pave Archives - Knox Jewelers

Rose Gold – Timeless Beauty

Before we begin, it is important to note that gold is naturally a yellow metal, and that any other forms of gold, including white and rose, are combinations of gold with other metals – we call these combinations alloys. We’ll talk more about that in the next section, but in the meantime you should know that rose gold is an excellent way to add personality to your jewelry as well as give it a signature, unique appearance – in fact, rose gold is beginning to gain popularity and momentum among jewelers and customers alike, especially here at Knox Jewelers. Without further ado, let’s learn all about rose gold.

The Basics of Rose Gold

As we said before, rose gold is a combination of gold and another metal. 14K rose gold is usually formed with gold (about three fourths), copper (about one fifth), and a marginal amount of silver. This blend of metals allows for 14K rose gold to be strong enough for jewelry as well as have its distinctive rosy hue from which it derives its name.

Growing Popularity

Rose gold has been steadily gaining in popularity, and for good reason – no other alloy quite matches the splendor and beauty of this red-tinted gold. More and more individuals are choosing to utilize rose gold in their custom engagement rings and wedding bands. Our designers have successfully used rose gold in a variety of one-of-a-kind pieces, and we are quite thrilled by the rise in popularity of this gold alloy for many creative reasons. Even men’s wedding bands are starting to feature rose gold!

Mokume Gane

One of the areas in which rose gold is extraordinarily useful is in the practice of Mokume Gane. At Knox Jewelers, we are experts in these techniques, and having the option of using rose gold in conjunction with yellow and white gold can allow us to design some truly stunning Mokume Gane rings. In the next section, we’ll take a look at these designs as well as other ones we have crafted by hand for our customers in the past.

Our Unique Designs

Rose gold looks fantastic with many different elements. The unique engagement rings and wedding bands we have created for our customers are varied, but they all share one attribute in common: they are exceedingly beautiful with their rosy tint. Let’s take a look at some of them now:

North Shore Rose

This design makes exclusive use of 14K rose gold to give the ring a bright hue and warm texture. Combined with our detailed hand engravings and milgrain textures, North Shore Rose’s rose gold base truly looks fantastic all on its own without other metals or stones.

Flora – Autumn Wind

Flora is one of our stunning examples of Mokume Gane craftsmanship. This piece uses three metals: 14k yellow gold, white gold, and rose gold, all mixed and blended together to give the natural appearance for which Mokume Gane is so well regarded. We’ve also added two rows of lovely, sparkling diamonds to give this ring a beautiful aesthetic.

Design 2903

Finally, Design 2903 shows how regal and vibrant 14k rose gold can look in conjunction with a center stone – in this case, a 1.25ct princess cut center diamond. Rose gold is a truly versatile alloy that is both durable, striking, and warm, and we think that these designs truly make the case for its use in practically any context, including with diamonds, other stones, hand engravings, and more.

Two-Tone Designs

Designs featuring multiple metals are another way to add more detail to a design. As you can see, the warm hue of the rose gold stands out beautifully against the cool luster of the white gold.

Rose Gold Mock-Ups

We are more than happy to hand sketch or create a computer mock-up of your preferred design with rose gold. If this might be something in which you are interested, please let us know. We will create a detailed sketch of your piece and allow you to make modifications as you see fit – helping you to design a custom engagement ring or wedding band is what we are here to do.

Knox Jewelers Is At Your Service

We do not simply design stunning and unique engagement rings and wedding bands – we also go the extra mile in ensuring our customers understand exactly what goes into the process as well as give them complete freedom in the outcome of a particular design. If you have any questions about rose gold, please do not hesitate to contact us. We look forward to working together with you to design a beautiful rose gold engagement ring or wedding band!

Full Bezel Set Engagement Rings and Wedding Bands – An Elegant Setting Style Throughout Time

Bezel settings – that is, settings wherein the metal of the band encompasses the edge of the gemstone – have a long and rich history in the metal smithing and jewelry-making professions. As a matter of fact, the use of bezel settings was one of the first ways in which metal smiths would set gemstones or diamonds into jewelry, as evidenced by many ancient heirlooms in public and private collections. But, bezel settings have practical advantages for the modern jewelry we design here at Knox Jewelers, too. While prong settings are the most common and popular settings for most modern pieces, they have a number of issues. In particular, prong settings allow for their stones to be more susceptible to accidental rubbing or damage; furthermore, these settings tend to be less secure overall. While the possibility of stone dis-lodgement through even intense activity is minimal, bezel settings make this risk practically nonexistent. These are just a few of the reasons why our handcrafted full bezel engagement rings and wedding bands have been supremely popular with our customers.

The History and Evolution of Bezel Settings

Some of the very first settings in the history of the profession used the bezel technique to perfectly fit and protect the beautiful gemstones of the eras past. For thousands of years, the bezel setting served as the one and only setting used by jewelers due to its feasibility with the tools and implements of those times. Essentially, an ancient jeweler might have fashioned a bezel setting by taking a piece of metal, whether gold, silver, or other, and fabricating it so that it matches the outer shape of the center stone. Then, the jeweler would place the stone within the bezel and “push” the metal over the stone so as to encompass it. This technique has largely remained unchanged throughout the ages, and it still requires many years to master the pushing of the metal to just the right amount over the center stone so that it is not only secure, but also concealed as little as possible.

The Advantages of Bezel Settings

As stated previously, bezel settings offer a variety of advantages. Here are just a few of them:

* Protection: Due to the seamless nature of a bezel setting, the stones contained therein are protected from many types of accidental damage.
* Versatility: Bezel settings look great with a variety of different band styles and stone cuts, as evidenced by our examples below.
* Snag-proof: Unlike prong settings, when a bezel setting gets damaged it is not likely to move away from the stone in a way that will leave the metal exposed to accidentally scratch someone or snag on things.

Examples of Bezel Settings Crafted By Knox Jewelers

At Knox Jewelers, we have crafted many unique engagement rings and wedding bands with bezel settings. Our metalsmiths have trained for many years to master this art, and we are proud to offer them to our customers. Those customers who have opted for a bezel setting have loved its elegance, durability, and sophistication, so much so that we could not help but tell you about them. Here are three of the unique and beautiful rings we have crafted for our customers in the past:

* Radiant Enchantment: With micro pavé stones stones forming a stunning halo around the center bezel setting of this beautiful ring, Radiant Enchantment surely lives up to its name. This piece in particular shows how bezel settings can be combined with halos and other silhouettes to create truly stunning jewelry.

* Monarch: The proud, noble Monarch ring showcases the exquisite combination of a round center stone, round bezel setting, and a lovely micro pavé band. Truly, this 14k white gold band is fit for nobility of the highest prestige.

Here are some custom, Monarch Variations:

* Bezel Step Eternity: Our innovative and elegant Bezel Step Eternity band takes the classic bezel setting design to a new level. A seamless, interlocking 14k white gold band of bezel round brilliant diamond settings makes this ring a truly unique and novel design not seen elsewhere.

Choosing a Bezel Setting for Your Wedding Band or Engagement Ring

A bezel setting is a fantastic choice of setting for the center stone of your wedding band or engagement ring. If you would like to learn more about using a bezel setting in a band for that special someone, please get in touch with us today. We look forward to discussing your plans with you!

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.

Micro Pavé Engagement Rings

The focus of this article is to illustrate some of the differences in micro pavé engagement ring styles, design elements and setting styles.

If you are looking for a more thorough description and definition of Micro Pave. Please see our Pave? or Micro-Pave? article linked here:

https://www.knoxjewelers.biz/blog/category/micro-pave/

Click here to browse our Micro Pavé Engagement Rings

Hand Cut Micro Pavé Engagement Ring Examples

We will start with some hand cut Micro Pavé examples. Hand cut Micro Pave refers to a diamond setting style in which each little prong holding the diamonds in the ring design are cut out by hand. As well as cutting out each little prong, the diamond setter will also also cut out the area under and around where the diamond is to be set so as to give the setting style a nice aesthetic as well as help show off the micro pavé diamonds.

We only offer these hand cut micro pave setting styles in Platinum rings as other metals are not as ideally suited for this type of detailed hand work.

Here is an extreme close up photo (macro shot) of a hand cut micro pavé engagement ring. We call this setting style, U-cut, which is a good descriptive of the U shape area cut out underneath each diamond. As mentioned, this hand cut pattern helps accentuate the micro pave diamonds and also lends the design a very attractive aesthetic.

2296_5_macro Unique Engagement Rings — Good example of a Hand Cut (U-cut) Micro Pave Engagement Ring Click on image to see other images and video of this ring

Here is another very close up example of a hand cut micro pave engagement ring. Note on this example how the U-cut style was also incorporated into the micro pave halo around the center diamond.

2301_7_macro Unique Engagement Rings — Hand cut micro pave engagement ring with hand cut halo & claw prongs

Here is a top view of the same U cut Micro Pave halo design engagement ring. This view illustrates how this setting style minimizes how much metal shows and thus accentuates the micro pave diamonds.

2301_3_macro Unique Engagement Rings — Example of hand cut micro pave engagement ring with halo and claw prongs

Click here see more Micro Pavé Engagement Rings

Split Shank Engagement Rings

At last count we had upwards of 50 split shank engagement ring designs with new and custom versions coming out on a regular basis. Many of these split shank engagement rings have micro pave set diamonds in the design. Others include a diamond halo. We wanted to feature some of our more popular split shank engagement rings designs in one article so that someone unfamiliar with our website or store could look and compare many different designs on the same page.

Click here to browse our Split Shank Engagement Rings

Please note that the images are linked to the rings product page which will have additional photos and possibly a video of the ring.

The first split shank design is a very clean and simple split shank design with pave diamonds. The center stone is a 2 carat round center diamond.

: Classic Split Shank Engagement Ring with diamonds in the split shank

2.20 carat cushion cut diamond in a very elegant split shank engagement ring

: 2.20 carat cushion cut diamond in split shank engagement ring

Here is a micro pave split shank design with a round micro pave halo

: Micro Pave Split Shank with Micro Pave Halo and Round Center Stone

Here is a very similar design with an Asscher shape center diamond

: Split shank micro pave engagement ring with Asscher center diamond

Here is a Split shank design with a round center diamond in a cushion shape diamond halo, the design also features a surprise diamond

(click through to other photos to see surprise diamond)

: This Split shank design features a round center diamond in a cushion shape diamond halo, the design also features a surprise diamond

: Here is a beautiful split shank micro pave, halo design engagement ring with a princess center diamond

2.00 carat princess cut set in a beautifully delicate micro pave split shank design

: 2.00 carat princess cut set in a beautifully delicate micro pave split shank design

Speaking of halos, the signature look of our Cielo design is the combination of a split shank with a halo. We have made this design for just about every shape center stone, here are a few:

: Round Halo Cielo

Another round center diamond version…

: Round Brilliant Cielo

One more…

: RB Cushion Cielo

: Princess Cielo

: Cushion Cielo

Click here to see our Split Shank Engagement Rings