Continuing yesterday’s how to buy a diamond ring tips, here are the remaining 3 tips in our how to buy a diamond ring series:

Tip #4
GIA Tip: Have the jeweler provide an independent diamond grading report for your diamond.
Anne’s Advice: In addition to knowing the quality of your diamond, make sure the jeweler is not selling you a blood diamond or conflict diamond. These stones are sold to finance wars in Africa. He should be able to provide you with papers proving it's not a blood or conflict diamond.

Tip #5
GIA Tip: Keep your purchase secure.
Anne’s Advice: Have the ring appraised and insured immediately. A ring can get lost or stolen even in the few days from when it gets picked up at the jewelers to when it is slipped on your ring finger. Don’t risk it.

Tip #6
GIA Tip: If you’re not sure what ring to get, you can buy the stones loose and then shop for a mounting.
Anne’s Advice: If you’re not sure what you want, or what she wants, visit some jewelers to try on different styles. You won’t know what feels right or looks best on your hand unless you try on a variety of rings. Go to one, two or more stores in your neighborhood and try on different cuts, carats and colored stones. Maybe you’ll fall in love with a sapphire center stone or an antique looking ring. You'll never know until you try some on.

Above all be an educated consumer. Visit the GIA website for more information on shopping for and buying a diamond. The gorgeous engagement ring featured above was designed by Irina Ferry and is available at Soho Gem.

I thought that since we are in the beginning of engagement season - according to a survey done by the Knot, about 40% of couples will get engaged between November (Thanksgiving) and February (Valentine’s Day) – I’d post some buying an engagement ring tips that you can send to your guy. If you’re already engaged, these tips are just as important for purchasing a diamond wedding band.

The following are a combination of tips from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) on how to buy a diamond, as well as my own advice to help you make a informed purchase.

Tip #1
GIA Tip: Choose a qualified jeweler.
Anne’s Advice: The best way to find a reputable jeweler is to get recommendations from friends and relatives. Don’t just walk into a random store on the street.

Tip #2
GIA Tip: Do some research.
Anne’s Advice: Know what you are looking for – the different shapes and colors – you’ve heard of the Four Cs, but your fiancé may not have. Visit ADiamondIsForever.com and create the ring you want, and show it to him, so he knows what to get you. I designed the ring I wanted and pasted it as the wallpaper on Dave's computer so he would know exactly which design I wanted - round center stone with baguette side stones.

Tip #3
GIA Tip: Learn the Four Cs - carat, clarity, color and cut.
Anne’s Advice: And don’t forget the fifth C – cost. Have a budget and an idea of what you want to spend on the ring. You can use the Groom Groove Engagement Ring Calculator to help figure out how much 2-months salary is. But you can always spend more or less than that. Spend what you can afford.

Click here for 3 more tips on how to buy a diamond ring.

And if you're already shopping for a ring, you may want to shop online. Kiplinger.com posted a great article on where to find a great deal on diamond rings online. My favorite, and theirs, is Bluenile.com. The ring pictured above is from Blue Nile.

I was shopping for holiday gifts in SoHo on Black Friday and we fell into this amazing jewelry store – SoHo Gem. If you don’t live in New York, you can see and buy their jewelry on their website. If you are, or plan on being, in New York Soho Gem is on West Broadway between Spring & Broome or on Madison between 66th & 67th.

Anyway, I saw their wedding bands and was just blown away. The designs were exquisite. Some of them were so delicate. I just had to tell you guys all about it.

Their collection of wedding bands were unique in that they weren’t all diamond eternity bands. There were a lot of bands with colored stones, as well as wedding bands in interesting shapes. While most ads and editorials on wedding bands feature simple platinum and white gold bands – which they also carry – you rarely see eternity bands with pink or blue sapphires as well as other colored stones.

When you're shopping for a wedding band buy a ring that compliments your engagement ring as well as something you will wear everyday. And just because you pick a ring with colored gemstones, that doesn’t mean your fiancé has to pick a ring with colored stones too – unless of course he wants to. Have him find a ring that he feels comfortable wearing. Not all men want to wear a wedding band, but they should still buy one for the ceremony.

The stacked eternity bands by designer Barry Kronen featured above are 18k white gold with oval blue, pink, white and green sapphires and brilliant cut pave diamonds in between. And I think are quite affordable at $1,750 a band.

The more traditional platinum eternity band by Michael Epstein has 2.35 carats of Asscher cut diamonds in a split bezel setting, and is a little more expensive. But isn't it gorgeous?!

Here's the link to the wedding band site at SoHo Gem, feel free to browse and let us know which style you like best. Would you buy a wedding band with colored stones? And by the way, if you're not in the market for bands, they also have great earrings, necklaces and bracelets you could accesoirze your wedding dress with. Or just add something that you'll wear everyday to your holiday wish list and tell Santa you have to have it!

Wedding Planning Tip: You don’t have to get a diamond wedding band right now. I actually think its nice to pick something simple or with colored stones, and then get your diamond wedding band for an anniversary down the road. It’s something you can look forward to.

I met with the owner of accessory website RimiStyle today. The site sells affordable accessories - bags, belts, necklaces, earrings and bracelets - that you can wear everyday, including your wedding day.

I fell in love with the 2 bracelets featured above. The Ice Stretch Bracelet would be perfect for a modern bride, while the Emerald City style would be great for your bridesmaids - as long as it matches their dress. The prices on the site are unbelievable. Guess how much these bracelets are?

If you guessed $28 for the ice stretch and $22 for the emerald you’d be right! Can you believe it?

You can search for what you’re looking for by product type or e-mail their personal shopper service to help you find the right accessories for you and your bridesmaids.

Dave and I just got back from a week in LA. We went to a beautiful wedding, which I’ll tell you all about later this week. While we were in town I visited a number of shops and came across the Bead Boutique on 3rd Street.

My mother and sister have been going there for years, and now I know why. The shop is filled with beautiful beads, charms and chains and the customer can design their own necklaces, earrings and bracelets.

The store has a number of designs to help inspire you, or you can buy one the creations made by the store's owners, Pamela and Francesca.

In addition to making something for yourself – I made a double gold chain necklace with amethyst stones – you can take a class on how to make jewelry.

For brides looking to create something special for each of their bridesmaids, I recommend making custom jewelry for each of your girls. If you don’t live in Southern California, call the store and tell them what you want to do and they can help you create something special that your ‘maids are sure to wear again and again.

And while you're there, make something to wear on your honeymoon - there's no rule that you can't buy yourself a a wedding present.



Click here for more wedding planning tips.

Finding the right wedding bands are very important. You and your groom will be wearing them everyday for the rest of your lives.

Make sure to go shopping together to find bands that compliment each other. And if you’re planning on wearing your wedding band on the same finger as your engagement ring, you’ll need to make sure that they fit nicely together.

Check with your officiant to make sure that there are no “ring requirements” for your ceremony. For example, if you’re having a Jewish ceremony, the Rabbi will tell you that you need unadorned round gold bands. The solid round band represents your unending love for each other. If you do need special rings for your cermeony, you may want to either purchase simple gold bands for your ceremony, or borrow bands from your parents or grandparents.

The bands pictured above are from the Love, Peace and Hope Bridal Jewelry Collection. 10% of every purchase from their new line of engagement, wedding and anniversary rings is donated to Lambda Legal, a national advocacy organization working towards marriage equality.

Looking for the perfect accessories for your beach wedding? UnCommon Goods sells a beautiful set of starfish and coral inspired jewelry that is perfect for an oceanfront location. In addition to looking great on you, the earrings and necklace would also make a great bridesmaid gift.

And if you're still looking for a thank you gift for your groomsmen, I like the set of 4 "Ground Rules" baseball glasses.

This weekend I stopped by the Gift Show to see what new and exciting products will soon be on store shelves. Design by Debra Shepard - a jewelry booth caught my eye.

These Earstrings® earrings are the most fabulous earrings I have seen in a long time. There are a variety of colors and styles available - pick up silver, gold or pearl for yourself or a color for your 'maids. I promise, they will want to wear these earrings again and again! Prices for these gems start at $38 at their online store - well within the bridesmaid gift budget.

The two earrings above, Expression Threader Earrings on the right and Bling Strings on the left are priced at $38 and $72, respectively.

I highly recommend checking out the online store and picking up a pair for yourself – whether for your bachelorette party, wedding or honeymoon.