Jewelry quality and form is inextricably linked to the manufacturing process so it’s important to understand the pros and cons of each option, especially if you’re intending to pay a premium for a more labor intensive manufacturing process. In two previous articles, Is your custom CAD work done by a CAD artist? and Casting Defects to Watch For, I discussed CAD-casting as one … [Read more...]
Durability Considerations in Pavé Design
Pavé (pah-veh) is a type of jewelry setting where very small 'melee' diamonds are set very close to each other, as if they are paving or cobble stones. Micro-pavé specifically refers to a type of pavé that can only be done under magnification and is distinguished by the use of melee diamonds that are 0.005ct or smaller. Micro-pavé settings are an extremely popular choice for … [Read more...]
What you don’t know about diamond grading can cost you
The first thing most consumers learn about diamonds is that diamond quality and prices are dependent on the 4Cs: color, cut, carat and clarity. But even though this is at the core of how we value diamonds, it's all to easy for us to just accept what a jeweler tells us about a diamond. So today I'm going to discuss how diamond grading can be subjective and help you understand … [Read more...]
Does a Surprise Proposal Need a Surprise Ring?
The majority of men that I’ve helped find an engagement ring have been in love with “a wonderful woman who will love anything I get her.” They tell me "I know my girlfriend doesn't have an opinion on her ring, she barely wears jewelry" and "I know she wants to be surprised.” The truth is, most of these gentlemen are wearing rose-colored glasses. Yes, your lady might love … [Read more...]
Casting Defects to Watch For
In last week's article: Is your custom CAD done by a CAD Artist? I explained why choosing the right jeweler is important. A good jewelry designer is not only an artist but a skilled craftsman so today I want to go through some of the issues that can come up when a jeweler casts a piece of jewelry. Casting is a jewelry manufacturing process in which a molten metal is poured … [Read more...]