handcrafted

"Handcrafted" is a much-abused and misused term in the jewelry world. It actually has a very specific definition, per the Federal Trade Commission (which exists to protect you, the consumer, from those businesses who want to fool you in order to make money off you!).

According to the FTC, the definition of handmade or handcrafted as it applies to jewelry is:

The entire shaping and forming of such product must be from raw materials; and its finishing and decoration were accomplished by hand labor and manually-controlled methods which permit the maker to control and vary the construction, shape, design, and finish of each part of each individual product.

That means the piece cannot be cast (made from molten metal), but rather must be crafted from solid metal which is assembled and manipulated.

That is how this band was made: completely crafted by hand out of solid platinum using saws, drills, files,setting tools, and polishing tools. The milgraining, also done by hand. It is a double-sided band set with tiny 0.8mm Russian-cut diamonds.

Cheers!

make mine two-tone!

Brandon's taste was well-defined. So refreshing, given how many men don't even want to THINK about what they want out of their wedding band.

The shape: classic.

Two-tone treatment: obvious and brush-finished.

Pattern: four differently-shaped waves.

Result: shown.

"keep my diamond from ending up in a cake!"

Vanessa was very clear about her needs and wants.

White metal. Diamond that's protected, since she's a pantry chef. Subtle finish. Want to show off the diamond. Nothing irregular in shape--symmetry a necessity.

Here's the result...

A 14K white gold ring with a cup into which a 1/3-carat round diamond is bezel-set. Inside of the cup sandblasted so that the diamond "pops."

Just when I thought a particular set of "druthers" couldn't be combined...

I was wrong.

modern taste, but matched for tradition

Ute hails from Germany, and her taste aligns with that. She likes clean lines and straightforward geometry. When it came time for Rich to select his ring, it was made clear that the rings needed to look like they "go together." So, whereas Ute's ring had the one feature of a faux tension-set diamond, Rich's ring had a simple, centered, pair of straight, engraved lines. Both in brush-finish 14K white gold.

what's so great about an old mine?

Old Mine-cut diamonds!

Old Mine-cut diamonds have so much personality! I always feel sad when someone wants them recut to modern brilliant-cuts. These diamond predate the invention of the rotary saw, and are almost always at least 100 years old.

This cut came into existence in the late seventeenth century. The old miner was the first diamond cut that had all the facets of the present round brilliant cut: the bezel, the star, pavilion mains, etc. However, the facet alignment and sizes were in a different manner as compared to the current round brilliant. The old miner was also more of a square or cushion cut, rather than being round. In fact, today's cushion cut is an improved old mine cut.

This cut of diamond is characterized by a high crown, small table, deep pavilion and large culet. Other names for this cut are: old miner, Peruzzi cut, and triple-cut brilliant.

These cuts follow the original shape of the rough, and are therefore usually heavy and deep and may have poor symmetry. I call it character, however.

While being cut with less than exacting proportions, these diamonds have a beauty and magic of their own which give them a desirable, distinct beauty just as the bygone era in which they were fashioned. To properly show off this charm, they must be set in a customer mounting.

Here, Miss Nora from NOLA was seeking a home for her seven mine-cuts as well as single-cuts, which were put into the halo.