ABOUT DIAMONDS
Engaging with
– A Local Gem! by Fiona Tuomey
Ah l’amour! Not confined to the month of February, but certainly a month where hundreds of people decided to pop the question and propose marriage. So, if you did, let’s talk engagement rings! Engagement rings are traditionally given as a symbol of love and commitment between two people. You may be looking for an engagement ring for a surprise proposal, you may be looking for your own or maybe you are browsing with your partner. Whatever the situation, FitzGibbon Jewellers have the answer! Adrian FitzGibbon & Family have been in the jewellery trade for the past 40 years. Located on Butterfield Avenue in Rathfarnham Shopping Centre for the last 16 years, FitzGibbon Jewellers have a fantastic range of engagement rings and diamond jewellery. Adrian, along with his sister Valerie and experienced staff, have built up a reputation among customers for providing quality goods and a superb customer service. Whatever your budget or style, you can be sure of finding it in their store. I spoke with Adrian’s sister Valerie and asked her why readers should drop into FitzGibbons if they are looking for an engagement ring? “Choosing an engagement ring, or any diamond, is a very special purchase. We pride ourselves on our ability to listen to our customers and match their desires and budget with a well chosen diamond. Our designs vary from classic single stones (solitaires), single stones with shoulder stones and also three stone (trilogy) rings. Some people may even decide to wear an eternity ring as an engagement ring; there are no strict rules to follow.”
Colour refers to a diamond's lack of colour, grading the whiteness of a diamond. A colour grade of D is the highest possible, while Z is the lowest. Clarity is a measure of the number and size of the tiny imperfections that occur in almost all diamonds. Many of these imperfections are microscopic and do not affect a diamond's beauty in any discernible way.” Well, as the song goes, diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but let’s not confine it to the newly engaged! FitzGibbon’s also have a fantastic range of diamond pendants, diamond necklaces and diamond bracelets in their range. As Valerie explained “Our diamond range includes diamond pendants, from our classic single stone (solitaire) range, diamond crosses and a collection of contemporary designs. We also have a range of diamond earrings to match almost every design, if you are looking for a gift set. Our diamond pendants all include an 18ct gold chain, specially selected to look sleek, subtle and keep the focus on the pendant itself”. FitzGibbon Jewellers are offering all readers a stunning 25% off all diamond jewellery throughout the month of March. Don’t fret if your budget doesn’t allow for a sparkling purchase. You can always leave in an older piece which can be cleaned, repaired or remodelled and brought back to life. There’s always a way to get the sparkle into your loved one’s life!!
So, what should people look out for when choosing a diamond? “Most people have heard of the four C's in Diamonds 1 Carat, 2 Cut, 3 Colour and 4 Clarity, but they are not sure what this means. Carat is specifically a measure of a diamond's weight. We tend to evaluate diamond size by viewing it from the top because that is how diamonds are presented to us when set into a ring. Cut is a diamond's most important characteristic. It has the greatest overall influence on a diamond's beauty and sparkle. Always select the highest cut grade within your budget. 6 | ABOUT RATHFARNHAM
Left to right: Valerie Phillips, Patricia Heffernan, Adrian FitzGibbon, Patricia Breen.
Check out www.aboutmagazines.ie