The Hileman Collection

Selecting engagement jewelry is one of the most important decisions you will make for your marriage ceremony. A custom opal ring is not just a piece of jewelry; it is a sign of your deep love for your partner. When it comes to engagement jewelry, choices are endless. Contemporary jewelers offer a huge assortment of designs and materials. You can get jewelry made of yellow-colored or white silver or jewelry, titanium, platinum or silver. Gold is a preferred pick of the classic engagement set. Titanium is resilient, modern and fashionable, but titanium jewelry is awfully expensive. Sterling silver is the cheapest, but it is not as resilient. You can get jewelry without any gem stones, or with many. The most popular of course are diamonds; you can get a single engagement setting or a diamond-encrusted set. Wedding jewelry is not a hard to find item. Every jewelry shop has some to provide. Most stores have hundreds of different designs and online catalogs to browse through. ...

Owning a true opal piece of jewelry is a statement of personal style. Yet, have you ever looked at your custom opal ring and wondered if you got what you paid for? There are synthetic opal and man-made gemstones available on the market. White opal stones are quite common, and are typically a genuine solid. Referred to as a crystal opal, the doublets and triplets carry a darker tone due to a black artificial backing. Take a good look at the side of your opal and see if it has distinct layers visible to the eye. The ‘join’ between the backing and the opal will look perfectly straight and flat if it is synthetic. True opals are irregular and will show a natural formation which is curved. Also, be aware of any opal jewelry in which you cannot see the back or the side. Most inlaid opal rings display large patches of different colors. Synthetic solid opals like a Gilson opal will have a too perfect of pattern, often resembling a snakeskin look. Unless you are an expert at iden...

Jewelry is an expression of identity and art. It feels good to pick out a piece which speaks to us. When we wear it, we are eager to show our new found gem to others. Yet, probably the gemstone which deserves the biggest applause would be an opal. There is something so mysterious about this gemstone and how the play of color puts us in a trance.   While the world has been caught up in diamonds, opals deserve front seat. Each opal is diverse in color, shape and size. A fiery colored opal can command a price above that of an emerald or diamond. Inlaid opal bracelets have become a favorite for women seeking a jewelry piece that keeps value over time. The color brilliance and uniqueness of these opal bracelets make a beautiful gift for anyone who loves gems. Opal rings for men are another option which has seen an increase in demand. If taken care of properly, opals will retain their precious look for a lifetime.  For thousands of years, opals have been an integral part...