Emerald Cut Archives - Knox Jewelers

June’s Custom Engagement Ring Spotlight

Spotlight-June-1024x768 Unique Engagement Rings — Knox Jewelers Custom Design 3130

Here at Knox Jewelers, one of our new favorite custom created engagement ring focuses around a stunning 1.00 carat emerald cut center diamond accentuated by a glittering micro pavé diamond halo. The opulence continues the length of the band with two bezel set baguette diamonds and unique channel set carre cut stones. The featured rose gold metal adds a warmth and depth to this laden setting. Vintage inspired details showcase the best of Art Deco elements and styling. The edges of this geometric ring are bordered with milgrain edging for a refined and polished finish. This nostalgic Art Deco styled 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!

What is a Step Cut?

Definition

A Step Cut categorizes any gemstone with a square or rectangle outline whose facets are rectilinear and arranged parallel to its girdle. In the place of a culet, Step Cut gemstones have a keel running the length of its pavilion. A Step Cut’s facets tend to be larger than its counterpart, the Round Brilliant. The facets also form a stair-like pattern, ergo its appropriate title. Diamonds cut in this fashion are among the first fashioned diamonds in history.

Common Step Cut Shapes

Emerald Cut

An Emerald Cut is a rectangle shaped Step Cut with truncated or angled corners, which gives it an octagonal outline. Like all Step Cuts it holds rows of pavilion and crown facets that are parallel to its girdle. It is available in many length to width ratios, but the most sought after is the 1:1.5. The Emerald Cut has portrayed glamour and sophistication for decades, explaining its popularity with the royal and famed populations. An Emerald Cut diamond takes center stage in out Barcelona Engagement Ring below.

Asscher Cut

The Asscher Cut is essentially a square variation of the Emerald Cut. It features similar truncated corners, octagonal shape and parallel running facets. Asscher Cuts tend to hold a greater depth compared to an Emerald Cut. Their unique octagon shape is famed for its connection to the daring Art Deco Jewelry of the 1920s and 1930s. An Asscher Cut diamond completes our Siempre Engagement Ring below.

Baguette Cut

The Baguette Cut, which derives its name from the French loaf of bread, is the most common form of Step Cut seen today, though it is often used as an accent side stone not a center gemstone. This cut does not feature the angled corners common to other Step-Cuts. Usually taking the supporting role in a piece of jewelry, the Baguette Cut does not emit a large amount of scintillation but its form adds a stylish and sleek accent. Tapered Baguette Cut diamonds compliment the center Emerald Cut in our Lucille Engagement Ring.

Carré Cut

A Carré Cut is a square shaped Step Cut without truncated corners. This cut was very popular in antique jewelry before the arrival of the modern square Princess Cut. An example of this cut can be seen featured in our Passion Engagement Ring as channel set side diamonds.

Considering a Step Cut

Step Cut gemstones are admired for their traditional outlines and understated elegance.

With a Step-Cut’s long facets and large table imperfections are not hidden well. Inclusions may be seen with the naked eye in lower clarity grade diamonds. To ensure your center stone is clear, we recommend looking for Step Cut diamonds with a clarity grade of VS2 and higher.

Step Cut style faceting does create a less scintillating stone compared to a round Brilliant Cut diamond. Scintillation in a diamond often masks small amounts of body color. This means Step Cut diamonds will need a higher color grade to be bright white. We recommend looking for a Step Cut diamond with a color grade of G and higher.

In colored gemstones, Step Cuts are employed to enhance richness and saturation. Their large tables and deep pavilions draw in light creating intensified colors and mesmerizing your eye.

Knox Jewelers is here to help you create the engagement ring of your dreams. If you are considering a Step Cut center stone, our design consultants can walk you through all of your options and help you choose your perfect diamond. Contact us today to get started on your custom design.

Emerald – May’s Echo of Nature

Emerald has captivated countless generations and deeply ingratiated itself in popular culture as well as within the jewelry industry. It is the quintessential birthstone for those lucky individuals who happen to have a May birthday, and its enduring beauty has remained a focal point of the jewelry market for hundreds of years. At Knox Jewelers, we’ve designed many hand-crafted works of art that incorporated an emerald center stone, and we think you’ll agree with us when we say that it’s a great choice for those individuals who are considering using it in a ring or pendant. Let’s take a closer look now at the history and background of this magnificent gemstone, and how we can help you to design a unique engagement ring that truly embodies your loved one’s May birthday.

The Illustrious History of Emerald

Emerald’s name comes to us from antiquity – specifically, classical Greek. Its original name was “smaragdos,” but it traveled through numerous cultures, including the Roman Empire, before being translated into modern English from the Middle English word “Emeraude.” The ancients knew just as well as we do today the cathartic healing effect that gazing at a beautiful emerald can achieve, and its popularity has endured through millenniums. Today, as it always has, emerald symbolizes the beauty and power of nature in the form of lush green landscapes and growth, thus making it an ideal gemstone to symbolize the month of May.

What You Need to Know about Emerald

Emerald is a form of beryl with a trademark green color that ranges from pure green to a blue-green mix. Although expert opinions differ as to what differentiates an emerald from a standard green beryl stone, professionals tend to identify an emerald by its rich color which is not too light as to be considered a mere green beryl. Generally, the darker the stone and the more saturated it is, the more likely it is to be considered a true emerald.

The Earth has been brewing emeralds for billions of years – 2.97 billion, to be precise. Today, it is often mined in the countries of Brazil, Colombia, Zambia, and Madagascar, among many others. Extracting this precious gemstone from the ground and preparing it for use in jewelry is an expensive and time-consuming process that involves the labor of many skilled artisans.

Selecting the best emerald stone possible involves taking into account four important criteria: color, clarity, cut, and carat weight. Each of these factors plays a vital role in determining whether or not a given emerald stone is up to par. Here’s what you should look for when choosing an emerald stone:

Color: Pure green stones tend to command the highest prices, and saturation is very important as well.

Clarity: Valuable emeralds typically have inclusions known as “jardins,” which are essentially “gardens” of visual inclusions.

Cut: The most common cut is a rectangular step cut, also known as an emerald cut.

Carat weight: Emeralds have lower densities than diamonds, so a one carat emerald will on average appear larger in size than a comparable diamond sample.

Your Very Own Emerald Ring

Designing a unique engagement ring for your loved one has never been more enjoyable or simple than at Knox Jewelers. From the very beginning of this special journey, we will work together with you to craft a ring that will stand the test of time while embodying your love. Our expert artisans have worked with numerous types of metals, stones, and techniques, and we know you will be eternally impressed with the emerald engagement ring that we design together with you. We’re truly looking forward to getting started on this journey with you, so be sure to get in contact with us soon.

Let’s Get Started Today!

At Knox Jewelers, we can’t wait to get started on helping you to design a stunning, unique engagement ring that is bound to stand the test of time for countless generations. Our jewelry design process is holistic and unique, and it is entirely centered around your desires and input. If you wish to create an heirloom that will last years, then get in touch with us today to get started on the journey of a lifetime. We look forward to meeting with you soon!

Emerald Cut Engagement Rings – Reflecting Nobility and Elegance Throughout the Ages

Emerald cut engagement rings are stunning, beautiful, and unique, and we are proud to offer them at Knox Jewelers. Why should you consider an emerald cut center stone over the plethora of other options available to you? For one, rings with emerald cut center stones are popular among the powerful and famous, including Camilla Parker Bowles (wife of Prince Charles), Grace Kelly (fiancée of Prince Rainier), and Melanie Knauss (fiancée of Donald Trump). The emerald cut is an elegant cut which incorporates a stepped square stone with cropped corners in order to reduce light dispersion and brilliance. Let’s take a closer look at this cut now and show you just how versatile and lovely it can be in any context or design.

The History of the Emerald Cut

Originally, the emerald cut was designed – unsurprisingly – as a special way to cut emeralds in order to address the issue of inclusions that emeralds naturally have. However, as time progressed, the emerald cut found its way into use with other stones, too, including diamonds. Today, the emerald cut is widely regarded as bold, elegant, and striking- all of which are attributes we strive to imbue within our own designs at Knox Jewelers. And, as we’ll discuss shortly, we’ve taken this classic cut in innovative new directions.

The Advantages of the Emerald Cut

The emerald cut has a number of valuable properties which make it a great and versatile choice for those customers looking to incorporate elements of nobility and boldness in their engagement ring for that special someone. What makes an emerald cut stone so versatile is its ability to be placed in almost any context and still look amazing and harmonious with the other elements of the ring. For instance, it is not rare to see an emerald cut center stone crafted in conjunction with such features as micro pave and halos, to name a couple.

Customization Options

To that end, we offer an almost unlimited variety of customizations options for your emerald cut engagement ring at Knox Jewelers. To best show you the variety of options available to you, let’s take a close look at some of the engagement rings we have designed for our customers.

Emerald Cut Whisper – Hand Engraved Emerald Cut Beauty

A stunning example of a hand engraved solitaire we have designed in the past is our Emerald Cut Whisper ring. This beautiful design features a hand engraved pattern reminiscent of wheat that gently guides your eye to the luxurious .65 ct emerald cut center diamond.

Design 1158 – A Stunning Emerald Cut Sapphire

Naturally, you are not limited to emeralds or diamonds when it comes to the emerald cut. Our lovely Design 1158 is a striking variation of our Lucille design which swaps the center diamond for a gorgeous sapphire that truly gets the spotlight on this platinum-based ring.

Design 1857 – An Exquisite Combination

We are quite fond of micro pavé stones, here, and Design 1857 takes our fondness for them to an entirely new level. This exquisite ring evokes a sense of nobility and pride due to the .80 ct emerald cut diamond that is framed in a four prong setting. Micro pavé stones are present all along the exterior of the 14K white gold band. This design truly exemplifies the versatility of an emerald cut stone.

Design 2754 – A Lovely Halo-framed Emerald Cut Stone

The final ring we want to showcase is our brilliant Design 2754. As we said before, an emerald cut center stone can be used in just about any kind of context, including within a halo arrangement. In this piece, a 1.00 ct emerald cut emerald is embedded within an Art Deco-inspired micro pavé halo and shoulder detail. No matter the surrounding elements, an emerald cut stone is guaranteed to both enhance those elements as well as look fantastic all on its own.

We’re Here to Help!

If you are interested in incorporating an emerald cut center stone in an engagement ring for that special someone, then please do not hesitate to contact our friendly staff here at Knox Jewelers. We would be thrilled to discuss the options available and how best to utilize this remarkable cut in a stunning piece just for you. We’ll explore different customization options, including band types, engravings, and more. We look forward to working together with you to design a unique emerald cut engagement ring!

Ring Styles from The Great Gatsby: Daisy Buchanan Engagement Ring Inspirations

Did you happen to spot the stunning diamond ring poised elegantly on Daisy Buchanan’s ring finger in The Great Gatsby? The beautiful cushion cut center surrounded in a halo of diamonds has certainly captured the attention of many. The influential attributes of the roaring twenties was portrayed in a lavish display of platinum and diamonds in Daisy’s engagement ring.

carey-mulligan-great-gatsby-dancing-300x225 Unique Engagement Rings — Daisy Buchanan in The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby follows a cast of characters during the summer of 1922 in a prosperous town located on Long Island. The setting of the story was at the cusp of the Art Deco period where society embraced symmetry and bold geometric shapes. This portrayal of the American Dream depicts the transformational shift in culture of economic prosperity and exuberance.

Daisy’s glamorous ring showcases a cushion cut diamond which captures the timelessness of an old mine cut and the sophistication of a modern round brilliant. An old mine cut has an unmistakable vintage appeal with individual hand cut facets and a proportionate shape to its original rough form. The modified square shape of a cushion cut combines the essence of a bygone era with the sophistication of modern technology. The cushion cut is a contemporary diamond shape that embraces the romantic allure in one of the first diamond cuts in history.

2271_3_image Unique Engagement Rings — A Beautiful 2.20 ct Cushion Cut Diamond

The Great Gatsby story paints a picture of an American ideal where freedom includes the opportunity for prosperity and social mobility. Luxurious parties, expensive cars and platinum jewelry were a symbol of wealth and success. Daisy’s elegant platinum band was a statement of high societal standing.

This classic look was featured in a beautiful U-cut style setting. U-cut is hand created pave where each prong is cut out by hand and the metal area around the prong. The U-shape pattern is formed when a jeweler carves the metal where the diamond is placed. This design technique allows diamonds to be set closer together, giving the ring more sparkle.

The U-cut method can only be crafted in platinum due to the metals superior strength. With platinum’s durability, less metal is needed to give the appearance of an endless row of diamonds. With less metal covering the diamonds, Daisy’s ring glimmers from across the room a t every angle.

2393_1_image1 Unique Engagement Rings — Knox Jeweler's Sarah Ann: Platinum U-Cut

To complete the historical look, Daisy wore a matching U-cut wedding band with micro-pave diamonds. Pave, is a French word meaning ‘paving a street.’ Her ring was paved with smaller diamonds to showcase her cushion cut diamond.

Another way to display a cushion cut diamond in platinum is a V-cut pattern. In this approach, the jeweler forms an angle on each side of the metal where it meets at a point, forming a V-shape. Like the U-cut, this technique can only be custom created in platinum. Showing less metal from the prongs and more of the micro-pave diamonds will maximize the radiance of the ring.

2383_5_image Unique Engagement Rings — Knox Jeweler's Venita: Platinum V-Cut

The Art Deco ring by Knox Jewelers represents The Great Gatsby period stylistically with bold geometric shapes. Clipped corners of a rectangular halo compliment the sharp, symmetrical lines of the emerald cut center diamond. To portray the fashion of the Great Gatsby era, two raised rectangular accents are parallel to the center halo.

1025_1_image Unique Engagement Rings — Knox Jeweler's Art Deco: Emerald Cut Diamond

Another common jewelry style for the era, the combination of diamonds and sapphires. Sapphires add a rich blue color to emphasize the beauty of the center diamond. This velvety blue fashion statement is a chic way to enhance the white luster of platinum.

2224_2_image Unique Engagement Rings — A Knox Jeweler's Minneapolis Custom Design

At Knox, we carry an entire collection of antique inspired styles in platinum or gold. As a custom design jeweler located in Minneapolis, we can create a design with or without a halo. Add surprise diamonds around the crown of the center diamond or build a halo around the diamond shape of your choice including cushion, round, oval or princess. Wear a Great Gatsby inspired ring of a timeless era, crafted with a contemporary appeal.