Tag Archives: Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers

01 Mar

The 4 C’s of Engagement Rings: Carat

The final post in our Schwanke-Kasten series exploring the “4 C’s of Engagement Rings,” we now turn our attention to “Carat.”

The weight of a diamond is measured in the unit called carat weight. As the weight of a diamond increases so does its rarity, and its price.  Fewer than one in one million mined rough stones are large enough to produce a finished 1 carat diamond.

Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers Carat Chart

Source: Diamond Council of America

A metric “carat” is defined as 200 milligrams and every carat can be subdivided into 100 ‘points’ so a one carat diamond equals 100 points and a diamond of 75 points weights .75 carats.  A diamond’s carat weight is written in decimal numbers, but it’s often expressed in fractions (a .70 – .83 is expressed as 3/4th of a carat).

Carat weight is often the most objective grade of all the 4Cs.

Read about the other “C’s” in our series:

  1. Cut: Schwanke-Kasten Explores the 4 C’s
  2. Clarity: Schwanke-Kasten Explores the 4 C’s
  3. Color: Schwanke-Kasten Explores the 4 C’s
15 Feb

The 4 C’s of Engagement Rings: Clarity

Schwanke-Kasten encourages you to consider the third installment in our 4 C’s series, a diamond’s clarity.

In fact, the diamond clarity refers to the presence, or absence, of tiny inclusions or birthmarks which occur during the forming period of the diamond. A lot of inclusions in a diamond can result in less light passing through, which reduces sparkle.

schwanke-kasten-jewelry-4-Cs-clarity

The G.I.A. created an 11-point clarity scale to grade diamonds, meaning they take into account size, color, number, and position of every flaw that is seen under a 10 x magnified lens:

FL: Flawless – No inclusions or blemishes. Extremely rare, in fact, the G.I.A. rates less than 1 in 5,000 diamonds as FL.

IF: Internal Flawless – No inclusions; blemishes are only visible under a 10 x microscope. Shockingly, the G.I.A. rates less than 3% of diamonds as IF.

VVS1/VVS2: Very, Very Slightly Included – Inclusions are very difficult to detect, even under magnification. Their appearance to the naked eye is extremely similar to IF graded diamonds

VS1/VS2: Very Slightly Included – Inclusions are clearly visible under 10x magnifications but are very hard to detect with the naked eye.

SI1/SI2: Slightly Included – The lowest grade of flaws that are typical invisible to the naked eye.

I1/I2/I3: Included – Inclusions are almost always visible to the naked eye. They are very obvious under 10 x magnification and often affect transparency and brilliance.

Anyways, Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers encourages you to come to our Whitefish Bay location to view our full selection of diamond engagement rings.

08 Feb

4 C’s of Engagement Rings: Color

With the second article of the 4 C’s series, Schwanke Kasten would like you to explore a diamond’s color. Diamond color refers to the presence of any color at all. A perfect diamond is completely colorless, allowing the most amount of light to pass through creating a wonderful effect. Along with being completely colorless, diamonds can also have a slight cloudy appearance or can contain some yellow color. The more color a diamond has the lower its quality and the less valuable the diamond is.

4 C's - Color | Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers

An alphabetical scale was developed by the Gemological Institute of America (G.I.A.) to represent a diamond’s color. The scale ranges from D – Z. (According to the G.I.A., the scale starts at D in order to differentiate itself from other scales at the time, all of which started with A)

D-F: Colorless

G-J: Near Colorless

K-M: Faint Yellow

N-R: Very Light Yellow

S-Z: Light Yellow

Obviously, it is ideal to purchase a diamond rated D-F. However, even though a diamond rated G-J might contain a minuscule amount of color, it is almost always invisible to the untrained eye, so it is perfect for someone whose budget doesn’t allow for them to purchase the highest rated diamonds.

Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers has a great selection of diamond engagement rings.  Visit our diamonds on the Schwanke-Kasten website.

 

 

 

04 Feb

Unique Wedding Rings

Unique Wedding Rings

In the age of the computer, unique wedding rings have become a commonplace. However it wasn’t always like this. The very first wedding bands were made of braided plant material, ceremoniously given and worn, and most frequently from the same type of materials. The symbolism of the rings took preference over appearance and style.

Unique Wedding Rings - Schwanke-Kasten JewelersThroughout the ages, wedding rings had their moments of being lavish, most notably among royalty and the elite.  Other periods focused on humble and muted looks, such as during the 1700’s in America.

Until recent decades, there has been a certain continuity of this humble approach to wedding rings in America. The only real decisions to be made were about the metal used to construct, and if there were a particular desire to have matching bands, bands which reflect the other’s taste, and the ring size.

In the computer age of big dreams, strong visions, and unlimited creativity people aspire for uniqueness. Today we are now seeing some absolutely incredibly original ideas.

Here are some of the unique wedding rings we have found out in the wild:

The Decoder Ring

The CEO of website BoingBoing has fashioned an unique wedding ring inspired perhaps by both the Lord of the Rings series and the comic book favorite – the decoder ring.

Built of three or more segments, wearers can rotate the ring to reveal a secret message. There’s nothing in the rule book that says that a decoder ring can’t be a wedding ring!

The USB Ring

Crystal masters Swarovski have been commissioned to produce a one-off ring for a couple of tech enthusiasts with an incredible and timeless utility. In fact, these rings feature a tiny USB drive surrounded by Swarovski crystal and, although they don’t conform to the traditional circular band, they allow the wearers to exchange data, photos, poems, etc. with each other through the very rings with brought them into the unity of marriage.

Couples can populate the USB drive with wedding photos or videos, photos of the kids, to share and cherished by the other.

The Gamer’s Ring

That’s right!  Internet/game themed rings!  Some of these rings stay close to the traditional circular ring. However, other rings will inlay jewels to represent the different buttons on a PlayStation or Xbox controller. There are rings which represent aspects of Super Mario Brothers, Portal, or even simple keyboard emoticons such as “ <3 <3 <3” (these are “hearts” as written in keyboard-speak).  There’s even a Lord of the Rings band of platinum, complete with Elvish writing.

Furthermore, Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers understands that these rings are unique and quite personalized.  They’re not for the average couple!   Visit our Schwanke-Kasten website to see a wide selection of beautiful, traditional wedding bands. Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers has a number of non-diamond engagement rings too.

01 Feb

Wedding Band Buying Tips

That special moment arrives and you hear those magic words “Yes! Yes, darling! I will marry you!”  Now’s time to begin looking for your wedding band and Schwanke-Kasten is here to help you explore the common questions. Should they be shopped for together? How much is your budget? Do you and your fiancée’s taste in rings have to be the same?

In this article, Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers will provide you some useful tips for finding that perfect ring and the factors you should consider.

A wedding ring is even more powerful than an engagement ring, albeit a bit more humble. It is the ring itself – the unending circle of eternal love. Although gems and settings are left to the engagement ring, there are still many choices to be made. Take these tips into consideration to speed up the process and make choosing the rings more of a beautiful adventure than a dilemma.

Wedding Band Ideas

Every couple has their own set of styles and ideas. Before hitting the shops, sit down and talk about what each of you envisions for the other. Give examples of what you’d like. Listen to your fiancée’s input as well. Peruse the Schwanke-Kasten website for inspiration and suggestions.  You can also do internet searches on certain elements you want to explore such as the metal, gems or no gems, matching or independent. Some wedding rings even interlock when taken off.

It’s also important for the woman to decide how she would like her ring to compliment her engagement ring.

Once these initial details have been worked out, you can both start focusing on your ideal rings.

wedding band ideas by Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers

Choose a Budget

Of course, it’s important to have an upper limit set for what type of wedding band you are financially able to procure. It would be a great disappointment to get your heart set on a ring that sadly might cost you a year’s salary. Understand in what range you should be looking, and stick to those choices.

Custom Rings or a Ring Set

Just because a custom ring feels more personal, a budget constraint could mean that the pre-paired “ring sets” are right for you. These ring sets do come in many different and beautiful styles, with the lady’s engagement and wedding rings form-fitting to each other for an elegant and cohesive presentation. Prices are much lower than buying custom made pieces, but that is usually due to the number of rings being sold in one transaction. A ring set does not mean that it is low quality. Many couples choose these sets and find that they are made of quality materials and are elegant.

Custom Rings

If money isn’t a concern, and you’re the creative type, designing custom rings is a deviation from the traditional which could take you anywhere. White, Rose, or standard gold. Carbon fiber and small gems, unique shapes and forms are all styles you can have hand-crafted for you.

But it’s very important to find the right metallurgist to construct these items. Reviews, word of mouth, reputations of the craftsman are all necessary. Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers can help you determine how long it takes to craft your rings. The more hours quoted means the higher attention to detail and perfection they will spend on your special rings.

With your rings being of such importance, it pays to spend as much time researching not only your styles and budget offerings, but also where it came from. You want nothing but the best for these symbols of life-long love, so educate yourself as much as you can, and ask for help along the way. Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers loves to help bring happiness into lives of couples seeking rings, and we’re always here to help you make the best choices possible.

Good luck and congratulations!

29 Jan

History of Engagement Rings and Wedding Bands

Schwanke-Kasten explores some history of engagement rings and wedding bands.

The tradition of placing a wedding band on the fourth finger of the left hand has origins dating back to Ancient Egypt.  The history of engagement rings represents a sacred bond between a man and a woman, monogamy, and the strength of Love.

The history of engagement rings began in Egypt, and the nearby North-African lands. Lovers would express one’s undying love through braiding plants. The plants fibers were placed on their lover’s ring finger to signify immortal love. Furthermore, the choice of this finger on the left hand was due to the belief of a vein that connected this finger directly to the heart.

history of engagement rings - Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers

In Ancient Rome, engagement rings were used by suitors to tell others that a person was spoken for. The widespread art and use of decorative metallurgy meant that these rings became similar to ring styles we see today.

Middle Ages

However, one and a half millennia later, in Middle-age Europe onward through the religious wars from 1400-1600, the puritanical and American colonial days leaned toward a less gaudy and pretentious styles, the ring was outlawed by the religious powers for being obscene and worthless. Until the late 16th century, suitors gave a simple and more utilitarian thimbles to their lovers.  Once the bride married, she removed the bottom of the thimble and wore it as a wedding band.

In the 1700’s, as the style became more in-line with the notion of commoner jewelry. Both women and men began to wear modern circular wedding bands at all times. They would never remove the bands as a statement of the eternal bond.  The exchange of rings between bride and groom became the standard after World War II.

Whereas the only type of pre-marriage ring in the times leading up to the actual marriage was a thimble, the engagement ring became a part of the marriage rituals in 1477 by Archduke Maximilian of Austro-Hungaria as he proposed to Mary of Burgundy with a ring set with diamonds in the shape of an “M”.

To show off status, wealth and desire, men would use engagement rings to persuade women. In 1217, the Bishop of Salisbury declared that these rings of seduction be legally binding. When a suitor gave a women a ring she became a fiancee.

Modern Day

Later on into the 20th century, an ad campaign by De Beers cemented the diamond as “the” choice of stone for engagement rings. This brings us up to the modern wedding bands and engagement rings of our time.

25 Jan

Caring For Your Rings

RING CARE

Ring care for wedding and engagement rings is crucial for one of the most valuable and important parts of what you wear day-to-day. A ring that was properly taken care of will look as good as the day it was made. There are many materials to keep in mind when cleaning and maintaining the rings, and understanding how to care for each component is of the utmost importance. What will clean one part of your ring may damage another. In this article, Schwanke-Kasten suggests some of the more important things to remember when caring for your rings.

First and foremost – DON’T LOSE YOUR RING!

As you consider the seaside areas that are very popular with newlyweds, the metal detector brigade sweeping the sands each night and Ring Care Tactics from Schwanke-Kasten Jewelersmorning seem to find more than a few wedding and engagement rings in the sand and surf. It’s very important to notice the fit of your ring at all times. Have you lost weight recently? Have you been working with slippery substances like, for example, suntan lotion?

Whenever you perform activities that could cause yours hands to sweat, either pay close attention to your rings, or better yet, remove them completely. Today’s world brings many different ways that ring could slide right off unnoticed, so it’s better to be safe than sorry. Make sure the ring size is correct too. You may need to resize your ring.

When washing dishes, always remove your rings. You can purchase ring holders made specifically for this situation. They look like upside-down mushrooms. Place your rings over the “stem”, and you will never have to fish your ring out of the plumbing .

Another common way people lose rings is while dressing and undressing. Make sure you put your rings on last after your blouse, shirt, or other topwear. Fibers can pull them off and they will remain unnoticed as they slip through the clothing and onto the ground.

Do Your Research

If you want to properly conduct ring care yourself, do your research. Make sure you know exactly what reactions your cleaner will have with the ring. What may be fine for gold may be destructive to gems, and vice-versa. Even things like make-up and hair products can damage these materials.

Bring it to Us

Have a professional jeweler steam clean your ring. It only takes a few minutes. The ring will perfect as the day it first went on your finger, especially if your ring has etchings of any kind, for those crevasses will need special attention that a home solution may either not clean adequately, or scratch the surface and mar the ring entirely.

Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers can help you to take proper care of your ring so it can become an heirloom to be passed down through generations of your family. Ring care is important.

 

24 Jan

Diamond Cut – 4 C’s of Engagement Rings

The 4 C’s of are the main criteria you should use when purchasing a diamond engagement ring, which  are cut, diamond color, diamond clarity, and carat weight.  Let’s begin by exploring the first C, the diamond cutting.

Diamond Cut - Diamond Cutting

Source: Wikipedia

Many consider the diamond’s cut as the most important of the 4 C’s. The cut has the biggest impact on the stone’s brilliance. Light play within the diamond is what we refer to as brilliance. There are a variety of different diamond cuts to choose from, and the different cuts will alter the look of your finished product.   In 2005, the International Diamond Grading System released the GIA cut scale which is a uniform system used to determine the grade of round-cut diamonds.

Ideal Cut Diamonds

Ideal cut diamonds reflect nearly all light that enters the stone through the top which maximize the brilliance of a diamond and yields the highest possible grades of symmetry and polish.

Very Good Cut

Diamonds that sacrifice a little brilliance for a larger size. These are a cost-effective option.

Good cut

Quality diamonds, but do show a significant lack in brilliance.

Fair or Poor cut 

Fair or Poor Cut Diamonds lack the ability to reflect a sufficient amount of light. They are usually shallow or deep cut and inexpensively priced.

Explore some of the best diamond cut by visiting with Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers.

Diamond cutters will train for years and years to be apt at cutting diamonds. The slightest mishap can have detrimental affects to the structure of the diamond as well as the value. Definitely make sure that you check the diamond’s, if it is a GIA certified diamond, cut grade. GIA Grading cards will give you valuable information regarding not only the cut of the diamond but the rest of the four c’s.

 

15 Jan

Find Her Ring – Engagement Ring Styles

How Do You Find Her Ring?

Congrats you found your soulmate!  You know what comes next.  You need to find her ring! Which ring works for her? Where it’s going to happen, what you’re going to say, how you’re going to keep it a secret from her, and – of course –  which engagement rings to buy.

There may be some anxiety about the engagement ring.  Let’s face it: it’s not something you typically buy and you likely feel way out of your comfort zone.  But buying her the perfect ring doesn’t have to be stressful.  Consider these tips on how to make the best decision possible.

Engagement Rings Jewelry Box

  1. Go into stealth mode:  It’s time to to secretly discover what kind of jewelry she generally likes. What’s her style?  The best way to approach this step is to sneak into her bedroom and look at the jewelry she already owns.  Take a camera with you and snap some photos of the items in her jewelry box, particularly her rings.  Make sure you get some good close-ups.
  2. Get into the loop:  If you’re going for a “complete surprise” approach you may have to think about who to include (or not include) in this step, but the goal here is to talk those people in her life who know her best, particularly those people who know her sense of style.  Connect with her mother, her sisters, her best friends and ask them what they think she’d like.  Visit the Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers website and review the engagement rings together to help with the process.
  3. She knows what she likes:  You may be in a situation where she know’s it coming.  Perhaps the surprise isn’t IF you’re going to ask the “big question,” but WHEN and HOW.  If this is the case you may want to consider letting her give you some input and suggestions about the engagement ring.  Go window browsing together and show her the engagement rings at one of our Schwanke-Kasten locations, and let her give you some ideas about what she likes (and doesn’t like).