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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!

Emerald Cut Engagement Rings – Reflecting Nobility and Elegance Throughout the Ages

Emerald cut engagement rings are stunning, beautiful, and unique, and we are proud to offer them at Knox Jewelers. Why should you consider an emerald cut center stone over the plethora of other options available to you? For one, rings with emerald cut center stones are popular among the powerful and famous, including Camilla Parker Bowles (wife of Prince Charles), Grace Kelly (fiancée of Prince Rainier), and Melanie Knauss (fiancée of Donald Trump). The emerald cut is an elegant cut which incorporates a stepped square stone with cropped corners in order to reduce light dispersion and brilliance. Let’s take a closer look at this cut now and show you just how versatile and lovely it can be in any context or design.

The History of the Emerald Cut

Originally, the emerald cut was designed – unsurprisingly – as a special way to cut emeralds in order to address the issue of inclusions that emeralds naturally have. However, as time progressed, the emerald cut found its way into use with other stones, too, including diamonds. Today, the emerald cut is widely regarded as bold, elegant, and striking- all of which are attributes we strive to imbue within our own designs at Knox Jewelers. And, as we’ll discuss shortly, we’ve taken this classic cut in innovative new directions.

The Advantages of the Emerald Cut

The emerald cut has a number of valuable properties which make it a great and versatile choice for those customers looking to incorporate elements of nobility and boldness in their engagement ring for that special someone. What makes an emerald cut stone so versatile is its ability to be placed in almost any context and still look amazing and harmonious with the other elements of the ring. For instance, it is not rare to see an emerald cut center stone crafted in conjunction with such features as micro pave and halos, to name a couple.

Customization Options

To that end, we offer an almost unlimited variety of customizations options for your emerald cut engagement ring at Knox Jewelers. To best show you the variety of options available to you, let’s take a close look at some of the engagement rings we have designed for our customers.

Emerald Cut Whisper – Hand Engraved Emerald Cut Beauty

A stunning example of a hand engraved solitaire we have designed in the past is our Emerald Cut Whisper ring. This beautiful design features a hand engraved pattern reminiscent of wheat that gently guides your eye to the luxurious .65 ct emerald cut center diamond.

Design 1158 – A Stunning Emerald Cut Sapphire

Naturally, you are not limited to emeralds or diamonds when it comes to the emerald cut. Our lovely Design 1158 is a striking variation of our Lucille design which swaps the center diamond for a gorgeous sapphire that truly gets the spotlight on this platinum-based ring.

Design 1857 – An Exquisite Combination

We are quite fond of micro pavé stones, here, and Design 1857 takes our fondness for them to an entirely new level. This exquisite ring evokes a sense of nobility and pride due to the .80 ct emerald cut diamond that is framed in a four prong setting. Micro pavé stones are present all along the exterior of the 14K white gold band. This design truly exemplifies the versatility of an emerald cut stone.

Design 2754 – A Lovely Halo-framed Emerald Cut Stone

The final ring we want to showcase is our brilliant Design 2754. As we said before, an emerald cut center stone can be used in just about any kind of context, including within a halo arrangement. In this piece, a 1.00 ct emerald cut emerald is embedded within an Art Deco-inspired micro pavé halo and shoulder detail. No matter the surrounding elements, an emerald cut stone is guaranteed to both enhance those elements as well as look fantastic all on its own.

We’re Here to Help!

If you are interested in incorporating an emerald cut center stone in an engagement ring for that special someone, then please do not hesitate to contact our friendly staff here at Knox Jewelers. We would be thrilled to discuss the options available and how best to utilize this remarkable cut in a stunning piece just for you. We’ll explore different customization options, including band types, engravings, and more. We look forward to working together with you to design a unique emerald cut engagement ring!

Rose Gold – Timeless Beauty

Before we begin, it is important to note that gold is naturally a yellow metal, and that any other forms of gold, including white and rose, are combinations of gold with other metals – we call these combinations alloys. We’ll talk more about that in the next section, but in the meantime you should know that rose gold is an excellent way to add personality to your jewelry as well as give it a signature, unique appearance – in fact, rose gold is beginning to gain popularity and momentum among jewelers and customers alike, especially here at Knox Jewelers. Without further ado, let’s learn all about rose gold.

The Basics of Rose Gold

As we said before, rose gold is a combination of gold and another metal. 14K rose gold is usually formed with gold (about three fourths), copper (about one fifth), and a marginal amount of silver. This blend of metals allows for 14K rose gold to be strong enough for jewelry as well as have its distinctive rosy hue from which it derives its name.

Growing Popularity

Rose gold has been steadily gaining in popularity, and for good reason – no other alloy quite matches the splendor and beauty of this red-tinted gold. More and more individuals are choosing to utilize rose gold in their custom engagement rings and wedding bands. Our designers have successfully used rose gold in a variety of one-of-a-kind pieces, and we are quite thrilled by the rise in popularity of this gold alloy for many creative reasons. Even men’s wedding bands are starting to feature rose gold!

Mokume Gane

One of the areas in which rose gold is extraordinarily useful is in the practice of Mokume Gane. At Knox Jewelers, we are experts in these techniques, and having the option of using rose gold in conjunction with yellow and white gold can allow us to design some truly stunning Mokume Gane rings. In the next section, we’ll take a look at these designs as well as other ones we have crafted by hand for our customers in the past.

Our Unique Designs

Rose gold looks fantastic with many different elements. The unique engagement rings and wedding bands we have created for our customers are varied, but they all share one attribute in common: they are exceedingly beautiful with their rosy tint. Let’s take a look at some of them now:

North Shore Rose

This design makes exclusive use of 14K rose gold to give the ring a bright hue and warm texture. Combined with our detailed hand engravings and milgrain textures, North Shore Rose’s rose gold base truly looks fantastic all on its own without other metals or stones.

Flora – Autumn Wind

Flora is one of our stunning examples of Mokume Gane craftsmanship. This piece uses three metals: 14k yellow gold, white gold, and rose gold, all mixed and blended together to give the natural appearance for which Mokume Gane is so well regarded. We’ve also added two rows of lovely, sparkling diamonds to give this ring a beautiful aesthetic.

Design 2903

Finally, Design 2903 shows how regal and vibrant 14k rose gold can look in conjunction with a center stone – in this case, a 1.25ct princess cut center diamond. Rose gold is a truly versatile alloy that is both durable, striking, and warm, and we think that these designs truly make the case for its use in practically any context, including with diamonds, other stones, hand engravings, and more.

Two-Tone Designs

Designs featuring multiple metals are another way to add more detail to a design. As you can see, the warm hue of the rose gold stands out beautifully against the cool luster of the white gold.

Rose Gold Mock-Ups

We are more than happy to hand sketch or create a computer mock-up of your preferred design with rose gold. If this might be something in which you are interested, please let us know. We will create a detailed sketch of your piece and allow you to make modifications as you see fit – helping you to design a custom engagement ring or wedding band is what we are here to do.

Knox Jewelers Is At Your Service

We do not simply design stunning and unique engagement rings and wedding bands – we also go the extra mile in ensuring our customers understand exactly what goes into the process as well as give them complete freedom in the outcome of a particular design. If you have any questions about rose gold, please do not hesitate to contact us. We look forward to working together with you to design a beautiful rose gold engagement ring or wedding band!

Radiant Engagement Rings – Regal Beauty

How much do you know about radiant cut diamonds? Did you know that the radiant cut was first invented in 1977 by a man named Henry Grossbard, a pioneer in the art of diamond cutting who wanted to synthesize the emerald cut and round stone, thereby creating a cut which combined the elegance and brilliance of both? At Knox Jewelers, we have been crafting unique engagement rings with radiant cut diamonds since our founding in 1984. The radiant cut has a very interesting and rich history – unsurprising for a cut of this intricate beauty. Let’s take a few moments to discuss the history and properties of this beautiful cut, and then take a look at some of the stunning radiant engagement rings we have crafted for our customers in the past.

The History and Development of the Radiant Cut

Once upon a time, an enterprising and clever craftsman named Henry Grossbard wanted to find a way to combine the elegance of emerald cut diamonds with the brilliance of round, brilliant cut diamonds. After thirty-three years of developing his craft, Grossbard finally succeeded in developing a cut which combined the step cut and brilliant cut into one, distinctive, and astounding cut he proudly named the radiant cut due to its synthesis of the properties of the former. Since then, many artists, metal smiths, and craftspeople have endeavored to emulate the precision and dedication to craftsmanship that Grossbard displayed in his work, and at Knox Jewelers we too have carried on Grossbard’s legacy of craftsmanship and attention to detail in the design of all of our unique engagement rings.

The Special Properties of Radiant Cut Diamonds

Radiant cut diamonds are so innovative and important in the recent history of jewelry because prior to their introduction by Grossbard and other craftspeople, all diamonds were cut in the emerald way, thereby limiting their potential brilliance. The radiant cut brought with it a complete revolution of the industry, as now diamonds were up to par with their fellow gemstones in terms of both brilliance and elegance. This evolution in cutting methodology brought with it a number of new styles in jewelry, and allowed for greater creativity by both customers and metal smiths.

Our Radiant Engagement Rings

At Knox Jewelers, we have crafted a number of these stunning, exquisite radiant engagement rings, and we wanted to take some time now to show you some of them we have created from scratch for our customers in the past. Naturally, these are not the sum of our entire portfolio, so please click here to view all of our stunning radiant engagement rings. Without further ado, let’s take a look at three of our unique engagement rings which have incorporated radiant cut diamonds:

Rae – Regal and Luminous

Our Rae design is among our most regal, and the 2.25 carat radiant cut center diamond is absolutely stunning. Its platinum band is detailed with intricate micro pavé that truly gives this ring a brilliant and awe-inspiring appearance. The U-cut micro pavé is present along almost all sides of this ring, including the undersides of the halo.

Radiant North Star – A Fresh Take on a Classic Pattern

Once used by sailors to navigate the oceans of the world, the North Star has a long and rich history. Our signature North Star pattern looks simply exquisite with diamond accents, hand-cut micro pavé, and a .50 carat radiant cut diamond, all framed with a fine milgrain detail. This ring also shows just how versatile a radiant cut diamond can be, and how stunning it can look in any setting.

Heidi – Art Deco Beauty

Inspired from the artistic legacy of the Art Deco movement, our Heidi design places a yellow 1.00 carat radiant cut diamond within a 14k gold bezel and a 14k white gold halo accented with micro pavé diamonds. Heidi is truly a lovely ring, and its unique twist on the Art Deco style gives it a one-of-a-kind character. As you can see from this stunning piece, radiant cut diamonds look great in any size, shape, or form, and we have used them successfully in a variety of different configurations and designs.

Have Any Questions?

If you have any questions at all about the radiant cut or about the radiant engagement rings we offer at Knox Jewelers, please do not hesitate to contact us. We look forward to hearing from you!

Halo Engagement Rings – Regal Beauty Throughout the Ages

The halo style of engagement rings has endured in popularity from the Middle Ages to the modern present with little-to-no loss of approval over the years. Just why is this style of ring so popular? Is it because of the beautiful flourish the encircling diamonds add to the piece? Is it perhaps due to how the diamonds accentuate the center stone? Whatever the reason may be, halo engagement rings have remained an ever-popular choice for hundreds of years. Let’s take a look now at the history of this elegant style and some of the halo engagement rings we have crafted at Knox Jewelers for our valued customers in the past.

In the 18th century, the first rings which could be considered to be of the halo style were created. These rings were typically set with a center stone encircled by smaller diamonds or pearls. They were not the micro-style diamonds we see in modern halo engagement rings, but rather small round diamonds which gave the rings a very elegant appearance. As the ages progressed into the Victorian era, jewelers began to utilize different kinds of gems for the center stone, including sapphires, rubies, and turquoise. Additionally, they also began to include various kinds of patterns such as milgrain or filigree.

As the techniques were adopted by jewelers in the 20th century, halo style rings began to look more and more like the modern ones we craft for our clients today. The 1920’s gave birth to an art movement known as the Art Deco Era, and jewelers began to use symmetrical and geometrically-inspired patterns to craft their halo designs. There also existed an emphasis on concentric circles in the design of those rings. Finally, the artists of this era also began to utilize streamlined designs that were far more sleek without sacrificing the elegance of previous eras.

But, as we all know, history is seldom so clear-cut and linear. As the 1950’s rolled around, the more sumptuous styles of those bygone generations began to make a comeback in popular fashion. Thus, we saw a rise in the more colorful flourishes that graced the jewelry of the Victorian era. The use of the halo style in bridal wear was also rather diminished during this time for the aforementioned reasons. And, as history would have it, as jewelry progressed into the 1960’s and 70’s, these bold styles continued to develop. Hardly any classic halo style rings were seen during the period between the 70’s and the 90’s.

You might think that those styles from the majority of the 20th century would have continued in force, right? Well, you would be wrong. History turned around yet again and the modern era has brought with it a reemergence of the classic halo style rings that graced the fingers of many during those bygone times. Whether or not this reemerged style is here to stay is up to the whimsy of fate, but we do know that it is still one of the most beautiful, elegant, and exquisite styles of rings that will never completely go away, as history as so well proven.

At Knox Jewelers, we take great pride in crafting the most beautiful and stunning halo engagement rings on the market. We have been handcrafting these lovely rings since the day we opened our doors to our first customers, and they have still held on to their popularity. There are just so many different ways that these rings can be customized and modified to create unique characters and patterns that your special someone will absolutely adore. Let us take some time to show you some of these beautiful rings we have created for our customers in the past.

Design 2853: Classic and Stunning

Design 2853 is bound to catch the eye with its inspired designs from the earliest years of the halo style. We surrounded a intensely blue, large sapphire stone with round brilliant diamonds in much the same way that these kinds of rings were crafted in Victorian times. All the elements of this beautiful ring point towards and frame the stunning center stone. If you are looking for a modern twist on a classic, gorgeous design, then our Design 2853 proves that it can be done.

Design 2624: An Innovative Take on a Classic Style

When we created our Design 2624 halo engagement ring, we wanted to innovate on the classic designs that came before. Now, the classic style of halo rings uses diamonds in almost all cases; for this design, we wanted to try something different. That is why we surrounded a round, brilliant 0.75 carat diamond with a stunning array of micro pavé emeralds, all of which are set upon a platinum split shank band. What this design proves is that a classic style can be re-imagined in a very beautiful way – the use of a bright gem like emerald truly makes this piece an absolutely stunning work of art.

Design 3004: Bold and Mesmerizing

14k yellow gold serves as the baseline for this bold and flashy halo ring. Instead of simply surrounding the 2.00 carat oval cut diamond with one halo of framing diamonds, we crafted two rings of beautiful round cut diamonds in a bold style that is reminiscent of the ones seen throughout the 70’s and 80’s. Since any kind of gem can be used for the center stone, you can imagine the kinds of brilliant variations that could be crafted off the baseline of Design 3004.

Thus, you have seen the rich and varied history of the halo engagement ring style. Throughout the ages, it’s classic version has risen and fallen in popularity, but has always remained elegant and exquisite. At Knox Jewelers, we are proud to have made many such halo style rings for our customers, all of whom have overwhelmingly approved of and admired these beautiful designs. Whether or not the classic variants continue to be popular into the future or a new variation of this classic style takes hold, you will always find some of the most cutting edge and unique designs in the world at Knox Jewelers.

If you have any questions at all about our halo engagement rings, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.