Jewelry Manufacturing Archives | Schwanke Kasten

31 Aug

Diamond Cut Grading – GIA Diamonds

At Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers in Milwaukee and Whitefish Bay, WI, we carry a full range of GIA certified diamonds for engagement rings. Over the past several months, we have been diving into how the GIA (Gemologists Institute of America) grades diamonds. In essence, GIA determines the quality of a diamond based off of a mixture of “4 C’s”; cut, clarity, color and carat weight. Today we are expanding on how the cut of a diamond affects its grade, diamond cut grading.

Courtesy of GIA.edu

Diamond Cut Grading

When talking about the cut of a diamond, we are referring to the physical shape of a diamond. The GIA will break down diamond cuts into two major categories, Brilliant Cuts and Fancy Cuts.

Brilliant Cuts

Jewelers will refer to brilliant cuts as a round brilliant diamond. Containing specifically 58 facets, this cut is generally the safest in terms of “sale-ability”, insurability and flexibility (when it comes to mountings). These facets and the relative proportions, although not agreed upon universally, are imperative to displaying the diamond’s brilliance, scintillation and fire along with its overall structure (symmetry, polish quality, weight to diameter and girdle thickness).

Fancy Cuts

Fancy cuts typically arise due to odd shaped rough diamonds or leftover rough diamond after a round brilliant has been cut from it. Furthermore, fancy cuts are more likely to appear on colored diamonds. The GIA will further divide fancy cut diamonds into three more categories:

Modified Brilliant – displaying a similarity of light play like a brilliant cut, modified brilliant cuts come in a wide array of styles. Marquise, heart, trillion, oval and pear cuts are the typical styles.
Step cuts – typically have a square or rectangular outline using step-cuts (parallel cuts to the girdle). However, despite the unique look, step cuts typically lose the brightness and fire that is associated with diamonds. Diamond cutters usually use step cuts to make emerald and square cut diamonds.
Mixed Cuts – Lately, diamond cutters are combining modified brilliant and step cuts to make a youthful cut diamond. Princess cuts and Radiant cuts are the most common styles.

Currently, the GIA only has a diamond cut grading standard for brilliant cut diamonds. In which, the GIA grades diamond cuts into 5 different categories: Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair and Poor. Trained gemologist grade the diamond by a number of factors:

Measurement – minimum diameter (mm) to maximum diameter to depth for round diamonds. The carat weight is also one of the factors in determining this grade
Polish Quality – absence of surface blemishes
Symmetry – exactness of outline to its shape, placement and alignment of its facets as it relates to its 58 facets.

So, if you are searching for a traditional round brilliant diamond, the cut grade will give you a lot of information regarding the quality of the diamond. Stop by Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers to see our full range of GIA certified diamond engagement rings!

29 Jul

Diamond Jewelry – Rahaminov Engagement Rings

Moshe Rahaminov left Russia for Israel as a young man and soon found himself cutting diamonds to make diamond jewelry and to help support his family. He soon discovered his natural talent for cutting diamonds. Moshe – and his older brother – then decided to move to Italy were they thought they’d have a chance to succeed using their diamond cutting skills. They were correct in their thinking! It was here Rahaminov Diamonds was born. The brothers found their talents in demand and soon developed a stellar reputation for superior customer service and the highest quality cut stones. For over 70 years, Rahaminov Diamonds has continued that reputation worldwide.

Tamara, Moshe’s daughter, continues the Rahaminov Diamonds tradition. With her husband, Amir, she opened the Los Angeles office of Rahaminov Diamonds in 1989. Amir’s personal relationships with customers and Tamara’s remarkable designs have skyrocketed their brand to new levels of success. In fact, Rahaminov Diamonds has evolved from purveyors of loose diamonds to a jewelry design house. Tamara’s passion for jewelry design has made Rahaminov Diamond Jewelry known for its chic and highly collectible jewelry that today’s women want to wear.

This fantastic Rahaminov engagement ring shown below is one of their superior rings. It has .55 ctw diamonds on the split shank surrounding a 1 carat Forevermark round brilliant diamond, G/VS2. This engagement ring has a total carat weight of 1.55 and a platinum mounting.

Learn more about Rahaminov engagement rings on our Schwanke-Kasten website.

04 May

Naledi Engagement Rings

Naledi has been designing diamond jewelry for over a century. The Naledi Engagement Rings current collection features styles that are specifically tailored to the tastes and sensibilities of the modern bride. They are classically feminine and perfectly timeless.

The Naledi Collection appointed Belgium designer, Laurence Bruyninckx, as head designer in July 2013. I.G.C. Brand Services distributes the Naledi Collection. In addition, I.G.C. Brand Services is a certified member of the Responsible Jewelry Council (R.J.C.). Furthermore, this international council brings together over 270 member companies from around the globe. The committee promotes ethical, responsible, social, and environmental practices within the diamond and jewelry supply chain.

Global Giving receives a donated portion of every Naledi item purchased. This is an organization that funds high-impact environmental and social programs throughout developing countries.

Naledi Engagement Rings are exquisite, high-quality, stunning, and have uncompromising sustainability. Schwanke Kasten Jewelers invites you to learn more about Naledi on the Schwanke Kasten website and by watching the video below:

29 Mar

Mémoire Engagement Rings

In 1986 the French company Orest, expanded its distribution to the United States, and Mémoire Engagement Rings was born. Additionally, Orest named J. Douglas McDowell as CEO and Douglas’s mission was to cultivate a new level of quality in the US market.

Mémoire Engagement Rings at Schwanke-Kasten

In the 1980s, many jewelry manufacturers were promoting cast mountings and 14K gold. Douglas was a visionary who pushed platinum and extruded 18K gold. In fact, the quality of the fine French bands was so exquisite that a new standard of luxury emerged, and Mémoire Engagement Rings quickly became one of the most sought after fine jewelry brands in the United States.

Mémoire creates timeless and elegant pieces in a classic tradition. Mémoire uses state-of-the-art laser engraving techniques which allow them to create personalized pieces that express the wearer’s personality. In fact, every gem in each Mémoire jewelry piece is inspected and certified by the Gemological Institute of America (G.I.A.)!

Schwanke Kasten Jewelers invites you to explore our full collection of engagement rings on our Schwanke Kasten website.

21 Mar

Introducing A. Link Engagement Rings

Source: A. Link

A. Link is known for creating timeless, beautiful and elegant diamond jewelry since 1904. The jewelry manufacturer began, when Adolph Link, son of a goldsmith, apprenticed with New York’s preeminent jewelry manufacturers, Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels in 1894. They celebrated their 110th anniversary in 2014. Adolph’s sons, Seymour and Marvin continued his passion for jewelry. One son studied the fabrication of diamonds and the other, the craftsmanship of platinum jewelry. The unique combination of these two skills would become the benchmark of A. Link.

The family still owns and operates the company today. A. Link takes classical European designs and marries it with remarkable diamonds to create unparalleled pieces. They create jewelry that is both timeless and fashionable, and A. Link continues to be viewed as a master in the diamond jewelry world. The world’s most gifted artisans cut their diamonds. Moreover, A. Link diamond jewelry incorporates consistency and spectacular beauty that give their pieces their remarkable brilliance.

They achieve their excellence by utilizing diamonds of a consistent size and quality. Known as the “60/60” because the depth and table percentages are almost exactly the same, these diamonds maximize weight and diameter, emitting optimal brilliance. A. Link diamond jewelry is a testament to longevity, quality, and craftsmanship for the woman who adorns each unique piece. In fact, experts say their jewelry’s brilliance gives it its beauty. In addition, they work with Forevermark.