METAL OPTIONS

We are dedicated to creating high quality jewelry pieces that will last a lifetime. To uphold this commitment, we work with the finest precious metals, including gold, platinum, palladium, and sterling silver.

 


 

GOLD

We offer 14K and 18K gold in 4 different color varieties: yellow gold, rose gold, white gold, and white gold plated with black rhodium.

 

Yellow Gold

Yellow Gold

Rose Gold

Rose Gold

White Gold

White Gold

Black Rhodium

Black Rhodium

White gold’s bright, silver-like color is enhanced through various alloys like nickel that are mixed in to create an intense white sheen. An exterior plating of white rhodium is also given to improve white gold’s durability and color. To maintain your white gold jewelry’s full color, you will want to occasionally re-plate your piece as the white rhodium coating naturally wears away over time.

For customers who are interested in a black metal look for their jewelry, black rhodium plating on white gold will give their piece a dark, rich color. Like white rhodium, this black rhodium will need to be re-plated periodically.

Gold purity is measured in karats (which is different from carats, the standard gem weight measurement). We are pleased to offer 14K and 18K gold for our jewelry, which provide the best balance between strength, durability, and gold content.

 


 

PLATINUM

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Platinum is an inherently white precious metal. Unlike sterling silver, platinum’s white sheen does not fade, as platinum does not tarnish. Platinum also does not require white rhodium plating to impart a white color.

As your jewelry is worn, the platinum may gradually develop a natural patina. Some enjoy this unique effect, while others may prefer to professionally polish their jewelry from time to time to maintain its high-gloss look.

 


 

PALLADIUM

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Palladium is a metal belonging to the platinum family. Like platinum, it does not tarnish, and requires no rhodium plating to create a white color.

Unlike platinum, palladium has a lighter density, and is similar in weight to gold.

 


 

STERLING SILVER

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Sterling silver is a delicate metal with a bright, gleaming color similar to white gold and platinum. Alloys present in sterling silver can cause it to tarnish over time, as the metal interacts with the environment. Regular, professional care will maintain your sterling silver’s shine.

Because sterling silver is soft, with a tendency to bend or lose its shape, we generally recommend the more durable 14K or 18K white gold for customers interested in a white metal look. We are still happy to offer sterling silver for our fully custom jewelry projects.

 


 

INDUSTRIAL METALS

As industrial strength metals such as titanium, tungsten, and others are unable to be shaped by hand, these metals are unavailable to us for our handcrafted, fully custom jewelry creations.

We are able to offer simple, flat bands in industrial metals. To add a custom touch to your industrial metal band, we can gladly engrave a simple design within your piece.

DIAMOND OPTIONS

With such a wide variety of diamonds on the market, it can be overwhelming for buyers to find the right stone. To ensure your diamond is as high quality, beautiful, and durable as can be, we work together with our trusted vendors to acquire a stunning diamond you’ll love to use in your jewelry creation.

Takayas is a certified gemologist, and he personally inspects every stone that our small network of vendors shows us before choosing the best diamond for your project.

We want you to be 100% satisfied with the diamond we acquire for you, and we will provide you with everything you want to know about your diamond. All of our 0.50 ct. and up diamonds come with an official grading report from GIA (the Gemological Institute of America) or EGL (the European Gemological Laboratory).

Your diamond’s grading report will include details of your diamond’s identifying characteristics, such as color, clarity, carat weight, etc. This report will also contain a unique report number that has been specifically assigned to your individual stone.

Diamonds that are 0.25 ct. and smaller are not typically sold with a physical grading report. We can acquire grading reports for these stones upon request.

We also work with a variety of colored diamonds. Popular diamond color options include pink, yellow, blue, champagne, and black.

 

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DIAMOND EDUCATION: THE 4 C’S

When it comes to selecting a diamond, the 4 C’s – cut, color, carat weight, and clarity – are the universal standard used to assess the characteristics of a stone.

CUT

A diamond is cut to maximize its brilliance, and a cut is graded based on how the diamond’s facets interact with light. A diamond’s cut will range from Excellent to Poor based on its brightness (the amount of light it reflects internally and externally), fire (the rainbow-colored flashes of light that are reflected back when exposed to light), and scintillation (the amount of sparkle), as well as weight ratio, polish, and symmetry.

COLOR

A diamond’s color is graded to determine its relative absence of color. The “whiteness” of diamonds is graded using a color scale which ranges from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow or brown). For “colorless” and some “near colorless” grades of diamonds, these color distinctions are so slight that they are often undiscernable by the untrained eye.

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CARAT WEIGHT

A diamond’s carat weight is the standard unit of weight used to measure diamonds and other gemstones. Carat weight is measured with a highly precise electronic scale, rounded to the nearest hundredth of a carat. When choosing a diamond, it is useful to remember that a stone’s carat weight is a separate measurement from its diameter. For example: a 0.49 ct. diamond may appear larger when viewed from a top-down angle in a ring’s setting compared to a 0.50 ct. diamond, if the lighter-weight stone has a larger table diameter measurement. (The chart below shows average table diameter measurements associated with carat weights.)

CLARITY

A diamond’s clarity is based on the number, size, and visibility of the tiny internal imperfections (inclusions) and external imperfections (blemishes) that occur in almost all natural diamonds. Many of these imperfections can only be seen under a microscope, and they do not affect a diamond’s beauty in any visibly discernible way.

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A diamond is assigned a clarity grade by a trained grader who will evaluate the stone under 10x magnification; this grade will range from F (flawless) to I (included).

PRECIOUS COLORED GEMSTONE OPTIONS

SAPPHIRE

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Sapphire is a gemstone from the mineral family corundum. Typically known for its deep blue color, sapphire is also available in a variety of color options including white, pink, orange, and yellow. With a Mohs hardness rating of 9, sapphire is second in hardness only to diamond, which makes this stone ideal for wedding jewelry.

RUBY

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Like sapphire, ruby is also from the mineral family of corundum and has a Mohs hardness rating of 9. Ruby is discerned from all other colors of sapphire by its red color.

EMERALD

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Known for its vivid forest green color, emerald is the most valuable form of the mineral beryl. Emerald is a hard material, rating a 7.5–8 on the Mohs scale.

ALEXANDRITE

 

alexandrite

 

 

 

Alexandrite is a rare color-changing variety of the mineral chrysoberyl that can appear bluish-green in natural or fluorescent light, and brownish or purple-red in incandescent light. This gemstone rates an 8.5 on the Mohs scale. Since naturally mined Alexandrite is incredibly rare, lab-grown Alexandrite is a popular choice for its availability and significantly lower price point.

SEMI-PRECIOUS GEMSTONE OPTIONS

AQUAMARINE

aquamarine

 

 

 

Like emerald, aquamarine is a variety of beryl with a Mohs hardness rating of 7.5–8. Aquamarine is known for its light, icy blue color.

AMETHYST

amethyst

 

 

 

The most precious form of quartz, amethyst is a great choice for purple gems. Amethyst rates a 7 on the Mohs scale.

CITRINE

citrine

 

 

 

A warmer counterpart to amethyst, citrine is also a variety of quartz that rates a 7 on the Mohs hardness scale. Citrine is known for its golden yellow color.

GARNET

garnet

 

 

 

Garnet is a red gemstone known for its very deep scarlet color. Garnet has a Mohs hardness rating of 6.5–7.5.

PERIDOT

peridot

 

 

 

Peridot is a popular choice for people who want more of a fresh, yellow-green stone, as opposed to the deep pine color of emeralds. Peridot has a Mohs hardness rating of 6.5–7.

TOPAZ

topaz

 

 

 

 

 

Like sapphire, topaz comes in a variety of colors including white and pink. The most well-known topaz color is a vibrant, medium blue. Topaz has a Mohs hardness rating of 8.

TOURMALINE

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Tourmaline occurs in a variety of colors, but is especially available and affordable in green and pink. Tourmaline has a Mohs hardness rating of 7– 7.5.