News

Invention within small spaces is what jewelry is all about. Often we don’t even think of how a gemstone or diamond is set. Yet, that influences everything from its overall form to its wearability and it aesthetics. Naturally we focus on the look of the jewelry, its color, shape, size and presence. But knowing a bit about various types of settings can also give you clues about how appropriate something is especially for rings and those worn every day, such as engagement rings. Here is a quick guide to a few of the more common settings you might encounter.  Prong...

Edwardian Jewelry: Circa 1890-1915 The Edwardian period of jewelry (circa 1890-1915) was typified by the use of diamonds, platinum and pearls. Color was at a minimum and a neutral and icy palette was in vogue. Hints of color increased as the period progressed toward the Art Deco period after 1915. Platinum came into its own for the first time in jewelry history. Its superior strength even thin and finely wrought allowed gemstones and diamonds to appear prominently with the metal a mere lace backdrop. While gold jewelry was still produced, the most formal of jewelry called for white metal. Look...

A technique was developed in the late 19th century as a textural effect to metal work on the edges or bezels of jewelry. That technique is referred to as millegrain (or mille grain or even milegrain). From the French word mille for a thousand, and from grain as the same meaning in English, it refers to what appears to be thousands of tiny beads upon a metal precipice or edge. Fine platinum settings and in particular diamond rings, engagement rings and gemstone set rings, often employ this device. It is defined as a technique where a knurling or a millegrain...

When buying an estate jewelry, antique,  or even a vintage engagement ring, there are a few  options in antique diamonds. Many of us are not familiar with what those diamond really look like and their differences. First, a definition for a couple of terms used for diamond cuts. Facet This is one small planar surface out of many on a diamond. Many facets make up the entire diamond surface and how many facets there are, and in what arrangement make up different diamond cuts. When a diamond cutter cuts a raw diamond, it is also said they are faceting the diamond,...