Platinum Archives - Knox Jewelers

August’s Custom Engagement Ring Spotlight

1-1 Unique Engagement Rings — Knox Jewelers Custom Design 3520

2-1 Unique Engagement Rings — Alternative Views of Knox Jewelers Custom Design 3520

This new custom created engagement ring is brightening up everyone’s outlook here at Knox Jewelers. This recent custom creation features an extraordinary 2.00 carat round yellow sapphire. An unusual scalloped diamond halo and dramatic double claw prongs frame the center gemstone. This chromatic yellow sapphire reminds us how extraordinary colorful engagement ring can be!

The profile view of this custom design is not forgotten. Bead-set diamonds, milgrain edging and elaborate scroll relief engraving don either side of the ring. A top view band of matching bead-set diamonds finishes this design to perfection.

Knox’s ability to flawlessly incorporate colored stones into any custom piece is demonstrated in this and several other recent commissions. A perfect pairing of vintage detailing, glittering diamonds and a stand-out center stone makes Design 3520 a custom ring that is sure to attraction attention. Knox hand finishes and outstanding craftsmanship will ensure that this platinum and fancy colored sapphire engagement ring will last a lifetime.

3-1 Unique Engagement Rings — Production Photos for Knox Jewelers Custom Design 3520

4 Unique Engagement Rings — Production Photos for Knox Jewelers Custom Design 3520

Every ring at Knox Jewelers is made by hand from the ground up. We are extremely proud of our in-house design team that works tirelessly to add even the smallest details to your perfect custom engagement ring. We document the creation of our custom piece with jeweler’s eye view production photos, allowing you the chance to see your beautiful ring come to life.

This distinctive golden hued diamond halo ring engagement ring 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!

Fine Jewelry and Metal Allergies

Every custom creation Knox Jewelers builds to order is crafted by hand and made to last a lifetime, if not longer. We want every custom engagement ring we create to be a dream come true, and we don’t want metal allergies to stand in the way of wearing our custom designs. As every ring we create is built from scratch, it is possible to cast your custom creation is a hypoallergenic precious metal. A metal allergy does not need to prevent you from wearing your desired types of fine jewelry, there are ways to work around this obstacle.

There is no need to sacrifice your love for jewelry or the ring styles you prefer if you create your engagement ring in a safe precious metal. The first step in approaching custom ring design with a metal allergy is to understand exactly what it is that irritates your skin. An actual allergy to gold is an extremely rare occurrence. What is more common is an allergy to the alloys added to gold to make it more durable and usable in jewelry. The most common irritation we encounter is the reaction to nickle used as an alloy in white gold.

Nickel is usually the cause of irritation in fine jewelry. This metal intolerance usually causes dermatitis, which is an itchy rash that appears where your skin has come in contact with the metal. Dermatitis usually disappears within a few days after removing the jewelry.

If you have a metal allergy there are precious metal options available that will allow your custom engagement ring safe to wear on a daily basis. We work with numerous hypoallergenic metal that can be used to create your dream ring!

14 karat Yellow or Rose Gold is usually safe as nickel is not commonly used as an alloy in either.
18 karat White gold could be used if your metal allergy is only mild. 18 karat will reduce the amount of alloy used by 25%, so less nickel will be present in the gold. It would not be suitable for people with severe allergies, but its usually enough to reduce irritation from a majority of customers.
Platinum is a naturally hypoallergenic metal. Creating your custom engagement ring in this metal will also provide you with the durability and longevity that platinum allows in jewelry.
Palladium is also a naturally hypoallergenic metal. Not all of our custom designs can be made in palladium, only a few would be manageable in the metal selection.

Metal allergies do not have to prevent you from custom creating the engagement ring of your dreams. There are options available that will allow you jewelry to be safe to wear on a daily basis. Contact us today and inquire about the precious metal options available to you, we can absolutely work around your allergies!

Things to Know Before Custom Creating a Ring

Shopping for an engagement ring can be a daunting endeavor, especially today when there are hundreds of available ring designs and styles available. With so many options, the process of selection can seem overwhelming. If you have started to look for an engagement ring, you have probably seen what is available at the mall or your local chain store. If nothing has yet satisfied your desire for a unique ring design, Knox Jewelers can help!

Knox Jewelers’ custom creation process gives you the ability to personally design the one-of-a-kind ring of her dreams. Having a ring custom created from the ground up ensures that you will be satisfied with every element of the design. Your unique creation can reflect her personal style as well as be a lasting statement of your love.

Having an engagement ring custom made can be an incredibly rewarding experience. We are here to help with any questions you may have during the decision making process leading up to the creation of your piece. Once a ring has been put into production we also send you email updates showing your ring during every stage of the creation.

If you are interested in having a ring custom created through Knox Jewelers, below is an easy checklist of the things you will need to consider before your unique ring can be brought to life.

Creation Timelines

Custom creating a ring takes time. If you are planning a special proposal for a specific day, please give our jewelers a leading start to finish your ring in time. There are several steps your piece with need to travel through between conception to completion. The production time on a ring is usually several weeks and can vary depending on the time of year and the complexity of the project. Please contact us to inquire on the current production timelines.

Center Stone Preference

A major component in your final engagement ring design will be the selection of your center stone. There are numerous center stone options available on our online diamond and online gemstone lists. Any ring design can be custom tailored around the diamond or sapphire you are ultimately drawn to. Sapphires center stones are available in varying colors, cuts and sizes. A diamond’s size, shape and quality will need to be taken into a consideration. Diamond shapes include round, cushion, radiant, princess, oval, pear, emerald, asscher and marquise.

If you are not sure which shape diamond to select, take notice of other jewelry she wears or pieces she is drawn to. The round brilliant cut is the most popular diamond shape, but princess, cushion and oval cuts are growing in popularity.

Choosing a Ring Style

The options are endless when selecting an engagement ring style.

Inspiration for a custom piece can be taken from a sketch, photo or an idea on altering one our stock designs. Deciding on a ring design for your bride-to-be can be difficult. Think about her personal taste, is she classic, contemporary, vintage, colorful? Pinterest can be a useful tool to discover her preference in engagement rings. Remember things she has pointed out or mentioned in passing. The way your partner dresses and decorates could also tell you a lot about her jewelry style.

If you prefer to have her help in creating a forever custom ring after you have proposed, we do offer a temporary solitaire option as well. This could alleviate any worry about selecting the perfect ring design.

Choosing a Precious Metal

Any of our custom engagement rings can be created in either Platinum, 18 karat or 14 karat white, rose or yellow gold. Platinum is always recommended first to contribute to a ring’s heirloom quality. Warmer rose gold and yellow gold rings are starting to be requested for engagement rings more and more often.

Discovering Her Ring Size

All of our custom rings are engineered around her exact finger size. If you are unsure of her ring size, we do have an online tutorial to help you estimate a close fit.

Contact Knox Jewelers today with any questions on creating your heirloom quality custom engagement ring. Give her a one-of-a-kind piece specially designed by you for her. With our unique creation process we can help you create the ring of her dreams!

Morganite – Nature’s Blushing Beauty

Here on our blog at Knox Jewelers, we’re always trying to introduce you to the latest and greatest in jewelry. For an industry with such a rich history as ours, it may come as a surprise that there are new innovations constantly on the horizon. New gemstones come into fashion, go out of fashion, come back again – there’s always something new and exciting happening. One gem in particular has recently gained popularity on the market: it’s called Morganite, and it’s truly a stunning stone. It comes in delicate pastel shades of pink, rose, peach and salmon. Let’s now take a look at the back story of this remarkable gem and see how you can incorporate it into some of our handmade, exquisite designs.

Morganite: Background & Facts

No doubt you’ve heard of a man named J.P. Morgan. You probably associate the name with one of the most renowned and (according to some people) infamous financiers in American history. But did you also know that he is the namesake for Morganite? George Kunz proposed the name to honor his friend for donating funds for the promotion of the arts and sciences in the nation, and to represent J.P. Morgan’s gem-collecting ventures.

Morganite assumes many hues of pink, but the colloquial term “pink emerald” is not accepted by professional regulatory bodies and trade associations in the jewelry industry. Rather, morganite is a type of beryl, and is distinct from its sibling the emerald (another gem which is also derived from beryl). Due to still being relatively unknown to the public, morganite has many large specimens available on the open market. We’re definitely excited about showing off this fantastic, underrated gem to our customers here at Knox Jewelers!

Special Considerations for Morganite Center Stones in Rings

If you’re planning to invest in a morganite center stone, there are a couple of things you’ll want to keep in mind. First of all, morganite is somewhat less durable than your average diamond or sapphire. Because of this fact, you’ll want to be careful when using it in a ring design – we all know how rings can be prone to certain types of accidental damage.

As for cleaning and caring for morganite jewelry, here are the basic principles. Firstly, you’re going to want to be really careful if you’re incorporating it into a ring. We said this already, but it definitely warrants repeating. Secondly, as far as cleaning is concerned, all you need to use – in fact, all you should use – is warm, soapy water and non-abrasive cloth. Do not expose your morganite jewelry to any harsh chemicals, as these chemicals are quite capable of causing major damage to the stone.

Incorporating Morganite Into Your Own Custom Design

Morganite is a stunning addition to any piece of jewelry, and it can truly add a unique flair not found among other gemstones. We recommend a white or rose gold metal base to complement a morganite stone, though platinum as a base also looks amazing. Either way, you can’t go wrong. If you find that you prefer a different kind of metal, we’re here to help you make it a reality for your morganite engagement ring.

Any of our handcrafted designs are suitable as a host for a stunning morganite gemstone. Be sure to check out our entire inventory at Knox Jewelers, including our unique engagement rings, wedding bands, and more. You’re bound to find a design that truly looks amazing in conjunction with a morganite center stone. We’re also happy to recommend one for you, or design one completely from start to finish just for you.

We’re Here to Help: Get in Touch with Us Today!

Do you have any questions about morganite? If so, the friendly staff at Knox Jewelers are here to answer them. We’ll walk you through the whole process of creating a custom jewelry design for you or your loved one, and we’ll make sure you are able to design the perfect piece. Our hand-tailored and client-oriented design process will put you in the driver seat, and we know you’ll be impressed. Get in touch with us today to learn more about designing your very own morganite jewelry. We look forward to meeting you and helping you create your dream ring!

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!