Category Archives: Custom Jewelry Design

The month of June brings with it many occasions: The end of school, the start of summer, and Father’s Day. Father’s Day can sometimes be one of the toughest occasions to buy a gift. Most moms appreciate the smallest of gifts on Mother’s Day, but fewer dads are impressed by a flower bouquet than mothers. But a universal gift for Father’s Day (or any day) is jewelry. Taking the effort to find something special for dad shows that you care. Nice jewelry is something that any age of parent can wear proudly, especially if it fits his personality and sense of style.

For those seeking jewelry shopping ideas for Father’s Day, consider the following functional and fun selections for every interest and formality level.

1. Cufflinks. Cufflinks look classy and have the added bonus of keeping sleeve length looking even and your cuffs easier to button instead of having to manipulate those tricky smaller buttons that require significant amounts of dexterity. A classic style of cufflink is made of silver, silver with 18K gold. Many include stones in the middle like black onyx or blue topaz. If you want something that will blend in better, diamonds can be the gem of choice.
2. Money clip. A money clip is a great tool for keeping cash in one place. It’s easy to grab the clip when it’s time to pay for something and you may need to use your wallet for other things. You can keep other items such as credit cards or ID in the clip, something that can be handy on occasions where you don’t need to bring your wallet and everything in it along, or have the bulge of your wallet be seen. Money clips can be found in a variety of attractive design styles, including something simple clips and made of silver, or others with attractive lines.
3. Watch. Telling time is good, but your phone or the wall clock can do that. But a sharp-looking watch can also show that your dad is a lover of fine things. It is also an item that people can wear in any condition or any wardrobe choice.
4. Custom Ring. You can’t beat a custom-designed ring for your dad. Even a simple design and gemstone choice of his birthstone or even references to special memories, such as school, a fraternity, sports teams or military service will go a long way. Dad will be impressed with his unique custom design.

Unlike diamonds, many gemstones have limitations on how they should be cared for and cleaned. It’s important to know how to care for your precious gemstone jewelry just as you do for your diamond jewelry. Below are some tips for keeping your precious gems in great condition for many generations to come.

• Make sure your precious gemstone jewelry is separated from your diamond jewelry. Due to the hardness of a diamond, it is best to keep other gemstones away and separated from diamonds to avoid any scratches or other damage. Make sure your jewelry box has dividers or compartments where you can store gemstones separately. Pearls and opals draw moisture from the air, so storing your opal or pearl jewelry in a dry area, such as a safe deposit box, can sometimes do more harm than good. When traveling, protect your jewelry pieces from scratches or other impact damage by padding it in a separate box or case.

• It’s important to give extra care and attention to jewelry featuring certain high risk gemstones like emeralds, opal, pearls, and tanzanite. Certain cleaning solutions and polishing techniques can have a negative effect on these type of gemstones.
• Apply your perfumes, colognes, and hairsprays before you put on gemstone jewelry. Not only will these chemicals reduce gem brilliance, they can be highly destructive to some gems, such as pearls, which react violently to acid and alcohol. If possible, wear your perfumes and colognes in areas that won’t come in contact with your gems. In the case of pearls, try to keep them out of contact with skin whether you’re wearing perfume or not.
• Just as the sun’s harmful rays can damage our skin, light and heat can affect a colored gemstone’s color brilliance and durability. Over time, they can also fade or damage some gemstones, such as amethyst, tanzanite, and topaz. Pearls and other delicate materials, such as ivory, will bleach under extreme exposure to light. Other gems, especially amber, can darken over time when exposed to too much light.
• Perspiration is often harmful to pearls.  If it’s impossible to keep your pearls away from your skin (for example, if they’re on chokers or bracelets), it’s best to wipe them clean with a damp cloth immediately after wearing them.

Spring is fast approaching and with it comes all the popular trends, both in fashion and jewelry. If you’re looking for an engagement ring that could adorn the hands of A-list celebrities, check out these trends for spring 2017.

1. Rose Gold. The popular 2016 trend continues to be the metal pick for those in search of a non-traditional. It helps that the romantic finish helps a diamond really pop. Rose gold bands have also become popular in men’s wedding rings as well.
2. Rose Cut. Everything’s coming up roses, right? The rose cut is the perfect complement to a rose gold metal band. This vintage diamond cut has had a boost in popularity over the last couple of years. Celebrities in particular have taken to the rose cut diamond, named for its resemblance to the flower. While it used to be found in vintage pieces only, jewelry designers have taken to including them in their latest designs.
3. Accent Diamonds. These aren’t your mother’s standard three stone ring. The new wave of accent diamonds still let the main setting take center stage, but offer their own unique style twist. From forming unique shapes to covering the entire band, these petite stones give engagement rings full coverage bling.
4. Colored Stones. In the last few years, more jewelry designers have started to incorporate non-diamond stones into their settings. This year, we’ll see more brides break away from white diamonds in favor of something a little more fun; turquoise opals, deep sapphires, glittering emeralds, and even pretty pinks.
5. Solitaire Settings. It may be time to say goodbye to the halo setting. The solitaire setting is making it’s way back to popularity. The classic solitaire will never go out of style. Going back to simplicity is what people are looking for. This ring’s captivating presence reflects both glamour and love.

Whether your taste in jewelry has changed or you’re celebrating an anniversary, it is fairly common for women to upgrade their engagement rings after they have been married for a period of time. It is a big decision to make, and it can be overwhelming to navigate the options to you.

The idea of upgrading to a larger stone is one way for couples to celebrate major milestones or life events. An engagement ring upgrade can mean anything from swapping out a center stone to enhancing the ring’s existing setting. But before you pull the trigger, there are several important things to consider. Do your homework before making a decision about exactly what kind of engagement ring upgrade you want.

It’s important to remember that a larger carat size doesn’t always equate to a larger-looking stone. If you’re looking to upgrade your engagement ring’s color, clarity, or carat, it should be noticeable. Do your research on what options are available to you during your second time around. Entrusting your ring in a reputable jeweler is also very important. A great jeweler does more than just sell a ring; a jeweler that can teach and show you the difference between a diamond’s carat weight, clarity, and color and how these factors work simultaneously to create an exquisite ring is paramount.

Besides upgrading the gemstone, you may also want to upgrade the band or setting. There could be many reasons to upgrade your band. You may want a different design, a more durable metal, or even need a different size. Changing the setting is a common request when upgrading an engagement ring. For example, if you are getting a significantly bigger diamond, the old setting may not be able to hold the new stone. Whatever the reason, make sure you go over all possible options for upgrade with your jeweler.

Oftentimes, when an engagement ring is purchased, it will come with a policy that states under what circumstances it can be returned to the seller or exchanged for another piece of jewelry. Don’t forget to check for such documentation and read its provisions. It might turn out that if you go to the original vendor, you could upgrade your ring under more favorable terms than if you go just anywhere.

If you find a stone or ring you absolutely love and fits your criteria in what you’re looking for in an upgraded engagement ring, take advantage of the opportunity and get it. Never forget what your engagement ring was meant to symbolize.

In traditional wedding culture, first comes the proposal and huge engagement ring. That ring is then followed up with the addition of a wedding band that’s given on the wedding day. But you may have seen something new on the horizon. Fast forward to modern day where the trend has started to show many brides wearing three, four, or even five wedding rings on their ring fingers.

Stackable engagement rings and stackable wedding bands are trending across jewelry design inspiration boards and celebrity fingers. This popular trend is exciting partly because of its flexibility.  You choose which rings to stack, how to stack them, and where to wear them. And, depending on the breadth of your personal collection, you can change your stack to suit an outfit, an occasion, or even a mood.

There are a few things to keep in mind when selecting stacking rings. Mixing stones, textures, metals, and colors are all fair game when you’re designing your stackable ring sets. Some sets are designated and have been attached to form one ring that looks like a set, while others are individual bands you can mix up on any given day. Some will choose a wider band as the focal point of the stack and then place accent rings around it. Another option many women like is to keep the size of the rings uniform, but play with options in color and texture, such as milgrain detailing or a matte finish.

You may also prefer to add different colors or also mix and match with precious metals used in the band. Why not use rose gold, white gold, and yellow gold bands stacked together? Keeping the same or consistent finish of each band is typically recommended. If this doesn’t appeal to you, keeping a streamlined look with uniform gemstones and precious metals also creates a personalized feel for any stacking rings.

Just because stackable rings are less traditional doesn’t mean they’re any less formal. Stacking rings can keep elements of your past, present, and future with you at all times. Let Master Jewelers help you design your stacking rings today!

Red is the color of love and passion. Red colors and hues have long been coveted in the jewelry and gemstone world. Why not consider making your engagement ring dazzle with shades of love? Whether you’re looking for a pop of color to contrast the sea of cookie cutter diamond engagement rings or the color red holds a special meaning, choosing a red gemstone for your ring might be the perfect choice for you.

1. Ruby. Does your significant other dream of Dorothy’s ruby slippers? Perhaps a ruby ring is the perfect choice! Rubies can command the highest per-carat price of any colored stone. This makes ruby one of the most important gems around. Color is the most significant factor affecting a ruby’s value. Fine gems are a pure, vibrant red to slightly purplish red.
2. Garnet. As the birthstone for January, the garnet is one of the most common and widespread of gems across the globe. Garnet symbolizes regeneration and sacrifice. It was also a popular gemstone during the Victorian Era.
3. Alexandrite. Looking for multiple colors? Try an alexandrite gemstone. This color-changing stone is “nature’s magic trick.” Fine alexandrite is green to bluish-green in daylight and red to purplish-red in incandescent light. This color combo makes it attractive to those who love variety and colors in their gemstones.
4. Red Topaz. You may often see topaz in a variety of other colors, including the well-known yellow or blue topaz. However, the red topaz makes for a dazzling choice. This gemstone is also a very versatile material, meaning it can be cut into many shapes and sizes. Red topaz is highly vibrant, but also rare to come by.
5. Red Diamond. Dreaming big for your engagement ring? A red diamond is the rarest of all the diamonds. Since red diamonds are so rare, it is nearly impossible to find a true red diamond over 1 carat in the world at a given time. But a girl can dream, right?

While the dramatic red hues pair well with rose gold, it also looks equally stunning with a platinum or silver band. Add even more dazzle by pairing a red stone with diamonds to symbolize commitment and life. Create a custom engagement ring with your perfect red gemstone at Master Jewelers Indiana today.

The eternity and stacking band designs have become popular styles in recent years. It’s important to consider characteristics of each style when you are designing your custom jewelry pieces.

The eternity band style has gemstones all the way around the ring. The more gemstones you have set on the band, the less you’ll fuss with the ring, trying to keep the gems on top.

The one downside with eternity bands is that the gemstones on the very bottom can pop out now and then due to the stress of having you lift, golf, clap your hands or other unnoticed things we do. Some brides choose an eternity band with a small sizing bar. This allows for easier sizing in the future, and if it’s on the bottom it protects the gemstones.

Stacking bands come in many different types. Since you are stacking multiple bands, you can use different gemstones, colors, and materials. When designing these bands using very small gemstones, you can create a super comfortable ring that you won’t even feel because it is low to the finger.

Before you commit yourself to this design style, be aware of the fact that the side-feel is more rough and thick. Some will have very sensitive fingers and the gems and settings really bother them. If you are going to use this style for daily wear make sure that the ring is sturdy, with plenty of metal. These are beautiful and tempting styles to wear, but some of them are designed for occasional wear and will break your heart by spending more time being fixed than by being worn. Have this style custom-made just for you.

When designing with this style for comfort, you’ll find that you can stack more rings because they are so thin. Many will regularly wear five stacked rings like this together and it looks great on them. It is often recommended to get them in pairs so that two of the same color can flank a central ring. You’ll always look wonderful in this style if you have pairs in the same color gemstones.