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Diamond prices on JewelsBoutique.com vs Blue Nile. All diamonds in this price comparison are rounds and Triple Excellent:

Shop JewelsBoutique.com for diamonds with prices up to 20% less than similar diamonds on Blue Nile.JewelsBoutique.com offers excellent selection, free shipping, and free concierge service from certified gemologists and jewelry experts.

07/27/2010

This post is a follow-up to Process to Optimize Magento under AWS, to explain more details of enhancing the diamond search in JewelsBoutique.com, via summary table.

Background

As an online shop to offer Internet shoppers distinctive diamonds, JewelsBoutique.com usually keeps over 40,000 diamonds in our Magento catalog all under the same category, consequently the diamond search page used to load extremely slow - often taking more than 15 seconds after making one simple filter adjustment. What’s more, every time when Magento was refreshing index for the layered filter at back-end, the page was nearly unresponsive, this period usually lasted over 3 hours a day. Since JewelsBoutique.com wants to bring a good experience for Internet shoppers, such bad performance was not acceptable.

Finding solution

We knew the bottleneck was at database side because of the large product set. At the beginning, we tried to use regular way to enhance the database performance: starting from moving to a stronger database server, then monitor database status, adjust server parameters, and adjust table index, make partial cache, but that didn’t help too much. After looking into Magento schema, we understood that with its EAV pattern, it’s impossible to make significant improvement to speed up the query behind diamond search, and because diamond has more than 10 attributes needed to be indexed for layered filter, so Magento’s flat category/catalog couldn’t help either because that doesn’t solve the re-indexing problem for these attributes. After more research of Magento code/schema and analyzing the diamond processing flow, we came up with the idea to create one ‘diamond summary table’ (similar to Magento’s flat catalog table but much more lightweight) for diamond search.

Steps

1. Create the summary table schema. The table only contains the needed diamond attributes which we need for diamond search and listing. The sample SQL to create this table is like below:

You can see the table structure is very simple and flat, it should perform very quickly for regular query on 40,000 records.

2. Update the summary table. Everyday after diamond importing task is completed, the following code truncates the summary table, then extracts all diamonds from Magento’s EAV tables and insert into it:

Now you may use the summary table as a persistent-view for all diamonds, that’s it!

3. Turn off the index/layered-search flag on all diamond attributes(we don’t need Magento for this any longer), and change diamond search page to use this new table. After applying this approach, the page speed issue is solved completely (now diamond search usually takes less than 2 seconds to load the page), and normally the table rebuilding only took <15 sec.

One step further

After applying the three steps above, the diamond search worked very well, so we started marketing the site and drawing more traffic. Soon a problem was found: when the backend code was updating summary table, if there were many visits using diamond search, there would be a lot of concurrent read to diamond summary table, which caused the table lock and page weren’t responsive, the contention could cause the table update to last over 30 minutes, during this period diamond search couldn’t be used at all. So we adjusted the table update flow, to use a temp table to rebuild the summary table “offline”, after it’s done, simply drop the existing table and rename temp table to be formal one, this only took 1-2 sec to finish. The code is like below:

Now during importing diamonds at back-end, the diamond search works quickly without any impact.

Final wrap up

With all these changes in place, the diamond search started to perform stably. After some team brainstorming, we decided to show a ‘more diamond is coming…’ tip on the top-left corner during the backend processing period, to let our users know what’s happening behind the scenes and to expect more/new diamonds in search results very soon.

]]> http://www.jewelsboutique.com/news/systems/magento-performance-optimization-build-our-own-summary-table-for-diamond-search.html/feed http://www.jewelsboutique.com/news/promotions/diamond-values/diamonds-for-up-to-20-less-7.html http://www.jewelsboutique.com/news/promotions/diamond-values/diamonds-for-up-to-20-less-7.html#comments Fri, 16 Jul 2010 04:26:51 +0000 admin http://www.jewelsboutique.com/news/?p=697

Diamond prices on JewelsBoutique.com vs Blue Nile. All diamonds in this price comparison are rounds and Triple Excellent:

Shop JewelsBoutique.com for diamonds with prices up to 20% less than similar diamonds on Blue Nile.JewelsBoutique.com offers excellent selection, free shipping, and free concierge service from certified gemologists and jewelry experts.

07/16/2010

Source: The Knot (www.TheKnot.com)

Whether you go timeless, trendy, or somewhere in between, make sure your wedding ring choices stand the test of time with our 7 simple rules.

Browse Jewels Boutique Wedding Bands

1. Start Your Search Early

If you’re like most couples, you’ll have a basic idea of what you want before you start shopping but that doesn’t mean you won’t find five different bands you love once you start shopping. Give yourselves at least two months to browse, research, price, and revisit rings that catch your eye. Allow even more time if you’re interested in a custom piece — extras like engraving can take up to one month. If you’re pressed for time, you may need to save the sweet talk for later. Ask if you can bring your wedding rings back for engraving before you buy.

2. Have a Budget

Shop with the assumption that you’re going to spend about 3 percent of your total wedding budget on rings. The average price for a gold band is around $150. For a platinum band, the average rises to $600 or $700. Diamonds can add considerably more to the cost.

3. Consider Form and Function

Basing your ring decision on looks alone is like choosing a groom without having spoken to him first. (Even though he looks like Brad Pitt he might turn out to be a dud.) Your ring should respect your lifestyle: Those who enjoy sports or music should opt for a slimmer ring with rounded edges (appropriately called a “comfort fit”), rather than a wide, bulky band. Those who work with their hands will want a simple, solid metal ring, as stones can come loose and carvings will trap dirt. And those who are highly allergic to certain metal alloys will want to invest in platinum, as its purity renders it hypoallergenic for most people.

4. Inspect for Quality

Wedding bands should have two marks inside the band: the first is the manufacturer’s trademark (which proves that the company stands behind its work), and second is the quality mark (24K or PLAT, for example, which proves that it’s what they say it is). If the ring consists of two or more metals, make sure there is a quality mark for each.

5. Think Style

This is a ring that’s going to have to look cool for a long time, so select a style that will look as great with jeans as it will with that Armani suit you’re going to own in 20 years. Stick with a basic shape and a clean finish, and avoid unusual stones that will be over next week. Mix metals — like many ring designers are doing — if you’re someone who wears both gold and silver on a day-to-day basis. Make sure your wedding band is one you’ll want to wear ’til…well, you know.

Knot Note: You don’t have to marry your ring. If you can’t afford your hearts’ desire, swing what you can (white gold) with the promise of an upgrade (diamonds) on your third anniversary.

6. Be Different

Just because you and your fiancé are a perfect match doesn’t mean your rings need to be. Feel free to pick wedding bands that reflect each of your style sensibilities and tastes. Some aspect should match, which can be as simple as metal or inscriptions.

7. Size It Right

Never finalize your ring size in the morning (you retain water from the night before), after exercise (fingers swell), during menstruation (swelling, again), or when you’re extremely hot or cold. Do your “final fitting” when you are calm and your body temperature is normal.

Rings, clockwise from top: A vintage white gold ring with an emerald cut center stone by Christopher Designs; Stackable white gold rings with diamonds or blue sapphires by Suzanne Felsen; An intricate openwork platinum band of diamonds by Fusaro.

– Joanna Saltz

Diamond prices on JewelsBoutique.com vs Blue Nile. All diamonds in this price comparison are rounds and Triple Excellent:

Shop JewelsBoutique.com for diamonds with prices up to 20% less than similar diamonds on Blue Nile.JewelsBoutique.com offers excellent selection, free shipping, and free concierge service from certified gemologists and jewelry experts.

06/28/2010

Diamond prices on JewelsBoutique.com vs Blue Nile. All diamonds in this price comparison are rounds and Triple Excellent:

Shop JewelsBoutique.com for diamonds at prices up to 20% less than similar diamonds on Blue Nile. JewelsBoutique.com offers excellent selection, free shipping, and free concierge service from certified gemologists and jewelry experts.

06/12/2010

Source: The Knot (www.TheKnot.com)

Here it is: a super-size list of wedding proposal ideas. Browse the categories and select with care- your future depends on it!

Marriage on your mind? She’ll be telling the story of how you proposed to friends and strangers for the rest of her life, so tailor one of these ideas to make sure it’s memorable.

Read on for 50 great marriage proposal ideas, or skip to the type of proposal you think fits best:

Best Public Marriage Proposal Ideas

• Have a flair for the dramatic? Get in touch with the stage manager of an appropriately themed production and propose after the cast’s curtain call.
• Take out a full-page ad in a newspaper you know your girlfriend reads daily.
• Arrange a surprise proposal with a street caricaturist. Have him sketch a picture of you two with word bubbles. Yours will read, “Will you Marry Me?”, and hers will say, “Yes!”
• Pay the divers at an aquarium to put on a proposal show inside their biggest fish tank. Give them handwritten signs that say “Will You Marry Me?” to hold up against the glass.
• Send your girlfriend on a treasure hunt. Start with a clue at home, then send her on a tour of your favorite spots all over town. When she gets to the last hint, the prize should be you on one knee.
• Go out for a night of dancing, and ask the DJ or band leader to pass you the mic so that you can dedicate a song and propose on the dance floor.
• Have a friend or family member set up a picnic — complete with wine and cheese, or course — for you in a park. Take your girlfriend for a hike on a route where you’ll stumble upon this surprise “Proposal Picnic.”
• Hire a skywriter to spell your proposal for everyone around to see.
• Flying anytime soon? Use the plane’s loud-speaker system (of course, run your plan by the flight attendants first) and propose at 35,000 feet.
• Movie buffs? Ask your neighborhood theater to run an ad featuring your proposal and make sure you get there in time for the previews.
• Gather a bunch of your friends and family for a party. Have everyone in attendance put on a T-shirt bearing one of the letters in the phrase “Will You Marry Me?” When you walk in the room with your girlfriend, suggest a group picture and let the shirts speak for themselves.

Best At-Home Marriage Proposal Ideas

• For a simple surprise, after she goes to bed, go to her jewelry box and replace her everyday ring with the engagement ring. She’ll be completely shocked in the morning when she goes to put on her regular ring.
• Draw a bath and place a floating candle or rubber ducky in the middle with a ring tied around its neck. Make a path of roses leading to the tub. (And make sure the drain is well-plugged!)
• Speaking of paths, turn off all the lights in your apartment and make a trail of candles that leads to a circle of votives positioned around a ring.
• Slip the ring on her finger while she’s sleeping and wake her with champagne and strawberries. At first, the gesture will simply seem romantic — the real surprise comes when she notices her new piece of jewelry.
• Tie a red velvet ribbon from one spot in your home to another. Attach little notes recalling perfect moments in your relationship along the way. You wait at the last stop, ring in hand.

Best Tech Marriage Proposal Ideas

• Create your own podcast proposal and sneak it onto her iPod.
• Upload a video of your proposal on YouTube (tell her you have a hysterical home movie to show her).
• Steal her digital camera and head to her favorite local outdoor spot. Bring a friend with you and have posters made with the words “will,” “you,” “marry,” “me?” Have your friend photograph you holding each one in a different position. Then, let her know you borrowed her camera and ask if she will upload your photos.
• Take the scavenger hunt high-tech: Send your mate a text message leading her to a secret spot. Keep her engaged by text messaging her sweet nothings along the way (and directions of course), as you lead her to you, on bended knee.
• We had to add this one: Create a web page declaring your love and intentions. Leave your sweetie a clue with the web address written on it — don’t say a word. After the proposal has been officially accepted (which, of course, it will be!), she can proudly send the page to friends and family.

Best Foodie Marriage Proposal Ideas

• Make the box with her ring a selection on the dessert tray at your favorite restaurant.
• Put together a gift basket of yummy delicacies — the best chocolate, caviar, coffee — and hide the ring among the presents (in its box, so it doesn’t get lost in the goodies).
• Ask the pastry chef to write, “Will you marry me?” in chocolate sauce around the rim of her dessert plate.
• Ask a baker to make a cake with the proposal written in frosting. Have him display it in the storefront and suggest a little window-shopping to your girlfriend.
• Create a personalized fortune cookie with your own proposal message.

Most Playful Marriage Proposal Ideas

• Create your own crossword puzzle (it’s easy with this site) and be prepared to help her work it out over breakfast.
• Spell your proposal out in glow-in-the-dark star stickers on your ceiling. Get into bed, turn the lights off, and wait for the inevitable gasp.
• Spell out your proposal with refrigerator magnets.
• Scratch your proposal into the frost on her car’s windshield.
• If your girlfriend is a teacher, sneak into her classroom before school starts and write your proposal on the blackboard. Stay hiding in the coat closet or right outside the room for the moment she arrives.
• Get a ring size chart and ask your girlfriend to look up her size. When she accuses you of ruining the surprise that you’re shopping for a ring, say, “Okay, try this one instead,” and show her that you’ve already shopped for a ring.
• During your annual Halloween prep, challenge her to a pumpkin-carving contest and carve the words “Marry Me” in your pumpkin.
• Write “Will You Marry Me?” on the underside of a kite and take flight one warm, breezy afternoon.
• Play Hangman and have the phrase be “Marry Me.”

Best Summer Marriage Proposal Ideas

• If you love to hit the beach, head down a few hours before her and write your proposal in the sand with large white rocks.
• Go to the beach and casually build a sandcastle (at a safe distance from the ocean!) and place the ring on the highest turret. Then invite her to admire your handiwork.
• Gather your families together for a summer barbecue and make it a family affair.
• Make your own message in a bottle. On the night before a beach day you’ve planned, write a love poem on a piece of parchment paper, roll it into an antique bottle with a cork, and bury it in a well-marked spot in the sand near your towels. Be sure you “find” the bottle as you dig together — and have the ring at the ready.

Most Thoughtful Marriage Proposal Ideas

• If you’re artistically inclined or just like to make things with your own two hands, integrate something you’ve made into the proposal. For example, if you have woodworking skills, present the ring in a special hand-carved jewelry box.
• Buy a pet that she has always wanted (bunny, kitten, puppy) and loosely tie the ring around its neck. Or, substitute a stuffed animal — still cute, but less maintenance!
• Tell your girlfriend you want to make a time capsule together to bury and dig up years into the future. As you’re gathering the items, say it wouldn’t be complete without a picture of the moment you two got engaged! Have a Polaroid camera ready to take that shot right after you present her with the ring.
• Rent a Vespa scooter and invite your girlfriend for a ride, but remind her to be safe and wear a helmet. Put the ring in the helmet box and then zip around town to celebrate.
• Meet for a drink at a posh hotel bar. When it’s time to go, casually mention that you’ve already reserved a room for the night. When you open the hotel room door, have roses, candles, and champagne all set up — everything for a perfect surprise proposal.

Cheesy (but Hilarious) Proposal Ideas

• Make a list of 10 reasons you’d like to marry your beloved. Read them to her in front of a crowd, have them delivered via singing telegram, or send them written on individual note cards over the course of a day (or 10!), with the last card arriving by personal messenger (you!).
• Want to really surprise your girlfriend? Cut out the bottom of a huge box, wrap it with pretty paper and ribbon, and attach a card that says, “What’s inside the box is a gift to last a lifetime.” “Deliver” yourself to his or her office or front door.
• Make her ring the surprise in a box of Cracker Jack.
• Write your proposal in sunscreen on your stomach, so that your tan will “stencil in” the words.
• Make her feel like a movie star and set your proposal to the scene of her favorite romantic movie. You could arrange your own Pretty Woman moment (the finale, of course) — rent a white limo and climb through the moonroof with flowers in hand to proclaim your love as you arrive at her place.
• Another funny movie proposal? Steal from that famous Say Anything scene — park yourself outside her house with a stereo blaring your favorite tune and propose on the front lawn.

Diamond prices on JewelsBoutique.com vs Blue Nile. All diamonds in this price comparison are rounds and Triple Excellent:

Shop JewelsBoutique.com for diamonds at prices up to 20% less than similar diamonds on Blue Nile. JewelsBoutique.com offers excellent selection, free shipping, and free concierge service from certified gemologists and jewelry experts.

05/26/2010

Source: The Knot (www.TheKnot.com) written by –  Anja Winikka

We know, we know, you’d be happy with a twist tie as long as you’re engaged to Mr. Right. But trust us, he wants to know what you want. Before the cynics unite and say that rings have nothing to do with love or marriage, let’s be practical: An engagement ring is a big investment, and unlike most jewelry that goes in and out of style over time, this is one piece that should look and feel timeless. Make his search for the perfect ring easier by dropping the right clues.

1. Show Him a Picture

Who it works for: The bold and brazen. You know exactly what you want, without a doubt.
How to do it: Find clever ways to show him a picture of your favorite setting, cut, and style. A Valentine’s Day card works, and a web page left open to your dream ring should definitely get the point across. A subtler way: While perusing magazines, point out pictures of rings you like and casually mention what you like about them. Or give the photos to a close friend and let her decide what to do with them.
Timing tip: Don’t show him pictures before he’s prepared to buy a ring. If he’s not ready to propose, then showing him a photo of the exact ring may make him super uncomfortable and reluctant to shop. The picture route works best if you’ve made it clear to one another that you plan to get engaged.

2. Shop Together for the Ring

Who it works for: The practical one. You’d rather have a ring that suits your style than a big surprise.
How to do it: While walking past a jewelry store, casually express interest in stopping in and taking a look. Depending on the store, the salesperson will likely ask if you’d like to try anything on. A bolder option: Decide on a time to formally shop for rings together.
Timing tip: If he’s a traditionalist, he may be opposed to shopping for the ring with you. If this is the case, consider going “window-shopping” with him, so that there’s no pressure to buy while you’re out together. That way, he can go back and buy the ring on his own.

3. Have a Friend or Family Member Go with Him

Who it works for: The traditionalist. You’re too reserved to point out the ring yourself, but your best friend or close family member knows your style, and you completely trust their taste.
How to do it: Let your close friend or family member know what you like and don’t like. If there’s one ring in particular you love, tell your friend. When it seems like he’s fishing for ring hints, you’ll be able to confidently send him to talk to your close confidante.
Timing tip: Let him come to you for hints instead of pressuring him to talk to your family or friend, which could be intimidating.

4. Ask for a Surprise

Who it works for: The romantic. You want the Hollywood proposal, and he’s up to the challenge.
How to do it: Mention your favorite settings, cut, color, and style in passing to make it clear to him what you like. Then put the ball in his court by telling him that you love his style and you’re sure he’ll choose something gorgeous. And, just in case, make it clear if there are ring styles that you would never wear.
Timing tip: Patience is the key here. Pulling off a surprise, romantic proposal takes planning, so don’t prod too much.

5. Design It Together

Who it works for: The funky, modern personality. You’re not into surprises, and although you don’t know exactly what you want, you do know that you want something one-of-a-kind.
How to do it: An obvious point, but very important: Make it clear to him that you would like a custom-made ring before he proposes. Then come up with ring ideas together and make it a couple’s project. Make sure he has a say too — ask him what he thinks about certain elements and incorporate his suggestions into the overall design. Do research to find a designer that you both like, and then commission the ring together.
Timing tip: Once the ring is ready, decide whether you want him to hold onto it for a formal proposal or if you’d like to start wearing it right away.