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Green Garnet – January’s Great Beauty

While red garnets are among the most popular variants of garnet on the market today, two types of green garnet, Tsavorite and Demantoid, are also stunning, beautiful, and perfect for that special someone with a January birthday. At Knox Jewelers, we enjoy creating custom rings with our customers to include colorful center stones or whatever other details you may desire. Let’s take a closer look now at the different between the Tasvorite and Demantoid garnet types and see which one is best suited for you.

Tsavorite: Perfect Clarity, Color, and Strength

Tsavorite derives its name from the location where it was found in Tsavo, Kenya. It was discovered by Campbell Bridges, a Scottish geologist who dedicated his life to championing the African gem mining industry. The unique properties of Tasvorite are derived from the fact that it is completely natural and produced entirely in nature – in other words, no heating or other artificial processes are necessary. Tsavorite is known for its intensely green color and outstanding dispersion and brilliance, important factors which make it more than an equal match for emerald. In fact, Tsavorite is even more durable than comparable emerald gemstones, making it a superior option at only a fraction of the cost.

Demantoid: Among the Most Brilliant

Demantoid (meaning ‘ diamond like ‘) is another type of green garnet that is most well known for its higher refractive index and dispersion when compared to Tasvorite and other green grossular variants. Although relatively obscure in terms of popularity, demantoid is among the most brilliant of gemstones, and most definitely so among the garnet family. As a green andradite, it has slightly better intrinsic properties than its counterparts, though it is also somewhat softer. Demantoid garnet is stunning, and was the favored gem of Imperial Russia for time. This particular garnet variation is rare however, and can be quite expensive to acquire jewelry grade gems.

Custom Engagement Rings and Wedding Bands by Knox Jewelers

Both Tsavorite and Demantoid are fantastic choices for those customers who are looking to design a unique engagement ring or wedding band with a green garnet stone setting. Green garnet stones can be coupled with practically any kind band or design, including the various golds (white, rose, yellow), platinum, and more. Furthermore, the designs we have crafted from scratch for customers in the past can be outfitted with a green garnet stones for a unique and beautiful touch.

Get in Touch with Us!

We are a friendly crowd here at Knox Jewelers, and we are more than happy to answer any questions you may have about green garnet stones. We are gladly able to assist you in coming up with a unique design that incorporates the exact metals, flourishes, and garnet stones you desire, while also working together with you in a collaborative process. Naturally, you’ll want to act sooner than later – green garnet stones are still relatively less known than emeralds and other more popular gemstones, thus making them considerably less expensive than their comparatively sized counterparts. Get in touch with us soon!

Red Garnet – January’s Splendor

If you were one of those lucky babies who had the fortune of being born in January, then do we have some great news for you. The beautiful, exquisite, and jaw-dropping garnet is your birthstone, and while it has numerous color variants, none are perhaps as intense and fiery as the red garnet. Although red garnets are the most common color of garnet, the term “garnet” actually describe a group of closely related minerals, many of which have different colors. For our purposes, however, we will be focusing exclusively on the red garnet in this article and all of its unique variations and styles.

The History of the Garnet Gemstone

The first known uses of red garnet stones are found around the necks of ancient Egyptian pharaohs, whose mummified remains are adorned by them. In ancient Rome, rings which were built for the express purpose of stamping the durable wax which sealed documents had carved garnets. As history progressed into the Middle Ages, members of the clergy adopted the red garnet as their signature stone. Since these early times, garnets have been exceedingly popular in society, and the garnet still retains its prestige and popularity even thousands of years later – and not just among the upper classes, these days. Let’s take a look now at some of the different forms of the red garnet we offer as a stone setting option at Knox Jewelers.

The Types of Garnets

As stated previously, the garnet describes a family of different but related minerals. In particular, we want to highlight Almandine and Pyrope garnets, as well as their red colored variants mozambique and rhodalite. Each serves a specific purpose and has its own unique characteristics and properties.

Almandine is the most common type of garnet. Although most stones of this type are generally unsuitable for use in unique jewelry, it is often mixed with Pyrope to form mozambique, a generally pure red variant with a slightly lighter tone than similar garnets. Most almandine stones by themselves are not directly used in jewelry.

Pyrope is a blood-red variant of garnet, and it is absolutely stunning, especially when combined with Almandine to form mozambique. It is durable, strong, and quite stunning. A specific subtype of Pyrope, rhodalite, gets its name for its rose-like color and inclusion-free appearance. It too is often used in garnet jewelry, and it has a very lovely appearance that balances well with white gold and yellow gold.

Red Garnet Engagement Rings at Knox Jewelers

At Knox Jewelers, we have been crafting unique engagement rings and custom jewelery with red garnet stones for many years. Any of our custom engagement rings can be outfitted with a garnet stone setting, and the red color of these gemstones looks absolutely stunning with gold metals, platinum, and more. Our garnet jewelry is perfect for that special someone who happens to have a January birthday.

Any one of our intricately handcrafted bands or other types of jewelry can be used in conjunction with a red garnet stone setting, including engagement rings, wedding bands, pendants, earrings, and more. We are more than happy to help you craft the perfect combination of metal, custom design work, and red garnet stone that will truly make January a memorable month for your beloved.

Caring for Garnet

Caring for our custom engagement rings or other custom jewelry which uses garnet stones is essential for the longevity of the piece. Garnet is generally regarded as a tough stone and is quite durable, but it still should not be subjected to hard impacts or harsh chemicals. The ideal method for cleaning garnet items involves the use of warm water and soap, though ultrasonic cleaners are also effective, save for stones with fractures – generally, however, we advise using a soft tooth brush and soapy warm water to gently scrub the jewelry.

Have Any Questions?

We personally cannot think of a better gift for your loved one with a January birthday than red garnet custom jewelry. If you have any questions at all about the qualities and attributes of the many different kinds of red garnet, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us. We look forward to helping you design the perfect engagement ring or other jewelry for your loved one!

Full Bezel Set Engagement Rings and Wedding Bands – An Elegant Setting Style Throughout Time

Bezel settings – that is, settings wherein the metal of the band encompasses the edge of the gemstone – have a long and rich history in the metal smithing and jewelry-making professions. As a matter of fact, the use of bezel settings was one of the first ways in which metal smiths would set gemstones or diamonds into jewelry, as evidenced by many ancient heirlooms in public and private collections. But, bezel settings have practical advantages for the modern jewelry we design here at Knox Jewelers, too. While prong settings are the most common and popular settings for most modern pieces, they have a number of issues. In particular, prong settings allow for their stones to be more susceptible to accidental rubbing or damage; furthermore, these settings tend to be less secure overall. While the possibility of stone dis-lodgement through even intense activity is minimal, bezel settings make this risk practically nonexistent. These are just a few of the reasons why our handcrafted full bezel engagement rings and wedding bands have been supremely popular with our customers.

The History and Evolution of Bezel Settings

Some of the very first settings in the history of the profession used the bezel technique to perfectly fit and protect the beautiful gemstones of the eras past. For thousands of years, the bezel setting served as the one and only setting used by jewelers due to its feasibility with the tools and implements of those times. Essentially, an ancient jeweler might have fashioned a bezel setting by taking a piece of metal, whether gold, silver, or other, and fabricating it so that it matches the outer shape of the center stone. Then, the jeweler would place the stone within the bezel and “push” the metal over the stone so as to encompass it. This technique has largely remained unchanged throughout the ages, and it still requires many years to master the pushing of the metal to just the right amount over the center stone so that it is not only secure, but also concealed as little as possible.

The Advantages of Bezel Settings

As stated previously, bezel settings offer a variety of advantages. Here are just a few of them:

* Protection: Due to the seamless nature of a bezel setting, the stones contained therein are protected from many types of accidental damage.
* Versatility: Bezel settings look great with a variety of different band styles and stone cuts, as evidenced by our examples below.
* Snag-proof: Unlike prong settings, when a bezel setting gets damaged it is not likely to move away from the stone in a way that will leave the metal exposed to accidentally scratch someone or snag on things.

Examples of Bezel Settings Crafted By Knox Jewelers

At Knox Jewelers, we have crafted many unique engagement rings and wedding bands with bezel settings. Our metalsmiths have trained for many years to master this art, and we are proud to offer them to our customers. Those customers who have opted for a bezel setting have loved its elegance, durability, and sophistication, so much so that we could not help but tell you about them. Here are three of the unique and beautiful rings we have crafted for our customers in the past:

* Radiant Enchantment: With micro pavé stones stones forming a stunning halo around the center bezel setting of this beautiful ring, Radiant Enchantment surely lives up to its name. This piece in particular shows how bezel settings can be combined with halos and other silhouettes to create truly stunning jewelry.

* Monarch: The proud, noble Monarch ring showcases the exquisite combination of a round center stone, round bezel setting, and a lovely micro pavé band. Truly, this 14k white gold band is fit for nobility of the highest prestige.

Here are some custom, Monarch Variations:

* Bezel Step Eternity: Our innovative and elegant Bezel Step Eternity band takes the classic bezel setting design to a new level. A seamless, interlocking 14k white gold band of bezel round brilliant diamond settings makes this ring a truly unique and novel design not seen elsewhere.

Choosing a Bezel Setting for Your Wedding Band or Engagement Ring

A bezel setting is a fantastic choice of setting for the center stone of your wedding band or engagement ring. If you would like to learn more about using a bezel setting in a band for that special someone, please get in touch with us today. We look forward to discussing your plans with you!

Blue Zircon: December’s Beauty

December is a month of many birth stones. Throughout the years, it has included such diverse gemstones as bloodstone, ruby, turquoise, lapis lazuli, and more among its varied birthstones. But, one of the most beautiful modern December birthstones is blue zircon, a somewhat less common household name. And while blue zircon may be less commonly known, it happens to also be one of the most stunning and exquisite birthstones of them all for its intense blue color, clarity (zircon is generally free of inclusions which muddle the interiors of other stones), and character, all of which are among the many reasons our customers at Knox Jewelers love to use blue zircon in their hand-crafted jewelry.

The history of zircon is as rich and interesting as the histories of other birthstones – and oftentimes it is more so. During the Middle Ages in Europe, zircon had an aura of colorful superstitions surrounding it. In particular, many people thought that the gem could defeat insomnia and induce sleep, defend them against supposedly evil spirits, and bring such things as riches, wealth, honor, and wisdom. As for the etymology of the word “zircon,” scholars are divided. Some researchers contend that the name of zircon stems from an Arabic word zarkun, which means vermilion or cinnabar. Other scholars believe that the word is Persian in origin. In particular, they believe it comes from the Persian word zargun, which means gold colored. Given the many different varieties of zircon besides blue zircon, this might explain the various historical interpretations of the gem.

Blue zircon looks absolutely stunning in all kinds of jewelry, including engagement rings, pendants, and earrings. It reached its peak of historical popularity during the Victorian era, wherein many wealthy English citizens would use it estate jewelry like the kinds just listed. But, the progression of time has not dampened the popularity of blue zircon as the center stone of the jewelry we craft by hand here at Knox Jewelers. Many of our esteemed customers have been thrilled to see the final product of their hand-picked zircon jewelry. In fact, blue zircon accounts for the overwhelming majority of zircon stones used in our pieces, and it has been found by industry surveys to be the absolute most popular zircon variant on the market – 80 percent of all zircons in circulation happen to be blue ones, thus showing that many consumers prefer this variant over the other colors.

Zircons are graded according to a strict set of measurements which determine the overall quality of the gem. Due to the interactions of radioactive elements and other sources of wear and tear, some zircons are considered more valuable than others. Gemologists classify zircons according to three different levels: low, intermediate, and high, depending on the amount of damage done by the aforementioned radioactive elements. At Knox Jewelers, we use only the highest quality of blue zircon gems that have negligible inclusions within them. Thus, they look elegant and beautiful in each and every piece our metal smiths and artist handcraft for our customers.

Blue Zircon looks absolutely stunning and beautiful in any piece. We have used them in engagement rings, wedding bands, and earrings, among many other kinds of jewelry. The blue color and texture of the gem can be readily used in conjunction with a variety of different base metals, including silver, platinum, and gold – the choice is ultimately yours, and you certainly cannot go wrong with any one of these options. We would also be happy to discuss with you what kinds of metals and colors best complement the beauty of blue zircon.

Finally, blue zircon has fair to good toughness and is in general stable when exposed to light. It is also stable when exposed to chemicals. As for cleaning, we generally recommend that our customers use warm and soapy water. As for its cut, there are a variety of different cuts we can use for zircon, and we would be happy to discuss them with you. They can range from step cuts to a modified brilliant cut, known as the zircon cut.

We hope you enjoyed learning about blue zircon. For that special someone in your life who was lucky enough to be born in December, a blue zircon ring or pendant from Knox Jewelers can be the perfect gift.

Tanzanite: December’s Newest Breathtaking Birthstone

It’s that time of year again. The time when the snow begins to fall, when the world’s major holidays occur, and when one has a valid excuse for curling up inside with a book and a cup of hot tea on a cold and windy day. But, December is also the month of the tanzanite gem – the youngest of all known gems. Though the rare crystal has long been known and used by the native Maasai people of Tanzania, it was only recently discovered in 1967 by Manuel de Souza, a professor and prospector who was searching for rubies in the region. Upon initial discovery, he and other gemstone experts had assumed the gemstone was some form of sapphire with especially vibrant properties. It wasn’t until Henry B. Platt of Tiffany & Co came across it that tanzanite earned its name. So, you might be wondering what is so special about tanzanite. After all, if it was difficult for the people who discovered and named it to differentiate from sapphire, what makes it so unique? The truth is that tanzanite is in an unique class all of its own, a truth reflected by its inclusion in the birthstone list in 2002 due to its growing popularity and widespread understanding of its uniqueness.

There are many aspects of tanzanite that make this gemstone so unique and aesthetically intriguing, as well as making it the perfect December birthstone. The first aspect you will notice about a tanzanite gemstone is its alluring and very beautiful violet blue color. However, it is rare for a tanzanite freshly mined from the earth to have this intense blue color. It is a common process to heat treat tanzanite to give it the luminous color portrayed in pictures of the gemstone. This brings us to another important topic: The problems with color coating. You see, while heat treatments are a permanent change and do not have any negative impact on the stone, it has been discovered that some tanzanite gems have been coated in a thin layer of material to give them the blue and violet appearance many strive to achieve. However, these methods have come under intense scrutiny due to their unreliability. In fact, industry professionals do not recommend coating as the material applied during the process wears off very easily. That’s why you should always ensure that the tanzanite jewelry you purchase is HEAT treated, not coated. Here in the United States it is required that any coatings be disclosed at the point of sale.

One of the most important steps in preparing a tanzanite gem for market is the cutting process. Tanzanite possesses a very peculiar quality that makes the cutting process more complex than usual. The gemstone is pleochroic which means if you try to view tanzanite from different angles, you will see different colors. In the case of tanzanite you will see a burgundy-brown from one angle, violet from another, and blue from the third. When the gems are heat treated it removes the burgundy-brown, creating a dichroic stone and leaving only the blue-violet colors that are so prized for this gem. Because of this dichroic property, the direction of the cutting will play a pivotal role in determining the general face-up color of the tanzanite piece, a variable which must also correspond with the financial considerations involved in cutting any gemstone. In general, cutting tanzanite so that it shows an intense blue color in its face-up position is likely to result in more weight loss than cutting it to emphasize its violet-blue color.

There are a few more considerations to take into account for customers looking to purchase one of our hand-crafted tanzanite jewelry pieces. Firstly, tanzanite is rated around 6 to 7 on the Mohs scale, making it fair to below average in durability. That’s why we recommend using tanzanite in non-ring pieces such as pendants, earrings, and necklaces, as this will reduce the risk of damage occurring to the gemstone during normal, daily wear. For someone who is aware of the risks and takes care of their piece however, it makes for a stunning center stone in an engagement ring! As for carats, tanzanite is more often found in larger carat sizes which makes it a great option for the focal point of any piece. Smaller tanzanite stones tend to be less vibrant in color (while, of course, being less expensive). Finally, tanzanite can be cleaned gently with warm, soapy water and a soft tooth brush or other implement.

Make this December one to remember with a beautiful, elegant tanzanite piece. At Knox Jewelers, we are experts in crafting beautiful engagement rings, wedding bands, earrings, pendants, necklaces, and more. Choosing tanzanite for your custom jewelry is certainly a unique experience, and we would love to help you through the process and choose a beautiful tanzanite gemstone for your next idea. Please feel free to get in touch with us if you have any questions at all about these beautiful gemstones, and happy holidays from everyone at Knox Jewelers!