knox custom engagement ring Archives

Gemstone Spotlight

Ruby-Ring Unique Engagement Rings — Knox Jewelers Custom Design 3245

Throughout the centuries ruby has always been highly regarded and as colored gemstones go, ruby is one of the most historically significant. In ancient Sanskrit ruby was named ratnaraj, or “king of precious stones”. The gemstone received its modern name from the Latin word ruber, which means red, and ruby will forever be the standard that all other red gemstones are compared against. Ruby has acquired its fair share of legends through the years, most involving beauty, wisdom, love or protection. The gem retained its regard as the western world grew, and it soon became one of the most sought after precious stones of European upper class and royalty. In modern times, the desire for ruby has only grown as it has become a symbol of love and passion. With these notions in mind, ruby would make a stunning and meaningful center stone in any of our custom created engagement rings.

Ruby is the vibrant red variety of the mineral corundum. This mineral family also includes the gemstone sapphire, in all of its colors. In its purest form, corundum is colorless, but trace elements present in the crystal structure causes its wide variety of hues. Chromium is the trace element responsible of ruby’s red coloring. Ruby, and all other corundum, holds an average gemstone hardness of 9 on the Mohs Scale. It is not as durable as diamond, but ruby would fair very well in most custom engagement ring settings or any other custom creation you desire. The unique octagonal cut ruby shown here would make a stunning colored gemstone engagement ring or right hand ring. This deep red ruby option is currently featured on our online gemstone list, and is just waiting to be made into a custom created work of art!

Let us at Knox Jewelers help you design a custom created piece of jewelry holding the scarlet octagonal ruby featured here or any other available option on our gemstone list. Contact us today to get started!

Gemstone Spotlight

Alex-Ring Unique Engagement Rings — Knox Jewelers’ Custom Design 2185

A distinct gemstone compared to other specimens, alexandrite is famous for its dramatic color change. Large deposits of this gemstone were first discover in the Ural Mountains of Russia in the 1830s. It was named for the then current heir the throne, the young Alexander II. These first alexandrites were of outstanding quality and displayed an impressive color shift in vivid hues. The remarkable Ural Mountain deposits did not last forever, but these first examples are this the premium that all other alexandrites are compared to. Today this gemstone can be found in Sri Lanka, Africa and Brazil.

Alexandrite is a rare variety of the mineral chrysoberyl. The gemstone is a charming green hue in daylight and shifts to a purplish red in incandescent light. This chameleon like ability result from the way alexandrite crystals absorb light. This gemstone has famously been labeled as an “emerald by day, ruby by night”. Other gemstone are know to shift hues like alexandrite, but few are as extreme.

Alexandrite holds an average gemstone hardness of 8.5 on the Mohs Scale. It is not as durable as sapphire or diamonds, but alexandrite would fair well in most custom engagement ring settings or any other custom creation you desire. The dazzling alexandrite shown here would make a stunning one-of-a-kind right hand ring or colored gemstone engagement ring. This alexandrite options is currently featured on our online gemstone list, and is just waiting to be made into a custom created work of art!

Today, alexandrite is a rare gemstone, nearly never found in large carat sizes. Its scarcity does mean that natural gems will come with a cost higher than that of more common gemstones. Though natural examples are breathtaking, we also offer lab created options that display a similar color change effect. Any natural or lab created gemstone can be set into any one of Knox Jewelers’ custom creations.

Let us at Knox Jewelers help you design a custom created piece of jewelry holding the rare natural alexandrite featured here or any other available option on our gemstone list. Contact us today to get started!

Alex-1 Unique Engagement Rings

Gemstone Spotlight

Amethyst-Ring Unique Engagement Rings — Knox Jewelers’ Custom Monarch Design

The mineral quartz includes a diverse family of gemstones including the violet hued variety, amethyst. This gemstone’s coloring can range from the desirable saturated darker purples and reddish purples to lighter grayish lavender tints. Naturally occurring irradiation and a trace amount of iron present in amethyst’s crystal structure causes its violet color.

Throughout history this gemstone has been a favorite amongst royalty, decorating kings and queens in the color of nobility. At one time amethyst was as expensive as ruby or emerald until the late 19th century when vast deposits of the gemstone were discovered in Brazil. The country is still producing beautiful amethyst and is one of the most important sources of the gemstone. Today, amethyst is most commonly known as the birthstone tied to the month of February.

Color zoning is very common in rough amethyst crystals. This means amethyst grows with distinct bands of darker and lighter shades of purple within the same crystal. The darkest, most saturated purple is usually present at the tips of the formation while the rest of the crystals fades to light violet and colorless. There will be very few vibrant purple faceted gemstone compared to lighter options once the crystal is cut and polished.

Amethyst rates a gemstone hardness of 7 on the Mohs Scale. It is not as durable as sapphire or diamonds, so if you choose to set an amethyst into one of our custom ring settings, it would need to be worn with care and might not be suitable for everyday jewelry. However, this mysterious deep violet amethyst shown here would make a stunning one-of-a-kind right hand ring. This amethyst option is currently featured on our online gemstone list, and is just waiting to be made into a custom created masterpiece!

Take a cue from kings and queens throughout history and let us at Knox Jewelers help you design a custom created piece of jewelry holding this marvelous deep violet amethyst. Visit our online gemstone list and view all of our available amethyst options!

Amethyst Unique Engagement Rings — Round Cut Amethyst

On Trend for 2017

If you are currently on the hunt for the perfect engagement ring to propose in the upcoming year, then Knox Jewelers has a few suggests of current designs being sought after in our showrooms. With our custom created rings, the possibilities are endless, but there are a few styles that are gaining trend status. We are always ready to help you create the ring of her dreams, maybe one of these listed styles was made just for her.

Rose Gold

3393_1_image Unique Engagement Rings — Knox Jewelers Custom Design 3393

Though white gold is still the most prevalent precious metal our custom rings are created in, rose gold is quickly becoming a fierce competitor. The warm tone of rose gold is versatile and flattering on a multitude of skin tones. It also pairs well with white metals, making stunning two tone pieces. Be it a custom engagement ring, wedding band or right-hand ring, rose gold adds the perfect feminine allure to any piece of jewelry.

Montana Sapphires

Mon-Sapphire Unique Engagement Rings — Knox Jewelers Custom Design 3173

A bright, white, scintillating diamond has taken center stage in many dream rings, and we are sure it will continue to. However, those who yearn for a unique colored stone have recently been selecting a very unusual and rare variety of sapphire to complete their perfect engagement ring. Montana mined corundum produces some of the world’s finest finished sapphires. They are extremely in-demand owing to their high clarity and eye-catching blue-green hues. We currently have several Montana mined sapphires in-stock, ready to be fashioned into a beautiful custom engagement ring.

Solitaires

3368_1_image Unique Engagement Rings — Knox Jewelers Custom Design 3368

A classic solitaire setting has been all the rage this year at Knox Jewelers. Small details and superior craftsmanship makes every Knox custom solitaire ring one-of-a-kind. Unique profiles, claw prongs, hand formed filigree and melodic hand engraving makes even a solitaire into a work of art. Many woman are choosing a solitaire engagement ring and coupling it to stacks of custom bands, telling a story and adding to their wedding set for years to come. A solitaire setting is versatile and flattering for any shape center stone you may desire.

Bold Center Stones

2539_1_image Unique Engagement Rings — Knox Jewelers Custom Design 2539

If we could choose one major trend that is picking up steam this year, it would definitely be the desire to choose an enlarged show-stopping center stone paired with a classically understated setting. Many clients this year have selected sizable center stones, be a diamond or gemstones, and opted to set them in elegant high polished or slim diamond bands. This allows their perfect center stone to be the focal point of the custom ring. You can be sure even the smallest details are impeccably hand crafted on any Knox custom created ring, the vastly intricate or the classic solitaire look.

Unique Halos

3386_1_image Unique Engagement Rings — Knox Jewelers Custom Design 3386

For years now, custom engagement rings with glittering micro pavé diamond halos surrounding a variety of center stone shapes have been en vogue. It has been the trend to watch, with a great number of our patrons requesting this setting style. As of late, we have been reinventing the trend, with the introduction of unique diamond halos. We have experimented with different shape diamonds, like baguettes, colored stone halos and vintage inspired pierced and curving designs. Anything is possible with Knox custom creation, so let us help you set your halo engagement ring apart from all the others!

Marquise Cut Center

3395_1_image_yellow Unique Engagement Rings — Knox Jewelers Custom Design 3395

More and more women are requesting that our custom created ring to be altered to feature a marquise shaped center diamond. Though nowhere near as poplar as the round brilliant or cushion cut, the marquise cut diamond is definitely growing in popularity. The shape elongates and flatters the finger with clean lines and interesting faceting patterns. The marquise cut was first commission in eighteenth century France, meaning it is the perfect center stone to make any of our antique inspired engagement ring feel truly authentic to the time.

Twisted Settings

3298_1_image Unique Engagement Rings — Knox Jewelers Custom Design 3298

Several Knox customers have recently requested amazing overlapping and twisting custom engagement ring designs. These daring masterpieces, with their eye-catching and meaningful patterns, give you a truly one-of-a-kind piece. These custom engagement rings bring to mind infinity symbols and love knot while creating a beautiful frame for your chosen center stone.

Now that you’ve been inspired by our current custom ring trends, stop in-store or contact us and let us answer any questions you may have on starting your very own custom engagement ring. The ring of her dreams is waiting to be created in 2017!

The Best Ways to Save on Your Custom Engagement Ring

One of the best things about having your engagement ring custom created with Knox Jewelers is the seemingly endless possibilities. A vast selection of center stone options and corresponding settings, that are changeable by request, allows a custom ring to be tailored around nearly any budget. If you have allocated a specific amount towards your engagement ring investment, listed below are a few ways to save on your final custom creation.

Approach Diamonds with an Open Mind

Being flexible when searching for your perfect center stone could make all the difference. You may enter the search believing you absolutely need a colorless flawless 1.00 carat diamond, then realize that these combined factors in a stone are rare. With everyone on the search for these holy-grail equivalent diamonds, when they are found, they will be priced accordingly. To aid in your quest, there are a few things to keep in mind when narrowing down your diamond search.

Carat weights like 0.50, 1.00 and 1.50 are often the most desired diamond sizes. Selecting a diamond weighing close to any one of these magic numbers, such as a 0.96 carat instead of a 1.00 carat, could mean a break in price. Remember it is important to consider millimeter measures of options as well. You may happen across a diamond whose diameter measures greater than its average carat weight, leaving you with a larger look for less cost.

A small amount of body color in a diamond is less noticeable in warm hued metals. Both yellow and rose gold compliment and mask body color in options selected from the near-colorless and even the faint diamond color ranges. If you are considering a yellow or rose gold setting, lowering your color grade in your center stone to the faint range could aid in your cost.

Consider selecting a SI (slightly included) graded diamond. Diamonds receive their clarity grade based off of how many natural inclusions they possess. This grade is taken into consideration when diamonds are priced. There are many SI graded diamonds whose inclusions can not be seen with the naked eye. Others will be white or perfectly placed in the diamond to be covered by a prong. Most diamonds graded above the SI range, will be completely eye clean, and their cost will be greater. Looking for your perfect diamond in the slightly included clarity range can seem like a treasure hunt, but there are amazing options to be found.

Choose A Knox Graded Diamond

We do offer diamond options that have been graded in-house. These diamonds are brought straight from the cutter and then hand selected by our stone buyer. They have not been sent to the third party laboratory for grading, meaning the time and cost of this expenses has not been added into their final pricing. These diamond options are graded with GIA standards in mind and can be compared next to similar diamonds graded by this lab. Selecting a Knox graded diamond could mean finding your perfect diamond at an exceptional value.

Explore Alternative Center Stone Options

A natural diamond is not the only gemstone that can be featured in your Knox custom engagement ring. We have several gemstones available, and your setting will be created around the measurements of any option you choose.

White Sapphire

Colored Sapphire

Lab Created Diamonds

Work Through Stages with our Temporary Solitaire

Choosing our Temporary Solitaire option allows you to work in phases towards your custom engagement ring, spreading your investment through time. After you select your perfect center stone, it will be set into our Classic Solitaire mounting. You can then create your custom setting whenever you would like to move forward. When you have decided on your Knox setting, we will remove your center stone and set it into its final ring. Many people choose to proposal with the Solitaire and then come in together to finalize their new custom setting.

Custom Tailor Your Setting

Every engagement ring commissioned through Knox Jewelers is created to order from the ground up. This means any alterations you have in mind for a setting are possible. All finishes on Knox custom rings are created by hand. These details are labor intense for our jewelers. Eliminating handwork in a ring setting will often lower its cost. Things that can be removed or scaled down are hand engraving, side diamonds, hand forged filigree curls and milgrain edging. These beautiful details add character to all of our one-of-a-kind settings, but often these details can be added at a later date. This way your custom setting is like a blank canvas, ready to completed in your future together.