Finding your perfect engagement ring doesn't have to be overwhelming. While we recognize the vocabulary around cut, color, style, and more can sometimes feel more like a lesson in terminology than picking out a meaningful piece of jewelry, we are here to make the engagement ring shopping process easier— and therefore more enjoyable— for you.

If you've ever felt lost when talking with a jeweler or doing engagement ring research, this vocabulary guide is for you. Save this handy guide so you'll never doubt again when finding the perfect ring for your partner.

The Only Engagement Ring Vocabulary Guide You'll Need

The Diamond

4Cs: Acronym standing for cut, color, clarity and carat— these are the top four characteristics to look for when purchasing a diamond.

Accent diamonds: Diamonds that surround or enhance the main diamond; they are typically smaller in size than the main diamond.

Crown: Top half of a diamond.

Halo: Ring of diamonds or stones surrounding a center diamond or stone.

Pavilion: Lower half of a diamond.

Scintillations: Sparkles in a diamond that are seen as the diamond moves under a light.

Table: Flat surface that is the uppermost part of a diamond; it is calculated by dividing the width of the table by the width of the diamond.

The Diamond Cut

Asscher cut: Square shaped diamond with a high crown, step facets, and a small table.

Cushion cut: Square cut diamond with rounded edges and the third most popular diamond cut.

Emerald cut: Rectangular shaped with small, rounded edges and a large, open table.

European cut: Antique diamond cut created before the precision created by modern technology was available.

Heart cut: Diamond in the shape of a heart typically found in solitaire settings.

Marquise cut: Long and narrow diamond-shaped similarly to a football. It’s best set with prongs on each end to protect the points from chipping.

Oval cut: A unique take on a round diamond. Oval-shaped stones come in a variety of widths ranging from slim to wide.

Pear cut: Combination of a round and a marquise shape diamond available in a variety of narrow to wide sizes.

Princess cut:The second most popular diamond cut, below round and above cushion. The cut has a square or rectangular shape when viewed from above, and from the side is similar to that of an inverted pyramid with four beveled sides.

Radiant cut: Square or rectangular diamond with minimal curved edges similar to an emerald shape.

Round cut: Circular-shaped diamond. It’s  the most common shape for engagement rings.

Trillion cut: Triangular shaped diamond, often used as side stones to frame a square diamond.

The Ring Style

Art deco: Rings created during or inspired by the art deco era from 1920 to 1935, known for bold line and geometric shapes.

Baguette: Meaning “long rod” in French, the baguette cut features long, clean lines, and is typically used in side stones.

Band: Ring that tends to accompany an engagement ring. Can be made of a precious metal, alloys, and/or include stones.

Bezel: Metal that completely surrounds the diamond or featured gemstone. A half bezel is the term used when half of the stone is framed by metal. Bezel ring settings are stronger and more protective than prong settings.

Colored diamond: Natural and dyed color diamonds. Popular diamond color options include yellow, pink, blue, chocolate and black.

Colored gemstone: Engagement rings featuring a colored gemstone stone ranging in a variety of colors. Popular gemstone options are sapphire and ruby.

Halo: Ring featuring a center stone that’s surrounded by a circle of stones. Engagement rings can have more than one halo, referred to as a double halo if two circles of gemstones encircle one center stone.

Hand-crafted: Ring that’s been made by hand instead of the casing process of filling a mold. It’s shaped by hand by the jeweler.

Pavé: Setting of stones where they’re placed close together so as to avoid seeing metal in between the stones.

Side Stones: Ring featuring a main stone and surrounded by smaller stones. Can also be referred to as a three-stone ring or a halo.

Solitaire: An engagement ring with a single, solitary center stone.

Tension set: Gemstone is held in place by metal on either side, thus creating tension.

Three-Stone: Ring featuring three stones, typically three diamonds or a diamond centered between two other stones. Known to celebrate a couple's past, present, and future together.

Unique shank: Engagement ring with an individualized lower part that goes around the finger, also known as a shank.

Vintage or Vintage-Inspired: These are classic-style engagement rings typically created, or modeled after, jewelry from the early 1900s or earlier. An antique engagement ring is technically defined as being over fifty years old.

The Metal

14k gold: Made of 14 parts gold and 10 parts other metals or alloys.

18k gold: Made of 18 parts gold and 6 parts other metals.

24k gold: Pure gold. The softest gold, as gold gets softer the purer it is.

Alloy: A mixture of two or more metals mixed together.

Gold plated: Thin, almost microscopic layer of pure gold used to coat another type of metal.

Platinum: Precious metal with a silvery white color and shine.

Rose gold: An alloy of gold tinted with copper to create a rosy tone. The deeper the pink color, the more copper there is in the alloy.

White gold: Yellow gold mixed with a white alloy.

Yellow gold: The color of pure gold, yellow gold gets darker or changes color the more alloys are mixed with it.

Let us help you find the perfect wedding bands for your 2019 or 2020 wedding at our Huntington Beach showroom, or browse a selection online here. 

Comments | Posted in Blog By Ashley Stephens

Friday, March 1, 2019 8:37:00 AM America/Los_Angeles

Does your partner tend to feel lost when it comes what to get you for holidays, anniversaries, and other special occasions?

There's no need for him to spend hours searching for the perfect gift or to seek out an overpriced bouquet of flowers at the last minute to make Valentine's Day special. From direct to more subtle, we are sharing our top tips to help him figure out what you really want for Valentine’s Day.

Show And Tell

If you’re browsing on your phone and come across something you like (jewelry, a restaurant, or activity you can do together), don’t be afraid to show it to him. While you're at it, ask him his opinion on it, too!

Turn to Pinterest

While you are pinning your Valentine's Day outfit ideas, why not also create a board for Valentine’s Day gift ideas? If he is active on Pinterest, he will most likely see it on his own. If you want to be more straightforward, create a board titled “Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas” and share it with him.

Window Shop

If you happen to shop together, point out a few things you particularly. You might be surprised to find that your significant other is paying a lot more attention than it seems.

Walk Down Memory Lane

Has your partner knocked it out of the park on a previous Valentine’s Day or another occasion? Bring up how much that meant to you— and don't forget to include the specific parts that made it special, such as if he kept it a surprise, the restaurant you went to, a gift he gave you. This might inspire duplicate success!

Give Them an Early Gift

If your partner is more forgetful or didn't pick up on the other hints, consider surprising him with your gift a few days before Valentine’s Day. This sets the bar for what kind of gift you hope to receive, and reminds him that the holiday is around the corner!

Tag Them

Facebook and Instagram allow you to tag your significant other in any public post. Tag your partner on social posts that feature engagement ring styles, specific jewelry, or date ideas that you like. As Valentine’s Day approaches, your significant other will have a digital copy of your favorite things. Find gift ideas on our Instagram here. 

Tell A Friend

Whether it is an engagement ring, piece of jewelry, or date idea, people often consult their partner's friends for advice. Make sure your friends know what you want to make things easier for everyone is they ask!

Talk to Them

Last but not least, there is always the option to be direct. If there’s something you really want, tell them. Having an open conversation about gifts— including whether or not you’re going to splurge on something or opt something small— can be helpful for both of you.

Let us help you find the perfect Valentine's Day gift at our Huntington Beach showroom, or browse a selection online here. 

Comments | Posted in Blog By Ashley Stephens

Tuesday, February 5, 2019 8:20:21 AM America/Los_Angeles

Wedding trends are an exciting part of planning a big day— they suggest ways to add a unique twist to even the most traditional weddings. Here are five of the top wedding trends that we expect to sweep weddings of 2019. 

2019 Wedding Trends

Regal bridal looks

In the name of all things royal, expect a new wave of pageantry to enter bridal fashion. Brides in 2019 can expect regal capes, sleeves, and tiaras.

Wedding vibes and themes

Most brides today are looking beyond simply picking wedding colors. Today's brides are envisioning entire wedding themes— a vibe or feeling for their guests to enjoy.

Smoke bomb exit

An upgrade to a classic sparkler exit, smoke bombs are the new way to send the newlyweds off in color. Match the smoke to your wedding colors— or opt for a rainbow pattern for an all-out color display.



Revamped registries

With more couples getting married later in life, less couples are in need of the basic dishes and KitchenAid Mixer. In 2019, expect to see more personalized registries from honeymoon funds on.



Unique venues

Couples are straying from traditional venues and embracing out-of-the-box wedding locations. Distilleries, raches, greenhouses, and breweries are gaining popularity as unique wedding venues.

Let us help you find the perfect wedding bands for your 2019 wedding at our Huntington Beach showroom, or browse a selection online here. 

Comments | Posted in Blog By Ashley Stephens

Wednesday, January 2, 2019 1:04:07 PM America/Los_Angeles

December is a busy month nestled between Thanksgiving and the new year— and with big holidays of its own— and it is also the birth month for people celebrating their birthday in the 12th month of the year. Those celebrating a birthday in December can expect a cooler birthday as the month has the shortest daylight hours and marks the beginning of winter.

A few facts about December birthstones:

• Fewer children are born in December than other months. December is part of a four month cycle between November and February where the birth rate worldwide drops, reflecting many couples' choice to avoid the holiday season when planing their pregnancies.

• December's Zodiac signs are Sagittarius (November 22 - December 21) and Capricorn (December 22 - January 19).

• December is also Universal Human Rights Month and National Read a New Book Month.

• December was the 10th month of the year until January and February were added to the front of the Roman calendar.

• Many celebrities celebrate a December birthday: Lucy Liu (12/2), Walt Disney (12/5), Larry Bird (12/7,) Frank Sinatra (12/12), Bob Barker (12/12), Taylor Swift (12/13), Jamie Foxx (12/13), Vanessa Hudgens (12/25), Ludwig van Beethoven (12/16), Samuel L. Jackson (12/21), Sir Isaac Newton (12/25) and Stan Lee (12/28).

• The birth flowers of December are narcissus and holly.

• December has three birthstones: Turquoise, Zircon and Tanzanite.

More on December's three birthstones:

TANZANITE

A one-of-a-kind gemstone, Tanzanite is known for its exotic deep blue color with a rich overtone of purple. This popular blue gemstones comes in a variety of shapes, sizes and striking assortments of blue tones. Tanzanite was first discovered in 1967 in Tanzania, East Africa, and was added to the official birthstone list by the American Gem Trade Association in 2002. Tanzanite is also the suggested gemstone for the 24th wedding anniversary.

TURQUOISE

Turquoise is one of the oldest known gemstones has enjoyed worldwide popularity for centuries. A favorite of Egyptian Pharaohs and early Native Americans, this beautiful blue gemstone is believed to offer healing powers, promoting the wearer’s status and wealth, protecting from evil and bringing good luck.

ZIRCON

Zircon is best known as a bright blue gemstone, but it is also available in beautiful earth tones of green, dark red, yellow, brown, and orange. Popular in the Middle Ages, Zircon was said to aid in resting, bring prosperity and promote honor and wisdom in its owner. Other special properties include fighting evil and avoiding jealousy, protecting from insomnia and promoting happiness and self-satisfaction.

Let us help you find the perfect December birthstone gift at our Huntington Beach showroom, or browse a selection online here. 

Comments | Posted in Blog By Ashley Stephens

Thursday, December 13, 2018 12:53:33 PM America/Los_Angeles

Customer Appreciation Holiday Party

at Affinity & Co. Jewelers
December 15th, 10 am to 6 pm
Receive a Special Gift with every purchase
Refreshments will be served

*Holiday Hours Begin December 8th
Monday - Friday 10 am - 7 pm
Saturday 10 am - 6 pm
Sunday 12 pm - 5 pm

Comments | Posted in Blog By Affinity Blogger

Monday, December 3, 2018 3:20:41 AM America/Los_Angeles

A solitaire engagement ring showcases the dazzling beauty of a single diamond. This engagement ring style is perfect for the bride who appreciates elegance and simplicity— and brides looking for a classic, traditional engagement ring. In a solitaire engagement ring, the diamond takes center stage, unlike a halo engagement ring or three-stone engagement ring. This engagement ring style is typically paired with a prong setting to maximize the sparkle.

A solitaire engagement ring setting is a perfect choice for any diamond shape, from round to pear to heart. This classic style can be personalized with metal colors, accent diamonds, and other details that will make an engagement ring one-of-a-kind. With a single center diamond, this ring style is a classic choice that never go out of style.

Our Favorite Solitaire Engagement Ring Settings at Affinity and Co. Jewelers:

Let us help you find the perfect solitaire engagement ring at our Huntington Beach showroom, or browse a selection online here. 

Comments | Posted in Blog By Ashley Stephens

Thursday, November 1, 2018 2:05:47 PM America/Los_Angeles

Picking out wedding bands is often one of the last big to-do's before walking down the aisle. Your engagement ring says yes to getting engaged... your wedding bands say yes to forever.

The wedding band is the perfect opportunity to enhance that beautiful engagement ring and really show off your personal style. Wedding band options are more unique than ever. You are no longer limited to the classic thin, coordinating band. Now you have colors, shapes and multiple bands to consider!

Affinity & Co. Jewelers is proud to offer Huffington Beach-area couples the best in men's and women's wedding bands. We offer many designs of men's wedding bands and women's wedding bands. We feature gold wedding bands, cobalt, palladium, platinum, silver, stainless steel or titanium wedding bands.  You can also select from specific designer jewelers or specific wedding collections.

Four Things to Consider When Buying Her Wedding Band

Think about function.

If you are active or like to travel with minimal jewelry, you might like the option of wearing just your wedding band and leaving the engagement ring in the jewelry box. Consider a style that stands on its own so you have options that fit your lifestyle.

Choose your own look.

Do you like the matching look or are you into something that stands on its own apart from your engagement ring? Contrasting engagement rings and wedding bands are on trend and create a look that's all your own. If you love rose or yellow gold but have a white gold engagement ring, you might appreciate the mixed metal look with your wedding band.

Play with numbers.

The only thing better than one stunning wedding band is two! When creating a look that complements your engagement ring, two (or more!) bands might be perfect for you. Try on a pair matching bands stacked on either side of your engagement ring and see what you think!

Consider color.

We love the sparkle of white diamonds, but color is always invited to the party! Your wedding band can express your personal style or other things that are important to you like the birthstone of your partner or the month you will say "I do." The most commonly chosen colored stones in a wedding band are ruby, emerald and sapphire.

Visit our Huntington Beach showroom to view our complete engagement ring selection, or explore a collection online here. 

Comments | Posted in Blog By Ashley Stephens

Tuesday, October 16, 2018 11:03:00 AM America/Los_Angeles

Comments | Posted in Blog By Affinity Blogger

Monday, October 15, 2018 10:58:24 PM America/Los_Angeles

Sapphire is the birthstone for those born in the month of September, although its popularity extends far past the ninth month of the year. Did you also know sapphire is also a traditional anniversary gift for four wedding anniversaries? Learn more about this beloved, royal blue stone below. 

Sapphire Folklore
Folklore tells that sapphires will protect loved ones from envy and harm and grant the wearer spiritual enlightenment and inner peace. They are believed to offer healing properties for rheumatism, colic, and mental illness. Sapphires are also considered an antidepressant.

Sapphires to Celebrate Anniversaries 
For couples looking for a traditional anniversary gift, sapphires are given for the 5th, 23rd, 45th and 65th wedding anniversaries. Couples celebrating these milestone anniversaries might consider a sapphire anniversary band that can be worn with the bridal set. 

Comments | Posted in Blog By Ashley Stephens

Thursday, September 6, 2018 2:26:36 PM America/Los_Angeles

Your engagement ring is likely one of the most precious items you own— both in terms of sentimental and financial value. By simply incorporating a few precautions and maintenance habits now, you will ensure your engagement ring shines for years to come!

We are sharing  key tips to kep your engagement ring as dazzling as the day you first put it on! 

Clean your ring at home with mild solutions.

Regularly wash your ring at home by soaking it in a mixture of warm water and mild dishwashing liquid for roughly 30 minutes before gently scrubbing it with a soft bristle toothbrush.

You can also clean metals and precious stones with baking soda with its mild, non-abrasive consistency that makes it perfect for cleaning. Simply pour a bit of baking soda into a bowl and mix it with a bit of warm water to create a soft paste. Take off your ring and use your fingers to gently rub the paste around the stone, the setting, and the ring. Rinse the ring in warm water and dry with a lint-free cloth.

Have a go-to safe spot.

Whether you always take your ring off to sleep or shower, or if you only remove it when you really must, it's wise to have a designated spot for it. Whether you choose a specific area in your jewelry box, or a small dish on your dresser, having a go-to location will cut down on the chances of forgetting where you put it. 

Consider adding an alternative ring to the mix.

Many brides are choosing to rely on a “backup ring.” This ring is an alternate ring to your engagement ring that is often less valuable and can be worn without worry of it getting lost or damaged.

When you don't want to put your engagement ring at risk (a long day at the beach or gardening, for example), leave the real bling at home and opt for an alternative ring.

Avoid contact with harsh chemical residue.

Chemicals from everyday products (not just harah cleaners— even the ones in perfume, sunscreen, and lotion) can add residue to the ring and diamond, which can cause potential damage. Make it a habit to remove your ring before applying products that may be made with harmful chemicals.

Restore shine to white gold and platinum.

No matter what care you give your ring, every white gold ring will start to dull and a yellow hue will start to shine through. This is natural and unavoidable, but the gold’s original sheen can be easily restored through a process called Rhodium plating.

While platinum rings do not need Rhodium treatments as platinum does not originally start off as yellow, those who want a shinier look to their platinum engagement ring can opt to have their platinum band plated for more shine.

Get insurance.

As with any serious investment, it's wise to consider getting insurance for your engagement ring. While it might be emotionally difficult to ever have to replace your engagement ring, knowing you wouldn't have the financial upset if you ever did lose it can be more than worth it. 

Schedule professional cleanings.

Our jewelers are happy to give your engagement ring a thorough professional cleaning. Not only will we clean your ring, but we will examine it under magnification to make sure the prongs are secure, and to check for diamond fractures and loose stones. It is wise to have your ring professionally cleaned twice a year to maintain the structural integrity of your ring and keep it as dazzling as the first time you put it on. 

Repair broken jewelry as soon as posssible. 

Do you need your jewelry inspected or repaired? Our master craftsmen will repair, clean, and polish your jewelry and timepieces on the premises. Our services include ring sizing, rhodium plating, soldering, clasp replacements, pearl restringing, prong repair, diamond and stone setting, and watch repair. 

Learn more about jewelry repair by visting our Huntington Beach showroom, calling us at 714-596-3900, or visiting our website HERE. 

Comments | Posted in Blog By Ashley Stephens

Friday, August 31, 2018 2:24:02 PM America/Los_Angeles