Katie Monson, Author at Knox Jewelers

Princess Diamonds – The New Classic Cut

Princess cut diamonds are one of the more exquisite styles of diamond cuts. In fact, it’s one of the most popular diamond cutting styles on the market today – and for good reason. This cut incorporates a number of techniques which allow for a high level of brilliance with a unique faceting style that makes it distinctive from the more traditional round brilliant cuts. Instead, the Princess cut is typically square or rectangular. Let’s take a closer look now at the history of the Princess cut, its variants, and some important considerations to keep in mind when choosing Princess cut diamonds for your jewelry.

The History of Princess Cut Diamonds

Although the Princess cut partially derives its existence from the older, more venerable “French” cut, it did not come into being until the 1960’s. It has definitely kept pace with its competitor, the round brilliant cut, and it is continuing to grow in popularity among our clients here at Knox Jewelers. While the Princess cut may lack the long history of other types of cuts, it more than makes up for that with elegance, precision, and brilliance. No wonder it’s the second-most popular type of diamond cut on the market! Customers who have chosen this cut for their engagement ring agree that the Princess cut is one of the most elegant shapes out there today.

A Variety of Stunning Princess Cut Styles

As you might imagine, not all Princess cut diamonds are created equal. For instance, some Princess cut diamonds may have greater depth, polish, or symmetry than others. To make the process of choosing the right diamond for your Princess cut engagement ring as easy as possible, our expert jewelers here at Knox Jewelers will ensure that your ring has only the finest diamond which balances color, clarity, and depth. After all, there is no industry-wide or standardized consensus on the specific grading of cut on Princess stones, so you’ll want expert guidance in choosing the right one. We have the experience necessary for helping you to make the right choice.

Our Handcrafted Princess Cut Engagement Rings

Each and every design at Knox Jewelers is created by hand and from the ground up – none of our jewelry comes out of a factory. Our artisans and craftspeople are some of the most well-regarded experts in the industry, and we have had the privilege of designing many engagement rings for our valued clients. Be sure to have a look at some of the custom engagement rings we have designed in the past – if you’re interested in incorporating a similar design into your own Princess cut engagement ring, then we would be absolutely thrilled to create a ring that is tailored to your specific desires and ideas.

Some Important Considerations to Keep in Mind

The most important consideration to keep in mind if you’re thinking about investing in a Princess cut diamond for your jewelry is this: Although Princess cut diamonds are very beautiful, their corners tend to be less durable than you might expect due to the way the cut is made. Although we have set many Princess cut diamonds into our handmade, custom-tailored designs for our satisfied customers, we generally recommend that those customers who are looking for crisp and straight edges on their center diamond, to instead opt for a Radiant cut with a square ratio. We usually recommend this option whenever possible due to the improved stability and robustness of the resulting cut. Aside from this important consideration, the Princess cut is an excellent choice for practically any unique engagement ring!

Design Your Own Unique Engagement Ring at Knox Jewelers

Designing a unique engagement ring with our expert staff is an experience of a lifetime. We will work together with you from start to finish to create a Princess cut engagement ring that encompasses the visual and emotional motifs you want to see incorporated into it. There exists perhaps no experience more fulfilling or significant than being able to design a piece of jewelry which symbolizes the love you share with that special someone. We encourage you to get in touch with our friendly staff today and we’ll get started on the process of designing a truly significant engagement ring just for you.

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!