Economic Downturn, Environmental Concerns & Global Politics Inspire New Options for an Old Tradition

PRLog (Press Release) - Nov 23, 2009 -
Quality Merchandise Brokers, Inc., has announced the launch of its new division, www.OurCustomWeddingRings.com. The organization's new website targets budget-conscious and green-minded consumers with affordable engagement rings featuring natural and lab-grown colored gemstones and diamonds.

Dedicated to bridal jewelry with a twist, OurCustomWeddingRings.com focuses on non-traditional options for engagement rings that ensure brides have a unique ring that reflects their priorities. Couples can choose something different with a smaller carbon footprint than a mined stone, and select a precious gemstone or stones at a price point that can allow them to invest in a more elaborate ring for the same budget.

Company President Michelle Rahm, a Gemological Institute of America (www.gia.edu) Graduate Gemologist, notes, “This generation of brides is all about individualization – they want something different. I see a growing trend of couples wanting lab-grown stones to avoid the environmental damage done by mining, and sidestep any chance of purchasing a 'conflict diamond.' These alternative stones cost less than natural diamonds, which is important to cost-conscious couples in today’s economy.”

OurCustomWeddingRings.com customer Daniel B., from Paulina, Iowa, said "I love that I can feel good about buying this ring. I've always felt ethically queasy about buying an engagement ring, but I feel really good about this one. Since the stone is synthetic, I don't have to worry about where it came from; and Skye and I can go out and give away the money we saved to a worthy cause or someone who needs it a lot more than we do."

This combination of factors is bringing back the centuries-old tradition of colored gemstones in engagement rings. Diamonds became the center stone of choice in engagement rings after De Beers (www.debeers.com) introduced its “A Diamond Is Forever” campaign in the late 1940s to create additional demand for their surplus of diamonds.

About Quality Merchandise Brokers
Quality Merchandise Brokers, Inc. was founded in 1997. The company introduced JewelryImpressions.com as a division of QMB, Inc. in 1999 and OurCustomWeddingRings.com in 2009.

President and Founder Michelle Rahm is a Graduate Gemologist through the Gemological Institute of America (www.gia.edu). She currently serves as the president of the Mile High Chapter of the GIA Alumni Association. She earned a bachelor's degree in business administration, with emphases in marketing and management and a minor in Spanish, from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. She was honored by UWP as an outstanding business alumnus of its College of Business, Industry, Life Science and Agriculture in 2003.

For more information about all our products, call 970-535-4139, email michelle@merchandisebrokers.com, or visit us online at www.OurCustomWeddingRings.com.

Photo:
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