filigree Archives - Knox Jewelers

Hand Crafted vs. Casted Detailing

When purchasing an engagement ring, most people don’t think about, or even realize, how the detailing on their ring was produced. Moreover, how the techniques used to create that detailing can affect the overall quality and appearance of the piece of jewelry.

At Knox Jewelers we handcraft every ring from the ground up in several stages, using traditional and modern applications. Most of our rings are cast blank with stone seats, engraving, milgrain and filigree all carved or created by hand. We do offer some rings with cast-in-place detailing, where detailing is including in the initial cast ring.

The fine art of hand engraving is the process of using a sharpened piece of steel, called a graver, to push through the surface of the metal and create intricate patterning. The high quality, detailed engraving is created by several cuts in the metal varying in length, width and depth. The result is very similar to an artist sketching with pen on paper. It takes a jeweler years of training to fully master these hand engraving techniques.

Hand crafted filigree curls are first formed by the jeweler and then test fit it into the filigree pocket. From here he will fine tune the fit and prepare to solder it to the ring. This is an extremely delicate process that ensures the best quality filigree. Milgrain edging is the beaded border that is featured on nearly all of our vintage inspired custom rings. The jeweler will hand apply this border to ensure the finest finish.

Modern technology and resin construction techniques have now allowed finishing details like engraved-like patterns, filigree and beaded edges to be embossed directly on rings in the casting stage of design.

The benefits of handcrafted detailing include the ability of modify design elements during the creation process. These elements will also be inherently stronger and finer in detail. Finishing by hand also enables you to create the ring in mix metals. Each ring being finished by hand will guarantee your finished piece will be a unique and one-of-a-kind.

The benefit of cast-in-place detailing is that it is less labor intensive and will therefore be more cost effective if you wish to redirect your investment into a larger center stone or a greater amount of side stones.

We offer both hand crafted and cast-in-place detailing to allow you the option that is best for you and your custom created ring. Contact Knox Jewelers today and let us help you create your perfect engagement ring!

Hand-vs-Cast Unique Engagement Rings — Knox Jewelers custom engagement rings shown with hand engraving (left) and cast-in-place engraving (right).

Hand-vs-Cast-2 Unique Engagement Rings — Knox Jewelers custom engagement rings shown with hand formed filigree (left) and cast-in-place filigree (right).

Hand-vs-Cast-3 Unique Engagement Rings — Knox Jewelers custom engagement rings shown with hand applied milgrain (left) and cast-in-place milgrain (right).

May’s Custom Engagement Ring Spotlight

Spotlight-May-1024x768 Unique Engagement Rings — Knox Jewelers Custom Design 3249

One of our new favorite custom created engagement ring centers around a 1.20 carat round brilliant diamond trimmed on either side by tapering princess cut emeralds. This combination makes for a truly opulent pairing. The rich green tone of the emeralds adds a freshness to an otherwise classic silhouette. Vintage inspired elements on this custom setting include three faces of hand engraving and four pockets of hand wrought filigree curls. The edges of this tapering band are refined with milgrain edging for a refined and polished finish. This vibrant and daring 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!

March’s Custom Engagement Ring Spotlight

Spotlight-March-1024x768 Unique Engagement Rings — Knox Jewelers Custom Design 3228

One of our new favorite custom created engagement rings features a 1.00 carat princess cut diamond positioned at a unique kite-set angle. This custom design holds an intriguing contrast of graceful curves and sharper angles. The straight lines of the square, princess cut center diamond are reflected it the setting’s defined knife edged band. The elegant relief-style hand engraving and pockets of hand wrought filigree curls add a certain vintage allurement to this intricate design. This kite-set 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!

Emerald – May’s Echo of Nature

Emerald has captivated countless generations and deeply ingratiated itself in popular culture as well as within the jewelry industry. It is the quintessential birthstone for those lucky individuals who happen to have a May birthday, and its enduring beauty has remained a focal point of the jewelry market for hundreds of years. At Knox Jewelers, we’ve designed many hand-crafted works of art that incorporated an emerald center stone, and we think you’ll agree with us when we say that it’s a great choice for those individuals who are considering using it in a ring or pendant. Let’s take a closer look now at the history and background of this magnificent gemstone, and how we can help you to design a unique engagement ring that truly embodies your loved one’s May birthday.

The Illustrious History of Emerald

Emerald’s name comes to us from antiquity – specifically, classical Greek. Its original name was “smaragdos,” but it traveled through numerous cultures, including the Roman Empire, before being translated into modern English from the Middle English word “Emeraude.” The ancients knew just as well as we do today the cathartic healing effect that gazing at a beautiful emerald can achieve, and its popularity has endured through millenniums. Today, as it always has, emerald symbolizes the beauty and power of nature in the form of lush green landscapes and growth, thus making it an ideal gemstone to symbolize the month of May.

What You Need to Know about Emerald

Emerald is a form of beryl with a trademark green color that ranges from pure green to a blue-green mix. Although expert opinions differ as to what differentiates an emerald from a standard green beryl stone, professionals tend to identify an emerald by its rich color which is not too light as to be considered a mere green beryl. Generally, the darker the stone and the more saturated it is, the more likely it is to be considered a true emerald.

The Earth has been brewing emeralds for billions of years – 2.97 billion, to be precise. Today, it is often mined in the countries of Brazil, Colombia, Zambia, and Madagascar, among many others. Extracting this precious gemstone from the ground and preparing it for use in jewelry is an expensive and time-consuming process that involves the labor of many skilled artisans.

Selecting the best emerald stone possible involves taking into account four important criteria: color, clarity, cut, and carat weight. Each of these factors plays a vital role in determining whether or not a given emerald stone is up to par. Here’s what you should look for when choosing an emerald stone:

Color: Pure green stones tend to command the highest prices, and saturation is very important as well.

Clarity: Valuable emeralds typically have inclusions known as “jardins,” which are essentially “gardens” of visual inclusions.

Cut: The most common cut is a rectangular step cut, also known as an emerald cut.

Carat weight: Emeralds have lower densities than diamonds, so a one carat emerald will on average appear larger in size than a comparable diamond sample.

Your Very Own Emerald Ring

Designing a unique engagement ring for your loved one has never been more enjoyable or simple than at Knox Jewelers. From the very beginning of this special journey, we will work together with you to craft a ring that will stand the test of time while embodying your love. Our expert artisans have worked with numerous types of metals, stones, and techniques, and we know you will be eternally impressed with the emerald engagement ring that we design together with you. We’re truly looking forward to getting started on this journey with you, so be sure to get in contact with us soon.

Let’s Get Started Today!

At Knox Jewelers, we can’t wait to get started on helping you to design a stunning, unique engagement ring that is bound to stand the test of time for countless generations. Our jewelry design process is holistic and unique, and it is entirely centered around your desires and input. If you wish to create an heirloom that will last years, then get in touch with us today to get started on the journey of a lifetime. We look forward to meeting with you soon!

Aquamarine – March’s Glittering Jewel

There are a lot of reasons why having a March birthday is awesome: Firstly, you’re born right on the cusp of spring and the warm weather (especially for those of us in northern environs). Secondly, your birthstone is the lovely aquamarine, a gemstone which derives its name from the Latin term aqua – meaning water – and marine – meaning of the sea. Water of the sea. Stunning, no? And for those lucky individuals with a March birthday, Knox Jewelers offers an outstanding selection of handmade aquamarine jewelry to celebrate this special month. Now, let’s take a look at the history of aquamarine, how to pick the best possible gemstone for your jewelry, and some examples of custom engagement rings we have designed and crafted for our clients in the past.

Aquamarine Background

Even in its natural, unrefined state, aquamarine is one of the most visually awe-inspiring gemstones in the world, and these crystals are widely renown and valued very highly on the market. To be specific, aquamarine is a blue-hued variety of beryl, a mineral from which we also derive emeralds. Sometimes, a heat treatment is applied to increase the intensity of blue, though many instances found in the wild are often perfectly suitable as-is for use in jewelry making.

Choosing the Right Gemstone

The quality of a given aquamarine gemstone depends on a number of individual factors, including color, clarity, cut, and carat weight. Let’s break down each factor one at a time to get a good feel for how these stones are valued in the marketplace. The color range for aquamarine tends to be confined to the spectrum of intense blue to greenish-blue. A general trend in color valuation is that more intense blues tend to be worth more in the open market, though this rule does have its exceptions. For clarity, most specimens have few if any visible inclusions. Stones that have inclusions of this sort tend to be worth less. As for cuts, any and all can be used, though ones that are used for emeralds are also widely used for aquamarine. Finally, larger stones tend to have less demand.

How to Care for Aquamarine Jewelry

In general, aquamarine is a hardy stone. However, it is susceptible to physical damage and heat, so it is very important to ensure that you keep it out of situations which could result in these forms of damage. As for cleaning, it is a relatively simple procedure to keep your aquamarine jewelry in tip-top shape: Simply use warm, soapy water to gently rinse and clean the surface. You should not expose your aquamarine jewelry to harsh chemicals or other invasive cleaning methods, as this could cause serious and irreparable damage.

Unique Engagement Rings at Knox Jewelers

At Knox Jewelers, we’ve been crafting – by hand – stunning and unique aquamarine jewelry and engagement rings for our customers for decades, and we’ve always striven to provide only the best customer service and attention to detail in the industry. Whether you’re looking for, whether it’s an engagement ring for that special someone or just a surprise for their birthday, you’re bound to find what you’re looking for at Knox Jewelers.

Stunning Combinations

Aquamarine center stones look absolutely great with just about any combination of metal and design. On our website here at Knox Jewelers, you can browse through all of the designs that we have crafted for our customers in the past. Although the samples shown in their preview images will have different gemstones, we would be more than happy to customize your preferred piece with a beautiful aquamarine center stone – all you have to do is ask! As for what combinations work best, we think that white gold and platinum look great for those who are interested in a clean, elegant design. Yellow gold and rose gold can also be used to create a contrast effect that looks modern and sophisticated. Regardless of the direction you’re leaning toward, we have you and your aquamarine needs covered!

Have Any Questions?

Are you interested in aquamarine engagement rings or other jewelry? Great! We’d love to chat with you about your interests and get a feel for what you’re looking to create. Get in touch with our friendly staff soon, and we’ll get started on making your dreams a reality!