Purchasing used engagement rings can seem somewhat taboo for a number of reasons: some think they carry bad energy or bad luck because of their previous owners; some think these rings are inherently subpar in quality; others simply think these rings are dated and tacky.

However, these misconceptions simply aren’t always true. We’re bringing you the facts of buying used engagement rings to dispel the myths that are associated with them and to encourage you to consider this affordable and environmentally friendly option.

Myth #1: All used engagement rings carry bad energy. Why would I invite that into my marriage?
Mythbuster: Not all used engagement rings come from people recovering from broken engagements or marriages. Many come from couples who are still together and just want a different ring. Some come from inherited family jewels. There are even some that could be new but were sold by retailers at a discount so they could get rid of stock!

While, certainly, a small number may come from failed relationships, they are in the minority. In reality, people often sell their engagement rings so they can use the money to upgrade to another ring with a bigger stone, or use the money for other things, like to put into a savings account or to pay for a dream vacation.

Myth #2: Used engagement rings have low-quality stones or metals, which is why their previous owners didn’t want them.
Mythbuster: First of all, if the rings were made of low-quality materials, they would not have been bought when they were new in the first place, right?

Secondly, like we said, people sell their rings for a variety of reasons, some of which are entirely financial. Though some do choose to use the money to upgrade to a different ring, that often just means they want a different ring style, stone cut, or carat weight.

Thirdly, one little-known fact about jewelry is that diamonds are often recycled. Though it could be in a used engagement ring now, that center stone could have been in a Cartier necklace or in Tiffany & Co. earrings years ago, and it could be recycled again into a new bracelet, years from now. Whether a diamond is fresh from the mines or has been part of generations’ worth of jewelry, its quality never fades; diamonds are forever, after all.

Myth #3: Used engagement rings have gaudy settings and dated, tacky stones. I want something fresh!
Mythbuster: Engagement rings are designed to last forever, which is why the most popular rings set the hardest stone on earth (diamond) into the most durable precious metal (platinum). When people design or buy rings with longevity in mind, they tend to go for classic settings like solitaire, which go with everything and never go out of style, and these are the ones that often get resold. Hardly any used rings incorporate weirdly-cut stones or awkward settings, and even if they do, the stones can always be re-cut and recycled into more contemporary settings! Either way, there’s no reason why a used engagement ring can’t find a home in your jewelry box.

If you still need more convincing, check out this post for reasons why you should buy pre-owned!

Eager to take advantage of the long summer days, we all want to zip from the office and meet up with friends for a cocktail or catch that outdoor concert in the park.

When you’re pressed for time but still want to give your nighttime look a little more oomph, here are three quick and easy ways to re-style your daytime jewelry to pump up your evening look!

1. Switch around your necklace and accentuate a low-backed dress or jumpsuit.
Back-drop necklaces are a hot fashion trend and perfect for summer. Flip around your lariat or drop pendant necklace to hang down your back for a daring and subtly sexy evening look.

2. Swap out one of your stud earrings for a dramatic chandelier earring.
We love the fashion-forward asymmetrical look of a stud earring worn opposite a statement earring and this daring look is perfect for summer nights. To still keep the contrasting look cohesive, pick earrings with the same metal color.

3. Stack up delicate rings to create your own statement cocktail ring.
If you typically wear thin bands across multiple fingers, pile them onto one finger to make a unique evening ring.

Zenith watches are remarkable for their creatively bold design and extraordinary precision. Here we take a look at the Swiss watchmaker’s history and its biggest breakthroughs, including Zenith’s signature El Primero, the world’s first automatic chronograph movement with an accuracy of 1/10th of a second.

The Beginning of Zenith Watches
In 1865, Georges Favre-Jacout, a 22-year-old watch apprentice, founded his own watch company in Le Locle, Switzerland. Although it would not earn the official brand name Zenith until 1911, from the onset, Favre-Jacout’s watch company was a very different type of watch brand.

At the time, watch artisans worked from different spaces and factories throughout the city. Watch components were then transported from their respective locations to a master watchmaker for final assembly. But Favre-Jacout consolidated Zenith’s watchmakers under one roof and, in turn, created the very first modern Manufacture. This fateful decision would facilitate and hasten Zenith’s technology research and development in its endeavors to produce some of the world’s most precise timepieces.

Zenith debuted its first pocket chronograph in 1899 and soon after, founder Favre-Jacot won the gold medal at the Paris Universal exhibition in 1990. Throughout the early 20th century, Zenith’s manufacturing plant steadily grew. In 1948, Zenith broke out with its Calibre 135, a chronometer movement with a small seconds hand, which ultimately received 235 watchmaking awards and prizes.

The Introduction of El Primero
In the 1960s, Zenith demonstrated its incredible precision engineering: first by introducing the Calibre 5011K which offered record-breaking precision and was used to power marine chronometers, table clocks and pocket watches. Then, in 1969, Zenith debuted El Primero, the very first ever integrated automatic chronograph movement. Today, El Primero remains the world’s most precise series-made caliber and is the only caliber that can measure short times down to the tenth of a second.

However, when the Quartz Crisis rattled the Swiss watch industry throughout the 1970s, Zenith’s parent company decreed the watchmaker would produce exclusively quartz watches to remain competitive. One audacious watchmaker, Charles Vermot, fearing they would be destroyed in the wake of the company’s mandate, hid away the crucial plans and tools needed to produce Zenith’s mechanical calibres.

Vermot kept these documents and materials under wraps until 1984. With the Quartz Crisis largely behind the industry and a nice uptick in commercial interest in mechanical watches, Vermot revealed his secret and Zenith began producing its signature El Primero caliber again.

In 1988, the El Primero movement was first used in Rolex’s wildly popular Daytona chronograph and remained the Rolex’s selection to power the Daytona until 2000.

Zenith Today
In 2000, Zenith was purchased by the LVMH group. Zenith remains one of the few Swiss watch manufacturers to produce its movements in-house, the most notable of which being El Primero, which remains in production today.

Throughout its long history, Zenith has developed 600 movement variations and filed 300 patents for its engineering marvels. In turn, the watchmaker has received 2,333 timekeeping precision awards since 1903, more any other watchmaker.

When smartwatches sales started to pick up in 2015, some worried that another Quartz Crisis was descending upon the watch industry. (Quick history review: the Quartz Crisis refers to the economic downturn that befell the Swiss watch industry throughout the 1970s and 1980s with the introduction of inexpensive and more accurate quartz watches from Asia. Swiss brands lost a lot of market share to the Japanese watch brand Seiko and, even after a handful of bailouts by Swiss banks, still shuttered their doors.)

In this modern edition of history repeating itself, some speculated mechanical watches would become entirely obsolete as the Apple Watch became a ubiquitous accessory, donned by current watch- and non-watch-wearers alike. But Swiss watchmakers didn’t seem all that concerned with the growing popularity of smartwatches.

Because, unlike the Quartz Crisis where the industry was largely playing catch-up to its Asian competitors, a handful of leading Swiss watch brands were already putting their finishing touches on their own novel take on smartwatches: the horological smartwatch.

What is the Horological Smartwatch?
In short, the horological smartwatch marries traditional watch design and smartwatch wearable technology. It’s essentially a smartwatch dressed up (or disguised, depending on how you want to look at it) as a classic fine watch.

A Brief History of the Horological Smartwatch
In 2015, Manufacture Modules Technologies (MMT) was founded as a joint-venture between Silicon Valley’s Fullpower Technologies (the company that developed the MotionX technology found in the fitness trackers UP by Jawbone and Nike Fuelband) and Switzerland’s Union Horologère Holding, the parent company of Alpina and Frederique Constant. In turn, MMT and these select Swiss watch brands set about developing smartwatches that tapped into the quintessential look and feel of a sleek mechanical watch but incorporated smartwatch technology.

Frederique Constant focused on preserving the overall design’s clean aesthetics: a sleek dial, diamond-cut hands, applied hour markers and hand-polished cases. MMT, meanwhile, focused on how to improve the battery life and how to convert the traditional dial into an unobtrusive piece of wearable tech. The result was the horological smartwatch.

Features and Functionality of Frederique Constant’s Horological Smartwatch
Frederique Constant first tasked MMT with developing a smartwatch that doesn’t need to be charged every day. To answer this call, the horological smartwatch platform’s battery is powered by a quartz module for timekeeping and a set of gears that controls the hands on the dial. Impressively, the battery on a horological smartwatch lasts more than two years.

And, as for the original design, unlike a typical smartwatch that uses a digital display, Frederique Constant’s Horological Smartwatch uses its hour and minute hands and crown to read out what percentage of your daily activity goal you’ve reached. The horological smartwatch pairs with the MotionX-365 app to give you a more detailed look at your activity and sleep patterns.

Later updates to the horological smartwatch would include a vibrating motor that, via your Bluetooth-enabled smartphone, notifies you of calls or text messages and can automatically update your local time zone.

Looking Ahead in the World of Horological Smartwatches
While other mid-level and fashion-brand competitors have entered the smartwatch circle (including TAG Heuer and Montblanc), Frederique Constant remains the leader in Swiss smartwatch manufacturing, shipping over 16,000 horological smartwatches in 2015 alone.

MMT later broke off as an independent smartwatch and software company in 2016 when the Frederique Constant group was acquired by Citizen. MMT’s ultimate goal is to license out its MotionX-365 horological smartwatch platform to any Swiss watch brand that wants to fold this technology into current and future collections, expanding wearers’ overall selection of smartwatch styles.

While these horological smartwatches are not necessarily meant to compete head-to-head with, say, the Apple Watch, they do offer a sleek alternative for watch wearers who appreciate that classic Swiss look but do not want to sacrifice the added benefits of smartwatch tech.

Platinum is one of the most popular metals for jewelry-making, especially when it comes to wedding rings. This super-strong metal lasts for generations and requires far fewer check-ups for retouching at the jeweler. However, it has its setbacks, too. We’ve rounded up everything you need to know about platinum jewelry, from the formulation of platinum, to care and storage methods, to cost, and everything in between.

Color

Platinum is naturally a brilliant, grayish-white color. Over time, the metal does develop a patina that might make it look a little dull, but some people prefer this look since it makes diamonds look bigger. However, it can be quickly polished to restore its luster as needed.

Care & Storage

Platinum is a very durable metal. It can be scratched, but it won’t crack or chip. The difference between platinum and other precious metals when it comes to damage is that when metals like gold are scratched, they actually lose tiny pieces of metal while scratches on platinum simply displace the metal. This is why gold and silver wears down relatively quickly and platinum looks new for years and years.

Platinum also doesn’t usually have any plating on it while gold and silver often do. That’s why scratches don’t often show up as easily when a gold piece is freshly plated, but as that plating wears down, not only will scratches become much more visible, but the metal of the jewelry itself will also start to degrade. Platinum does not have that problem. That and its hardness mean this metal does not require as much regular maintenance or as many trips to the jeweler as gold and silver do.

However, that doesn’t mean it can be freely tossed around! Like all jewelry made of precious metals, platinum jewelry should be kept separate from other jewelry in a fabric-lined or padded container. It should be noted, though, that this piece of advice is less for the sake of your platinum jewelry and more for the safety of your other jewelry. Pieces made out of soft metals like high karat gold or silver could easily sustain damage just by brushing up against platinum jewelry, so make sure you store them separately.

Formulation

Almost all precious metals used for jewelry are alloyed with base metals, usually to change the metal’s tone, hardness, or pliability. Platinum is no different. This precious metal is commonly alloyed with palladium, ruthenium, rhodium, copper, iridium, and titanium. Many manufacturers of luxury jewelry tend to lean towards platinum/ruthenium or platinum/palladium alloys since these metals have an excellent white color and make the platinum more malleable, making it easy to mold it into the shape of a finely-designed ring. Once set and polished, however, these alloys become incredibly durable. Due to the hardness, they tend to take on a very high luster.

In addition to being durable and very lustrous, platinum alloys are also usually hypoallergenic. Since platinum is usually alloyed with other durable metals within its own chemical family, you can rest assured that you won’t find any nasty green rings or white, crusty residue on your hands after wearing a platinum ring for a while. That is, of course, unless your platinum is alloyed with copper, which tends to oxidize on skin, leaving a green residue. Always be sure to ask what metals your jewelry contains before you purchase them to make sure they won’t cause any allergic or oxidation reactions.

Common Settings

Because of platinum’s high shine and durability, it is by far the favorite for use in setting engagement rings and wedding rings. It is a very dense metal, though, and it can feel quite heavy, which could be a setback for some since the weight of the ring could be uncomfortable. Some people do like the hefty feeling of a platinum ring, however, so you should try one on for a while and see if you like the weight of the ring.

Platinum is also sometimes used in necklaces, especially by Tiffany & Co. Though it is very strong, when heated to become malleable, platinum is very ductile, meaning it’s easy for jewelers to draw it out into thin strands. Tiffany & Co. takes advantage of platinum’s unique properties to fashion beautiful pendant necklaces on thin platinum chains that are much harder to break and much more long-lasting than their sterling silver counterparts.

Platinum is also used in high-end watches as a heavier, more luxurious replacement for traditional stainless steel cases and bracelets. Brands like Rolex, Patek Philippe, A. Lange & Sohne, and Vacheron Constantin, among others, are fond of this technique.

Cost

As you can imagine, platinum is very popular, since it’s practically the perfect metal for jewelry-making. However, it is also incredibly scarce in the Earth’s crust, and only a few hundred tons of it are produced per year. As such, the high demand for the metal and the extremely low supply really drive the price up for this precious metal.

Most pure platinum jewelry tends to ring in at around $1,000 apiece on the low end of the spectrum, with very simple, thin platinum wedding bands bottoming out at about $300 apiece. On the extremely high end, pure platinum jewelry can cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars!

The nice thing about platinum, though, is that there is platinum jewelry made to fit most jewelry budgets. Whether you end up spending $1,000 or $100,000 on your platinum jewelry, you can be sure that this amazing metal will last for generations.

If you’re interested in learning more about other precious white metals, check out for a quick run-down of the core properties of platinum, white gold, palladium, silver, and titanium. Or, you can visit this post for help with figuring out which precious white jewelry metal is best for your needs!

While diamonds still reign supreme in the world of engagement rings, there most certainly has been a shift towards colorful engagement rings to suit nearly-weds’ personalities and individual look—and, lucky for them, these colorful gemstones tend to be more affordable than their diamond alternatives.

That said, here are 10 cool and colorful engagement rings to perfectly suit your fiancé’s character and style.

Whichever ring you choose should be reflective of a life that will hopefully be filled with care, devotion, spontaneity, adventure, peace, joy, love, and what else… color. Congrats to you and your bride- or groom-to-be and happy shopping!

The primary birthstone for the month of July is a red variety of the mineral corundum that goes by the name of ruby.

The Origins and Cultural Significance of Rubies

The word ruby stems from “ruber,” the Latin word for red. The ruby is one of the traditional cardinal gemstones.

The Mogok Valley in upper Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) was, for quite some time, the world’s main source for quality rubies, with several from that region selling at auction for record-breaking numbers. In 2003, however, the United States banned the import of rubies from Burma because of unethical practices by the country’s government, its military control over the mines, and the slave-like conditions in which miners were forced to work. In September of 2016, President Barack Obama lifted the ban on both rubies and jade coming from Myanmar so that the area could potentially benefit from trade relationships since at the time it was in the process of becoming a democratic nation.

Often referred to as the “King of Precious Stones,” the ruby is one of the most popular, sought-after, and historically significant of all the world’s colored stones. Religiously speaking, rubies are mentioned four times in the Christian Bible and are held in high regard in Hindu beliefs. In many Asian cultures, rubies were used as adornments on armor in order to protect the soldiers who wore them. They were also used on the harnesses of noblemen in India and China and were buried beneath the foundations of buildings because it was believed the gem would bring security and good fortune to the structure. Trade of rubies in China goes back to 200 B.C. where the gems were bartered on China’s North Silk Road.

Notable Ruby Jewelry

The largest ruby ever mined was an eight-and-a-half-thousand-carat gemstone out of East Africa that weighed four pounds and was sculpted into a miniature form of the United States’ Liberty Bell in 1976 by sculptor Alfonso de Vivanco for the United States Bicentennial. The stone was stolen from a jeweler in Delaware in a heist in 2011 and never recovered.

Another world-famous ruby that also happens to be the most expensive ruby ever sold is the Sunrise Ruby of Burmese origin which sold in May of 2015 at a Sotheby’s auction in Geneva, Switzerland for over $30 million USD. If you’re interested in seeing more spectacular, history-making rubies, check out this post.

The Properties and Hardness of Rubies

The most sought-after color for rubies (and the color found largely in gems mined in the Mogok Valley) is a color known as “pigeon’s blood.” A bright, vibrant red color that is natural, unheated, and contains no pink hue. The quality of a ruby is determined by the gem’s color, cut, and clarity. These factors, along with the stone’s carat weight, affect its overall value, similar to how a diamond’s value and, therefore, price is determined.

Rubies have a hardness of 9.0 on the Mohs scale, making them one of the harder gemstones in existence. They range in color from blood red to reddish pink, to reddish purple, to orangey red, to deep crimson. Gems that are determined to be too pink with no hue of red are often labeled as pink sapphires since the sapphire is made of the same mineral as the ruby.

Chanel’s mirrored double “C” logo is one of the most recognizable icons in the fashion industry. This simple, universally-known symbol represents a world of luxury, haute couture, and top-tier craftsmanship.

Though these concepts suggest a hefty price tag, it’s still possible to enjoy the opulence of a genuine Chanel piece without breaking the bank. Buying pre-owned jewelry is a preeminent trend in the jewelry world because it affords the average jewelry enthusiast the opportunity to own fine jewelry at a much more reasonable price.

TrueFacet Marketplace offers a variety of pre-owned, authentic Chanel logo jewelry, from earrings to necklaces and all baubles in between, and the best part about buying it here is that you get pieces of excellent quality without having to pay the marked-up retail price like you would if they were brand new.

We’ve rounded up ten of our favorite pieces of Chanel logo jewelry.

Chanel CC Logo Cross Necklace

If you loved what you saw at the 2018 Met Gala, then you’ll love the look of this Chanel gold tone hardware cross necklace with the CC logo meticulously worked into the piece’s design. The 26” length of the necklace makes it ideal for layering with other Chanel pieces overtop your favorite summer sweater.

Chanel Red Coral Three Strand Bracelet

Made in Italy, this three-strand Chanel CC bracelet features red coral and gold-tone hardware. It’s the perfect piece to wear while people-watching by the pool or strolling the sandy beaches of the Mediterranean.

Chanel Logo Button Earrings

Button earrings are back, and since the Chanel logo never goes out of style, these are a must-have for any woman’s wardrobe.

Chanel Gunmetal Geometric Ring

Blue and white stones set in geometric patterns give this gunmetal grey Chanel logo ring an almost punk rock feel to it, making it an amazing accessory for an all-black ensemble.

Chanel Vintage “Coco Mark” Drop Earrings

These vintage, gold-toned hardware, teardrop-style earrings with the Chanel logo are simply divine and an absolute steal at the listed price.

Chanel Sunglasses Brooch

Made with simulated glass and resin, this mod-style Chanel logo pin will bring a colorful and eccentric brightness to any ensemble.

Chanel Heart Ring with CC Logo

You’ll love this simulated glass and resin Chanel CC logo ring so much that you’re likely to wear it all day, all night, and even on the weekends.

Chanel Tweed Wide Bangle Bracelet

Fly into the 4th of July in style with this red, white, and blue wide tweed bangle bracelet made with silver-toned hardware, complete with Chanel CC logo.

Chanel Baroque Pearl Choker

If the look of pearls speaks to your personal style, this CC logo Baroque pearl and simulated glass necklace is the ultimate piece for those days when you want to feel a little like Audrey Hepburn.

Chanel Vintage Logo Hoop Earrings

Who here doesn’t love a great set of hoops? And who here doesn’t love vintage Chanel? Well with these CC logo earrings you can have both and look stylish and chic while you’re at it.

Visit TrueFacet for more Chanel jewels!