Many of David’s custom designs have been featured in gemology texts, as well as on television broadcasts throughout Upstate NY, including Rochester, Buffalo, and Syracuse.com, and ADiamondsforever.com. Using a unique combination of cutting edge computer design technology, centuries-old traditional techniques, and unparalleled attention to craftsmanship and detail, David creates designs of remarkable beauty and vivid style.

David’s medium includes gold, both 14k and 18k, as well as platinum and palladium. Silver and rose gold are also optional. Diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and other precious stones are then added, allowing David to create jewelry pieces of lasting significance. No wonder David has been heralded as a Master Craftsman.

David’s customers and fans are not short of praise…

• I have been a customer of West & Co for several years. David Nytch has designed two pieces of jewelry for me and they are amazing. I constantly get compliments on this jewelry. David is great to work with, there is no pressure, he is extremely professional and his designs are priceless. I truly believe West & Co is the only jeweler in Rochester that can design jewelry to this level.  – Jean Hasset,Victor NY

• I am my own person and therefore, would like jewelry different from all the rest. My engagement ring was custom made for me! It only made sense to get our wedding bands, our mothers’ jewelry and bridesmaids’ gifts from West & Co. What a breath of fresh air to work with an honest, caring jeweler who understands not only the industry, but the art behind creating one-of-a-kind pieces. I can now say I have one and only one Jeweler. Thank you West & Co. – Elizabeth & Lou Gianakakis

• “I literally visited dozens… and dozens of jewelers around upstate NEW YORK searching for the right engagement ring and when I visited West & Company, I knew I finally found where I want to bring my business. Dave has a gift and a great passion for what he does and it shows in the quality of work that he produces.” – Joe Teresi

• “Oh my gosh! I just had my diamond re-set in his signature setting. It came out gorgeous! I have had two settings in the past from very reputable, well-known jewelers, and though it was technically correct, it didn’t do anything for showing off the beautiful diamond. I have already started to get comments from others and they think that it is a better, bigger stone than in the past; I explain that it’s the same one! This is the first time that this 1.5 K, “F” color, VVS2 stone has looked like it should, as it is a beautiful diamond, but never looked like it in the past, in spite of the re-settings and cleanings.” – Pam Lebon

If you’re in the process of considering Rochester Jewelers, make certain you take the time to visit West and Company, 1229 Bay Road, Webster. Just North of Empire Blvd., near the Baytown Plaza, phone David and his staff today at 800-580-6409. Doesn’t it make sense to own jewelry as unique as you?

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But as you grow, the wonder tends to die. A person can grow so accustomed to writing their name on essay after essay, or signing endless credit card bills, that the wonder and mystery of a person’s name is gone. It’s a travesty, because a name is the most precious possession a person has. The meaning of a name holds so much power over who you become, it would be awful to lose sight of it. Some people may find that name jewelry appeals more to children. And yet, it can hold even more sentimental value for adults. After years of evolving with your name, maybe taking nicknames or learning a different way to write it, a name becomes the most inseparable part of you. A tasteful necklace or ring with your name engraved upon it can only add to your self-being and growth.

There isn’t a lacking of such jewelry in the world. It is a marvelous idea to even add more meaning to an heirloom or ring, which you already hold dear, and have your name carved into it. And the idea of a name on jewelry is also a great present idea. Jewelry gifts can be daunting to pick out when selections are so wide and varied. But getting someone you love a piece of jewelry with their name on it makes it all the more personal and thoughtful.

So whether or not you were one of the kids sporting jewelry with your name on it as a kid, look to the present. It’s never too late to embrace your inner love for your name.

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Modern couples have several options when it comes to rings to signify their relationship. Traditionally men have given women promise rings to indicate an upcoming engagement and engagement rings to signify a marriage sometime in the future. Today, giving each other rings that celebrate their commitment has become quite popular. One of the most common types of pre-wedding couples items are name rings that signify their commitment to each other. For couples not wanting rings, pendants or necklaces with their beloved partners names can also be a wonderful option that still allows options for wedding rings and engagement rings at a later date.

Couples jewelry can also include more than just each other’s names on the rings in either relief or engraved fonts. Another option is to use initials in the design of the bands, rings or pendants, along with special dates for the couple or even a special symbol of their commitment. Hearts are one of the more common symbols of love and commitment but so are Celtic love knots, eternity symbols and even using matching gemstones in the rings or pendants.

Couples jewlery is available in a wide variety of precious metals – sterling silver, gold, palladium, platinum, titanium,. The wide variety of precious metal options, including two tone combinations of metals, are suitable for both men and women. Gold offers a wide variety of color options including yellow, white, rose, and green with the added accent of colored and clear stones. Another option is natural silver that provides a dark background over time, making a striking presentation on either a ring or a necklace. A wide variety of precious and semi-precious stones can be included in the variety of romantic jewlery pieces, but the most popular is the diamond.

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Pearls are naturally created when foreign particles enter oyster shells. The oysters produce a calcium-type substance around the foreigner and this substance coats the particle in thin concentric layers, creating a pearl. Naturally formed pears are rarely symmetrical or well shaped enough to be used as jewelry. As such, pearls are generally cultured and grown so that their shape and size can be regulated.

If you want to know how to choose the right kind of pearl earrings for the right occasion, then you should equip yourself with knowledge on how to judge a pearl’s standard. From the color, the overtone, the size and shape to a pearl’s luster and surface quality, pearls can vary from the inexpensive to the extremely rare and valuable.

When choosing the right pearl earrings for the right occasion, it is also important to determine your budget as pearls that have greater luster or have more reflective surfaces are more highly prized. The smoothness of a pearl’s surface is also a qualifying factor in judging its quality. From cream, champagne, pink, gold, blue and even black, choosing the right pearl earrings will depend on the occasion you intend to wear them to.

A pearl, unlike other gemstones, is delicate and can easily be cracked and scratched by other gems. Substances such as sweat, perfume and the like can affect its soft, porous covering. Taking good care of your pearl earrings involve wiping them down with a soft damp cloth and wearing them only after you’ve put on your makeup and your perfume.

Earrings worn as accessories are designed to draw attention to the face and should be carefully chosen to flatter your features, depending on the shape of your specific face. Learning how to choose the right pearl earrings for the right occasion begins with determining your face shape.

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Each bracelet consists of 18 interchangeable rectangular stainless steel links. The Italian charm starter bracelet consisting of blank links allows for a complete look. Each link is a standardized size, which allows for a multitude of companies to provide charms at various rates. Unlike traditional charm bracelets that dangle. The Italian charm bracelet is a modular unit that can be changed according to an individual’s changing interests.

Charms can represent anything that the wearer chooses. However, the most common charms are representations of an individual’s hobbies, interests and profession. The links are interchangeable so that each bracelet can be as unique as each individual.

Charms were originally made by soldering a charm onto the bottom of the link. However, high quality charms are made through an enamel process. This process can produce charms in full color and provides for a wider variety of charms. However, the process is expensive, so it is reserved for the highest selling charms. The individuality of the bracelet, though, often creates a desire for more customized charms. Therefore, new, less expensive, methods for producing individual charms had to be discovered.

Laser technology has been found to be an inexpensive yet reliable method of creating charms. This type of charm is manufactured by a laser permanently etching the design onto the surface of the steel. Laser charms are the least expensive charms to purchase. However, laser technology has also allowed for individuals to customize a charm to their specific instructions. Custom charms are a bit more expensive but not totally unfordable.

Further customization can be accomplished through the use of photographs. Photographs can be turned into charms through two methods. First, the photograph is mounted to the rectangular piece and sealed over. Second, the image can be transferred to the metal through a process known as dye-sublimation.

The trend of Italian charms has spread to other merchandise in recent years. The modular links can now be found on anklets, key chains, earrings and necklaces.

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WEIGHT

Gold is measured in karats (not carats). It’s a measure not of size or weight, but of purity. A 14kt gold ring contains 14/24 pure gold, or about 58%. The purity of platinum (denoted Plat or Pt) is measured on a scale from roughly 900-950 out of 1,000. This translates to a 950PT wedding ring being 95% pure platinum.

Note that the remainder is often comprised of chemically similar though equally valuable metals. While lower numbers can be found, they won’t be found in fine jewelry wedding rings.

A diamond, by contrast, is measured in carats (ct), ranging from near zero and up. 1 carat = 200 mg, a measure of mass. A diamond that is less than one eighth of a carat is considered a chip. Partly, the reason is the difficulty of faceting and polishing such a small stone in order to bring out a diamond’s effects.

A diamond that isn’t fully faceted or properly shaped is known as a “chip.”. They can result from accidents or the crystal structure that makes cutting and polishing nearly impossible. This becomes more difficult the smaller the stone. So, most chips are in the range stated.

The Cullnan diamond, weighing in at about 3106 carats, is the biggest individual gem-quality diamond ever discovered. It was cut down into the egg-shaped stone that sits in the scepter of England, itself about 525 carats.

But there are many other factors that influence the cost and look of a fine diamond intended to sit in an engagement ring or wedding band.

CLARITY

A diamond is judged by professionals on how ‘clear’ it is, and the stone is then placed into a category.

FL, IF – Flawless, or Internally Flawless represents the highest grade in this area. Such stones are extremely rare and hence invariably very expensive.

VVS1, VVS2 – These ratings represent a diamond which is only ‘very very slightly included’. ‘Included’ means, essentially, occluded or cloudy. Inclusions of non-diamond material or structure are responsible for lack of perfect clarity. Despite the ominous sounding word, these gems are very high quality. The flaws can only barely be seen under 10x magnification.

VS1, VS2 – Very Slightly Included ratings represent high quality stones. No flaw is visible to the naked eye.

SI1, SI2 – Slightly Included gems contains flaws that are visible under 10x magnification and may just barely be seen by those with very sharp eyes. Beyond having good eyesight, though, one needs to know what to look for. Generally, non-experts won’t notice much of anything.

I1, I2, I3 – These are mediocre quality stones that may still look very nice. But they have visible flaws when one looks closely that will reduce the brilliance of the stone’s appearance.

COLOR

Beyond the degree of clarity, diamonds – though usually thought of as clear or ‘white’ – can come in any of hundreds of colors. Fashions change and in one era what might be considered a flaw will be highly valued by the next generation. Color in a diamond is actually created by the impurities that mix with the diamond’s carbon structure.

A 200-carat blue diamond in the Smithsonian (the Hope Diamond), for example, is valued not only for its unusually large size. Its rare and pure color is also a significant factor.

Blue, pink and yellow are among the most common colors found in ring stones.

D stones are completely colorless and correspondingly rare.

E diamonds are also considered colorless. Any impurities are in trace amounts detectable only by experts with special tools. Still very rare.

F are also graded colorless, but a slight color may be seen by an expert.

G-H are near colorless. Non-experts can detect some shading if they look closely, but these can still be high quality diamonds.

I-J Near colorless diamonds in which the color is slightly detectable. Still a very good value.

K-M are stones in which the color is highly noticeable. Observe, though, that these ratings are for diamonds that are ranked according to how little color they have. Hence, a pure yellow diamond may still be thought of as very attractive.

What’s important is to have the color be uniform. Small spots of color are still considered a flaw by most everyone. Of course, that too is simply a matter of taste and some future trendsetter may decide such diamonds are worth even more.

CUT

It is challenging to give a ranking to the quality or price of a diamond based on the cut of the gem. That’s because, to a very large extent, which cut is better is a matter of taste. The different cuts – round, oval, square, princess – are all equally beautiful and choice simply depends on personal preference. Other common shapes are the Marquise (a type of elongated stone), the Pear, Emerald cut, Trilliant (a wedge shape), Radiant, Cushion and Heart shaped.

Diamon experts have much more specific criteria and will evaluate the different angles and the facet numbers. The Radiant, for example, has 70 facets while the Trilliant has 25 on the crown and 19 on the pavilion. But these details need not concern wedding ring buyers.

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Birthstone rings and engraved rings for Mother’s custom jewelry ideas are some of the most popular. There are the traditional types of sets that include Mom’s birthstone surrounded by the birthstones of all the family members in patterns such as center settings, crosses and in rectangular or square shapes. You might also choose to set birthstones into sold or filigree bands for a classic take. Another option is for each family member to select his or her own favorite very thin band that is then given to Mom to wear as a stacking ring. Stacking rings can be solid gems, different colored metals, different styles, engraved with the person’s name, birthday or a special message to Mom. You’ll find that the new laser engraving tools provide an enormous variety of lettering styles for your engraving. The most popular choice seems to be name rings.

While rings are the most popular choice, pendants can also be designed to represent each member of the family and make wonderful gifts. Pendants can, like stacking rings, be worn in multiples to represent each child or family member. Stacking pendants or rings can be worn in a variety of different patterns and orders to give a different look each time.

Sometimes just have the word “Mother” or “Mom” on a pendant or ring is the most cherished choice. Personalized necklaces can be combined with matching or accented earrings for a special “set.”. Beads can be added to necklaces, bracelets and even earrings to create a one of a kind jewelry item for Mom with each family member represented by a favorite type of style of bead. Being creative will ensure that your gift is original and unique and will be highly treasured for years to come.

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With a touch of creativity, inspirational jewelry can include rings, and necklaces that carry your special message. These messages can include meaningful passages from a religious text such as the Bible and are often very beautifully accented with designs and gems. Personalized necklace pendants, rings, bracelets and charms can be mementos that are treasured and passed down through the years. Often sterling silver or gold are the most common metals found in spiritual jewelry however there are other metals such as copper, palladium, platinum and white gold that are also popular. Typically the choice of metal will depend on what type of jewelry the person wears on a regular basis. Most people have a preference for either silver or gold, however there are others that wear an equal amount of both.

Choosing the message you want to include in a piece of inspirational personalized jewelry is a very personal decision. You’re obviously not limited to a spiritual message. You can use any phrase or words, even those that only have meaning to you. Some positive and affirming messages such as “I love you” or “You are a friend” can also be inspiring and very meaningful as additions to personalized rings, necklaces, pendants and bracelets. Other common themes include symbols of love, peace, courage, and hope. Crosses and hearts have long been seen as both inspiration and spiritual symbols used on a variety of types of jewelry from wedding bands to graduation rings and pendants.

Designing a unique inspirational piece of jewelry can start by browsing through online websites or even just looking through jewelry stores in your area. With the wide variety of online shopping options you may be able to find just want you want without having to design it yourself. You can also use these sites for inspiration yourself, choosing the features of different types of jewelry to develop just what you are hoping to achieve with your own design.

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Mother’s rings are very popular and come in a variety of styles and types. One of the most favored and cherished of the mother’s jewelry selections, these personalized rings use birthstones, names, or birth dates to signify the members of the family. One style of ring includes the birthstones of the husband and wife as the center setting, then the birthstones of all the children and grandchild either as chips or full stones around the center setting or around the band. Other styles include the mother and father symbolized by the top and bottom band of the ring, then the stones in the center of the bands as the representations for the children and grandchildren. Either style can range from very elegant and stylized to more modern or even antique in appearance.

Thin rings that can be stacked have become an increasingly popular mother’s jewelry choice. These delicate rings are most commonly worn together on one finger, but can also be spread across several fingers. Typically each thin band will have a birthstone of a child, grandchild or family member or may also have their name or birthday engraved. Stackable rings are available in a wide variety of precious metals and styles and have become a very popular mother’s jewelry choice.

Necklaces with pendants or lockets also make a wonderful gift for mothers. Lockets and necklaces can be in silver or gold, with or without engraving and gems or semi-precious stones. Pendants, typically in the shape of hearts, can also be used as a base to add a gem for each child or grandchild, with the husband and wife’s birthstones forming the center. Pieces such as charm bracelets and necklaces that allow mothers to add pendants or charms as their family grows is a great gift idea. With an endless variety of design options, these Mother’s jewelry ideas can create one-of-a kind pieces that will be treasured forever.

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Italian charms are something that can be used to identify a person. They may have charms that spell out a name or of a hobby that they enjoy participating in. There are endless choices that a person can make when it comes to them and they can make their bracelet as personalized as they like.

You can find Italian charms in a wide range of prices. Some are very inexpensive and are borderline plain in appearance, then there
are those that are quite extravagant and have elegant gems imbedded in them which makes the price so much higher. No matter what your preference is, there are charms to fit all people no matter on the size of the person’s wallet.

On this note though, you do need to watch for a few things when you are investing in Italian charms. One would be to make sure that the stainless steel ones that you buy are really made of stainless steel. There are a lot of fakes on the market and you need to watch out for these. The establishment that sells the charms should be able to tell you what kind of stainless steel is used in the charms that they sell. If they do not know this then I would not purchase them at this place that is for sure.

Some Italian charms come with brands or logos right on the back of them. This can indicate a better quality of charm when you see this. Charms that don’t have any labelling on the back are something to be wary of as they probably are not stainless at all.

One last thing to look out for when buying your Italian charms would be to watch for the ones that claim to be gold. Most of them are not gold, but just gold plated. The prices could seem deceptive in come cases. Make sure that you pay attention to the prices that retailers are charging for charms like this. The price should be reflective of the quality of the charm, and you want to be certain of this before investing your money.

After looking over the things above you can venture shopping for your Italian charms and be able to spot ones that are genuine. This can make shopping for Italian charms far more enjoyable.

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