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Where is Emerald Found?

Emerald-Map-1024x720 Unique Engagement Rings
GIA Emerald Map

Emerald, the vibrant green to greenish blue variety of the mineral beryl, is the gemstone traditionally considered the birthstone of May. Beryl is a colorful family of gems, ranging from the pastel shades of blue aquamarine and pink morganite to the deeper tones of yellow heliodor. All beryl gemstones possess similar crystal formations and physical properties, but differ in chemical composition. The gemstone emerald is expected to hold naturally occurring inclusions. Inclusions density will vary, but they are accepted in this gemstone and have even earned the nickname “jardin”, which is french for garden.

Emerald can occur in hues from green to slightly bluish green with its most desirable color being pure green with vivid color and saturation. The gemstone receives its intense color from trace amounts of chromium and sometimes vanadium.

Emeralds can grow in a variety of locations but it occurs mostly commonly in pegmatite bearing granite.  Listed below are the locations where emeralds naturally occur and are mined to be transformed into beautifully faceted gemstones. An emerald’s color reflects the beginning greens of spring, which makes it the perfect choice for the birthstone of May.

  • Colombia – Columbia is the most famous source of emeralds that there has ever been.
  • Brazil – Strict environmental laws makes Brazil’s Belmont Emerald Mine one of the most eco-friendly colored stone mining operations worldwide.
  • Israel – The country of Israel is famous for its emerald cutting operations.
  • Zambia – Zambia is currently one of the most important producers of emeralds.
  • Zimbabwe – The Sandawana Valley in Zimbaber produces small but intensely color saturated emeralds.
  • Madagascar
  • India – The city of Jaipur in India is a leading cutting and trading center for emeralds as well as several other gemstones.
  • China – China currently produces lower quality emeralds but it has the potential to be the next important supplier of the gemstone.
  • Pakistan
  • Afghanistan – Despite years of conflict, the Panjshir Valley in northern Afghanistan still produces some of the finest quality emeralds ever seen.
  • Russia – The Ural Mountains of Russia have produced good quality emeralds for years.

If you are lucky enough to hold the legendary emerald as your birthstone, let us at Knox Jewelers help you custom create a one-of-a-kind piece to showcase this beautiful vibrant green gemstone. Emerald green is the standard which all other green gemstones are compared to. Any custom piece of jewelry could be tailored to incorporate this remarkable birthstone. The possibility are endless with such a versatile mineral. A Knox Jewelers custom created piece, featuring a beautiful emerald  is the perfect way to celebrate any occasion falling within the month. Contact us today and let’s get started. We have a selection of emeralds available just waiting to be transformed!

Author Katie MonsonPosted on May 8, 2016May 9, 2016Categories Unique Engagement RingsTags Birthstone, birthstone jewelery, custom earrings, Custom engagement ring, custom pendant, custom ring, Emerald, green emerald, May, may birthstoneLeave a comment on Where is Emerald Found?

Engagement Rings with a Twist

For most engagement rings, the focus and embellishments are directly solely on the center gemstone. But here at Knox Jewelers, we like to focus on the details interwoven into the band and profile of your ring, as well as your center stone. These are the small things that make your custom engagement ring completely your own. If you are a fan of uniquely detailed engagement rings, you may enjoy the trend that has been passing through our custom design studio recently. We have received a surge of custom design requests for both engagement rings and wedding band with twisting, infinity-style designs.

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Knox Jewelers Legato Custom Design

Both beautiful and complex, braids and twists are the perfect detail to add interest to a wedding band or the shank of your custom designed ring. Braids and overlapping patterns capture the attention of any viewer, urging the eye to trace the intricate designs. Twists and turns are not only visually appealing, but they can also hold a greater symbolism. A braided design could represent the tightly woven bond between you and your partner. If followed, a strand single strand of a braid in a circular ring is never ending, like the love between you.

Similarly, the twisted infinity-like symbol that has been eagerly requested in several designs lately, is both refined in its design and profound in its representation. The original infinity symbol stood to embody an unlimited and immeasurable duration of time with the simplicity of an overlapping circle or figure eight. This representation is perfect for couples who are starting their lives together and are promising to love one another for a never-ending amount of time.

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Knox Jewelers Custom Design 3298

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Knox Jewelers Custom Design 3223
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Knox Jewelers Custom Design 3311
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Knox Jewelers Custom Design 2290

The infinity symbol or a braided design can easily be incorporated into many styles of wedding bands, engagement rings, or wider right hand rings. We can help you custom create anything you have in mind when it comes to your twisted engagement ring or wedding bands. Overlapping elements featured in a design is a modern and fashionable way to express your style and add sentimental meaning at the same time.

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Knox Jewelers Custom Lalana Design
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Knox Jewelers Custom Design 2305
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Knox Jewelers Custom Design 3118

If a twisted engagement ring is the perfect symbolic representation of your never-ending love, let us help you get started with the custom creation process. Contact us today with your braided or infinity style requests. All of our finishing details are created by hand, so things like engraving, filigree, milgrain and side diamonds can add to the final look to your twisted creation. We can tailored any design around your preference in center setting, metal and gemstones selections. Nearly anything is possible with Knox Jewelers custom creation.

Author Katie MonsonPosted on May 1, 2016May 2, 2016Categories Unique Engagement RingsTags braided, custom created, Custom Engagement Rings, deatiled, infinity, Knox Jewelers, twisted, twisted engagement ring, twisted wedding band, UniqueLeave a comment on Engagement Rings with a Twist

Mixing Metals Trend

Near the conclusion of 2015 we predicted the upcoming trends in engagement rings for the following year. At Knox Jewelers, tuned our trend radar in a large part through customer requests for custom engagement rings and wedding bands. One of those predictions, the mix metals trend, has had numerous requests as of late and is staying true to course as a favorite of 2016. Mixing metals is more popular than ever before in the bridal jewelry scene, especially now when mix-matched stacked wedding bands are in vogue. Most brides-to-be seem to be in the mind-set of ‘why choose one metal when you can have two shades, and while we are at it throw in a colored gemstone’. Blending engagement ring and wedding band tones creates a unique look, making your ring exclusive to you, and setting your rings apart from one another as well.

Your wedding band should be as one-of-a-kind as your engagement ring and your relationship, as it reflects your future and commitment. Today in the bridal scene there seems to be no room for traditions or rules when it comes to wedding bands. Mixing metals could be the perfect way to make your band stand out against your perfect engagement ring, and give it a life of its own. There are so many ways to make your engagement ring and wedding band distinctive, but color is always a great way to demonstrate your unique bridal style.

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A bold rose gold matching band adds contrast to our white gold Seville engagement ring.

You may think that the cool allure of white gold and platinum clashes with the warm tones of rose gold and yellow gold, but paired right, they can offer a winning combination. The renewal of the mix metal trend is growing at such a fast pace for good reasons. Combination metal engagement rings offer many more styling possibilities and it allows you numerous options when it comes to selecting your wedding band or multiple bands. On a more important note, mixed metal rings alleviate the stress and hinder the mindset of having to match all of your other jewelry for the rest of your life to shade of your bridal set.

There are many eye-catching ways to create a two tone look within your engagement ring or wedding band pairings. There are bold, elaborate mix metal wide bands to subtle hints of color, like the addition of color contrasting filigree curls. One very popular interpretation of the trend it to create a shaded diamond halo that differs from the rest of the ring, to draw attention to and highlight your center stone. Multiple band engagement ring, like our Fireworks Design, are brought into a whole new light when one band is featured in a warm shade of gold. If a small amount of two-tone is all you are ready for, try slight alterations, like colored center prongs, yellow or rose gold filigree curls or a colored contrasting center bezel.

Two Tone Engagement Rings

Rings Unique Engagement Rings
Knox Jewelers Custom Designs: Haley Allison, Design 3296, Design 2980

Contrasting Halo Rings

Halos Unique Engagement Rings
Knox Jewelers Custom Designs: Design 2327, Design 2924, Suenos

Two Tone Wide Bands

Wide-Bands Unique Engagement Rings
Knox Jewelers Custom Designs: Las Estrellas Rosadas, Loyalty, Dolce

The two tone trend is not just for bridal sets, we have had just as many, or more, requests for gents wedding bands created in contrasting colors.  Bold bands can be created by pairing warmer rose and yellow golds with sleek platinum or white gold. Any of our custom wedding bands can be altered to be features in a two tone look.

Rose Gold Gents Bands

Mens-Rose Unique Engagement Rings
Knox Jewelers Custom Designs: Rose Averno, Denver, Centurion

Yellow Gold Gents Bands

Mens-Yellow Unique Engagement Rings
Knox Jewelers Custom Designs: Celtic Two Tone, Mesa, Design 3136

We can help you custom create anything you have in mind when it comes to your mixed palette of rings and bands. Mixing metals is a modern and fashionable way to express your style and a easy way to set your bands apart in a crowd. If you are so inclined, we can even custom create rings in three tones, like our newest wide band ring Tiara. As you can see below, colored gemstones are also a way to upgrade a custom design from the ordinary.

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Knox Jewelers custom Tiara wide band goes above and beyond into a three-tone look.

Metals color is only one of the ways to can help you make your ring or band into a one-of-a-kind creations. All of our finishing details are created by hand, so things like engraving, filigree, milgrain and side diamonds can add to the final look of a two toned creation. There are plenty of ways to play with engagement ring and wedding band traditions but interpret them in your special way.

Contact Knox Jewelers today to start custom designing your two-tone, or even three-tone, bridal set of your dreams.

Author Katie MonsonPosted on April 24, 2016April 25, 2016Categories Unique Engagement RingsTags Custom Creation, Custom Engagement Rings, custom wedding bands, Engagement rings, gents bands, halo, halos, Knox Jewelers, mixed metals, Rose Gold, stacking bands, three tone, two tone, Wedding Bands, White Gold, wide bands, Yellow GoldLeave a comment on Mixing Metals Trend

April’s Custom Engagement Ring Spotlight

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Knox Jewelers Custom Design 3234

One of our new favorite custom created engagement ring is built around the mesmerizing step cut facets of a 1.00 carat asscher cut diamond held in a low four prong setting. Marquise shapes set with micro pavé diamonds and square carre cut diamonds are placed together in this design to create a rhythmic pattern of ovals and arches. Bezel set side diamonds and milgrain edges add lavish antique detailing to this wide band engagement ring. This mosaic inspired design can be recreated to accommodate any type, shape, or size center stones. Contact Knox Jewelers today to custom tailor this design to your preferred precious metal and central gemstone selection to create your own one-of-a-kind engagement ring!

Author Katie MonsonPosted on April 17, 2016April 18, 2016Categories Unique Engagement RingsTags Antique Engagement Rings, craftsmanship, custom, custom birthstone jewelry, Custom engagement ring, Custom Engagement Rings, custom jewelry, custom ring, diamond, Diamond Engagement Ring, Diamonds, Knox Jewelers, Micro Pave, Micro Pave engagement rings, Unique Engagement Rings, Vintage Engagement Rings, White Gold, wide wedding band, wide wedding ringLeave a comment on April’s Custom Engagement Ring Spotlight

Where is Diamond Found?

Diamond-Map-1024x700 Unique Engagement Rings
GIA Diamond Map

Diamond has been recognized as the gemstone coupled to the month of April on many dated and modern birthstone lists. But the allure of diamond was treasured and collected long before it was crowned the birthstone of April. Diamond is found in many fascinating and differing locations from Siberia to remote parts of Africa.

Before the twentieth century there was little scientific knowledge known about diamond, though its beauty and oneness had been prized for centuries. Diamond knowledge has grown since then with research in chemistry, physical gemology, mineralogy and oceanography. Scientists have discovered that diamonds form under conditions that are only possible 100 miles underneath the earth’s surface. Once they are transported closer to the surface,  tons of soil and hours of labor are still required to discover a few diamond crystals. The conditions for diamond growth are only found in certain parts of the world and listed below are the most important diamond deposits.

  • Canada  – Locating the diamonds that lay under the frozen soil in Canada took many decades. But after finally finding deposits in the 1980s, diamonds are being mined from several important sites. Canadian diamonds are known for their high quality.
  • Venezuela
  • Guyana – Guyana’s diamond production is mostly small scale operations through alluvial sources.
  • Brazil – Large, fine quality, sometimes fancy colored diamonds are mined in Brazil, though their operations are mostly small scale. Brazil was a leading supplier of diamonds before larger deposits were found in South Africa.
  • Sierra Leone
  • Guinea
  • Ghana
  • Congo – Diamonds mined in the Democratic Republic of Congo come from both alluvial and underground deposits. Most diamond unearthing is done in small operations with shovels.
  • Tanzania – The Williamson mine in Tanzania is currently the most sophisticated and largest mining operation in the region.
  • Angola
  • Namibia – Diamonds are currently being mined in Namibia through a joint operation with De Beers.
  • Botswana – Botswana is a leading source of gem-quality diamonds in the world. Not only are diamonds mined in Botswana, but the country has created a diamond headquarters, Debswana, that also sorts and values gemstones mined there. This collaboration with De Beers benefits the people by creating many jobs for the middle class.
  • South Africa – The diamond rush of 1869 was kick-started with the discovery of sources in South Africa. The country has become the birthplace of modern diamond manufacturing and is the world’s leading producer of the gemstone. The world’s largest rough diamond to date was unearthed in South Africa in 1903. The Cullinan weighed 3,106 carats rough and was cut into 9 larger finished pieces and 96 smaller brilliant cut diamonds.
  • India – Until 1730 the only known source of diamonds was the Golconda region in south India. These mines are long since depleted and India’s current sources of diamonds are small deposits.
  • China
  • Australia – The Argyle mine in Australia has been the world’s largest producer of diamond to date by volume. The mine is also known of its fancy colored pink, red and brown diamonds.
  • Russia – A significant source of Russian diamonds comes from the Yakutia region of Siberia. Russia is a leading supplier of diamonds though most of their gemstones are smaller in sizes than their African counterparts.

If you are lucky enough to hold diamond as your April birthstone, let Knox Jewelers help you custom create a one-of-a-kind piece to showcase this queen of  gemstones. The possibility are endless with such a versatile mineral. Diamond can be found in a wide range of colors, carat sizes and cuts.  A Knox Jewelers custom created piece, featuring a beautiful diamond or diamonds is the perfect way to celebrate any occasion falling within the month. Contact us today and let’s get started. We have the perfect diamond just waiting to be transformed!

Author Katie MonsonPosted on April 10, 2016April 17, 2016Categories Unique Engagement RingsTags africa, April, birth stones, Birthstone, canada, custom birthstone jewelry, Custom engagement ring, custom ring, diamond, diamond deposits, russiaLeave a comment on Where is Diamond Found?

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