?
CC: I’m a pack-rat with party favors. Lol. I still have it. They represent each event I work on. I still have it unopened.
A simple solution of ammonia and warm water should be enough to get your diamond ring sparkling like new. Use a soft tooth brush and gently brush away any accumulated gunk.
Note: This is NOT a good idea if your diamond has been fracture-filled. At Mervis, we don’t sell any fracture-filled diamonds, so if you’ve got a Mervis diamond, the ammonia is safe. Otherwise, a mild liquid detergent should suffice.
Diamond fact of the day: Blue diamonds are the result of trace impurities of Boron in the otherwise Carbon diamond. The most famous blue diamond is the Hope Diamond, weighing over 45 carats and emitting an intense blue color.
One of the best parts of my job is when customers come back to us, months after the purchase, to show us their wedding photography and say thanks. Here’s a letter I just received today:
Ashley –
I just wanted to write you a quick note to say thanks through all of the ring purchasing process (engagement and wedding rings). I attached a couple of pictures from the wedding and of the rings to this email as well so you could see the pictures. Thanks, please let me know if you have any questions, Frank
Posted 2 months, 1 week ago at 10:37 am. Add a comment
Let me set the scene: It’s pitch black outside, there’s a slight drizzle, and we’re on our last night game drive. The drive has been nothing short of excellent. We saw a leopard, a family of lions, and the usual crew of zebras, giraffes, wildebeasts, etc.
The time is about 7:30 PM and my stomach is growling for dinner. We have an extensive “boma” set up for us just outside the park– that’s like an outdoor BBQ with all sorts of exotic African meats. We’re on the road back, only about half a mile away from the exit, and what do we see in front of us but a big ol’ elephant blocking our path. And it’s not just any elephant– It’s Amarula, the old solitary guy who hangs out near our lodge. We’ve encountered him earlier in the trip and our ranger tells us that the liquid beside his ears indicates he’s currently “stressed.” Earlier in the day, we laughed. How can an elephant be stressed?
Not knowing what the hell our driver is doing, we sit tight and watch carefully as he moves our vehicle towards the elephant, trying to intimidate him and move him off the road. We drives forward confidently, and turn our vehicle sideways, showing its width and giving the appearance that we’re bigger than him. It’s showdown number one. We revv up the engine, and hope for the best.
The elephant isn’t scared. He pauses his stride for a moment, to be sure, but then keeps on walking down the road towards us. He’s lumbering slowly and we’re in no danger, but he’s getting closer nonetheless. We back up 50 yards in the dark and re-group.
At this point, there’s mixed feelings in the group. Some amongst us are questioning the logic. “Why are we in a showdown with an elephant?! Let’s just find another exit to the park” they say. Others reassure the group that the game ranger surely knows what he’s doing. This is his job after all.
The rain begins to come down heavier and lightning goes off in the distance. (If I were trying to write fiction, I would add in these details for effect, but I swear it’s exactly how it happened. And I have 20 or so witnesses on our truck to attest to it.)
The ranger tells everyone to relax and he starts the engine up again. We’re about to start showdown number 2. He approaches the elephant, and again turns our vehicle sideways. The elephant keeps walking towards us, unfazed. We rev the engine, and nothing. He keeps walking, and as he gets closer, our game driver senses we’ve lost another bout. He backs up, as before, and we re-group before trying our intimidation trick again.
At this point, there’s growing tension in the car. People in the group are furious. “What the hell are we doing?! This arrogant driver is going to get us killed.”
We try our luck again and it’s showdown #3! By this time, the elephant had enough of our games. Seeing us do our sideways truck dance, the elephant starts charging towards us at full speed. Again, cue the lightning, cue the rain. We’re going to die in the African bush. The driver steps on the gas like I swear I’ve never felt acceleration before. Our Range Rover-like truck became a race car for a moment and as if guided by angels, managed to keep us a few steps in front of Amarula. We can see him romping down the road behind us, his head bobbing from side to side and his tusks up the air. At the closest, I swear he made it within 2 feet of the back of our truck.
The passengers in the back row of the vehicle are f’ing screaming their heads off. They jump two rows ahead, feeling they’ll at least die with the rest of us, no earlier, and no later.
Ultimately, we outrace Amarula and escape the situation. We survive, but not without memories for a lifetime.
Posted 2 months, 3 weeks ago at 4:08 pm. Add a comment
Our 3 days in Cape Town were lovely, but we’re ultimately here in South Africa for the wildlife, not city life. No matter how beautiful Cape Town is and how laid back and fun the people are, I was excited to move on to the next phase of our trip: The Safari.
Today we arrived at Bukabong lodge, from where our safari will begin tomorrow. Or, I should say, it was supposed to begin tomorrow morning at 5:30 AM. However, upon arrival, we were immediately greeted by a group of monkeys hanging around our rooms.
First, it was cute. We saw a mother feeding its child. Then someone noticed a larger male monkey with green testicles. We saw some monkeys eating with their little furry fingers and thought that was just adorable.They were ripping open sugar packets and pouring the sweet granules in their mouths! The monkeys just went into open residential lodges and stole our milk and sugar from the coffee stations.
The monkeys didn’t go into every room though; Only two–Ronnie’s and one other guest’s. When Ronnie realized he had monkey intruders, he yelled at them to flee and they did move over a few yards to the side. Whether or not they left any droppings in his room is yet to be determined.
Posted 2 months, 4 weeks ago at 5:47 am. Add a comment
Love me not to the marriage of Tacori.
Admit Tacori. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Tacori engagement rings bend with the remover to remove:
O Tacori! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every Tacori wedding band
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, matching my Tacori engagement ring or not.
Within his mens Tacori ring and compass come:
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of Tacori ring.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved Tacori.
