08 Feb

New Engagement Rings Website

With Valentine’s Day, the second most popular day for proposals, coming up. We redesigned our Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers engagement rings website to be more intuitive.

We created an easy-to-use web page to help you understand how to select the perfect diamond engagement ring.

Start at the diamond education page, “All About Diamonds”, where briefly highlight several questions you should ask yourself before shopping. Then dive into the 4 C’s of diamond quality. The actual diamond is the bulk of your cost; therefore, it’s very important to fully understand what you are looking for when selecting a diamond.

Once you have an idea of what kind of diamond you want, we recommend checking out our “Engagement Ring Mounting Ideas” page to see the different ways your beautiful diamond can be mounted into a ring setting. While the rings showcased here represent some of our more popular styles, we encourage you to stop in at our Whitefish Bay location to see our complete engagement collection. With an on-site GIA certified gemologist and a goldsmith we can easily make your dream ring a reality.

Have the ring? Here are some ideas on where to propose in Milwaukee.

15 Nov

Buying An Engagement Ring

Buying an engagement ring can seem like a scary experience. It doesn’t have to be! Before you go buying an engagement ring, the experts at Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers recommend considering the following:

Buying an Engagement Ring – Budget

Budget: The golden rule has always been two month’s salary. However, we believe that you should set aside a budget that won’t leave you dead broke. We recommend setting an honest budget with the forethought that engagement rings are expensive.

Learn the 4C’s:

Carat Weight – This is the size of the diamond (or another precious gemstone). If your finance wants a big stone but your budget is limited, ask for a stone with a large table. While this will affect the brilliance and fire of the stone, it will make it appear larger. If you want a beautiful stone and size isn’t the issue but the budget is. Select stone just under the nearest whole carat (i.e. 1.85 carats vs. 2 carats). There tends to be a jump in price once a diamond’s size hits the nearest whole integer.
Color – Ranging from D – Z, D being colorless and Z being a light-yellow hue. The more colorless the diamond, the more expensive. From the visible eye, it is tough to tell the difference between colorless and near-colorless.
Cut – If she is more reserved or traditional, you may want to opt for a round, brilliant cut diamond. However, for a unique look, there are a whole array of fancy cuts like Ascher, emerald, marquise, pear- and even heart-shape are used for creating engagement rings. Do keep in mind, fancy cut diamonds typically are limited in the types of mountings.
Clarity – To the naked eye, the clarity of the diamond is often impossible to judge – sometimes even to a trained professional! We recommend, while important, that this be the last of the 4C’s to consider.

Mounting

Mounting: There are numerous types of diamond mountings that can showcase the center stone, however it is important to consider the following:

Will you be purchasing a matching wedding band in the future? Some mountings and diamonds are made in a way that a matching wedding band is not feasible. There are practical solutions to this, however.
Consider her line of work, sometimes a high mounting isn’t possible. This is especially important if she works in the medical field or works with her hands frequently.
If she has skin allergies, a certain skin tone or wears a particular color of jewelry, you may need to consider a specific type of precious metal.

Ring Size

Ring Size: If you can, swipe a ring that she often wears on her ring finger, then we can help you select a size for the ring. Jewelers can size up or down most engagement ring mountings one size. Another option is to simply present a ring, and then come and choose a slightly larger ring size as it is easier to solder a ring down.

Ask your married friends, her friends, AND your parents for help and input. There is nothing wrong with being nervous or unsure as it can seem like an overwhelming experience.

We recommend checking out our diamond vocabulary list, to familiarize yourself with various diamond terms. Visit one of our Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers stores to work with our highly trained staff, including GIA certified gemologists, to discover buying an engagement ring with easy!

16 Oct

Non-Diamond Engagement Rings

The Beauty of Non-Diamond Engagement Rings

Is your soulmate one to skip to her own beat? Than you may want to consider non-diamond engagement rings. With brilliant marketing campaigns, such as “diamonds are forever”, and their stunning beauty, diamonds have been typically perceived as the norm for engagement rings. However, this hasn’t always been the case. In fact, prior to the 1930’s, other gemstones were often the centerpiece for engagement rings. At Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers, we’ll take a look at several non-diamond alternatives and why someone may opt to choose a precious gemstone for their engagement ring.

So why consider a non-diamond engagement ring? For one, you may have a family heirloom gemstone you can custom fit it as an engagement ring. This shows true love spanning generations and makes for a unique and deeply personal connection with the ring. You may opt to choose a ring based your bride-to-be’s birthstone.

Our SK Sapphire Diamond Engagement Ring

This beautiful example of displaying a birthstone (Sapphire is September’s birthstone) as the centerpiece of an engagement ring.

Furthermore, precious gemstones typically have various metaphysical properties. One common example, which is a Roberto Coin motif, is the ruby (specifically touching the skin of the bearer). The ruby, worn close to the skin, is said to “promoted long life, health and happiness and even today it is believed to possess these magic powers including the extraordinary ability to give peace” (Roberto Coin). Or, you may simply just want to be unique and use a non-diamond gemstone. Either way, there are plenty of alternatives.

Make sure to stop by Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers to see how we can help you find, build and guide you to the perfect engagement ring!

Stop by Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers today to see our beautiful collection of both diamond & non-diamond engagement rings.

01 Sep

Gold Wedding Rings – How to Choose

Traditionally, when we think of gold, we immediately go to the popularized images of the Gold Rush – miners digging in the riverbed, sifting out yellow gold deposits and then biting the gold. However, when you purchase gold jewelry, gold wedding rings, wedding bands and gold watches, they’ll almost never be soft enough to bite down to leave an impression.

Gold is measured in karats (with a “k”) and indicates the purity of gold, with 24k being pure. Pure gold is very soft and malleable which is why gold jewelry is created in 10K, 14K and 18K. When you have anything less than 24K gold, other alloys like copper, palladium, silver or nickel have been added to strengthen the metal overall. When you hear gold-plated, often the jewelry is silver with gold plating over it, which typically rubs off over time.

Gold Wedding Rings – Different Colors

So, what about gold in different colors? Generally, when you hear the word “gold” most people think of yellow gold. However, as we mentioned before, yellow gold in jewelry is not pure 24k. For example, with 18K yellow gold, the mix is 75% pure gold and varying amounts of silver and copper. Depending on the hue of gold (yellow, white and rose) and the karat weight, will determine the proper mix of gold and other certain metals.

When looking at the three basic gold colors – yellow, white and rose – there are benefits and drawbacks to all three:

Yellow gold is the most common, and least hypoallergenic. However it is the most prone, of the three, to scratches and dents due to the other 25% of its make-up.
White gold, because of its composition, is often stronger than yellow gold, and sometimes a bit more expensive because it contains silver or nickel, and palladium. However, jewelers will rhodium plate white gold to retain the whiteness of a ring. Just like gold plated jewelry, rhodium will wear off over time. When this happens, simply bring in your item(s) to be rhodium or gold plated at your local jeweler. Another important element to talk about is “nickel”, and with some people it causes an allergic reaction.
Rose gold (or red gold), is one of the more popular metal choices for engagement rings currently. Not only does the rose hue look great on most skin-tones, it’s also very affordable and durable due to the amount of copper present. But just like nickel, some people are allergic to copper too.

Non-Gold Wedding Rings

So what is metal another option if you are allergic to nickel and copper, and want a “white” gold ring? Jewelry made of platinum. As a matter of fact, many people choose platinum engagement rings because of their hypoallergenic properties, and because it shows a more “pure” white appearance. Platinum jewelry is more expensive because it’s a rarer metal than gold, and more durable. Although it weighs more and can scratch easily, the upside is your jeweler can “buff” the scratches out without changing the hue, as if it were gold or gold plated.

Did you know there are three more branded types of gold on the market? Well, you just might stumble across them when searching for high-end luxury watches. These gold types are:

King Gold, branded by Hublot, as an 18k red gold that is even redder than red gold due to the presence of platinum and high levels of copper.
Magic Gold, also branded by Hublot, mixes ceramic into its 18k composition to make it more scratch resistance.
Lastly, Everose, similar to that of Hublot, but developed and patented by Rolex. Everose gold uses platinum instead of silver which gives a lasting Everose hue for years to come.

So when selecting jewelry or an engagement ring, it’s important to consider budget somewhat, but allergies, skin tone, personal taste, and lifestyle. At Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers, we pride ourselves being able to assist our customers in selecting the perfect gift for any occasion.

04 Aug

Diamond Vocab – Words and Phrases to Know

Picking out a diamond can be nerve-racking. Therefore, at Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers, our aim is to deliver the most comfortable engagement ring shopping experience as possible. In fact, we devised a quick “cheat-sheet” on diamond vocab that you should be aware of!

Diamond Vocab

“GIA” – Gemological Institute of America. In fact, this organization is one of the most well-regarded diamond grading laboratories and is responsible for developing the most widely used grading system.

“Four C’s” – Four qualities that determine the value of a diamond. They are Cut, Clarity, Color and Carat

“Cut” – The physical shape of the diamond as well as the effect of light that each shape plays on the appearance of the stone
- “Brilliance” – The combination of brightness, fire and scintillation
  - “Brightness” – The amount of white light returned back through the crown of the diamond. Both internal and external returned light
  - “Fire” – Dispersed light that appears in the color spectrum
  - “Scintillation” – Intense sparkles from light when the diamond moves. Generally, appears as black or white
- “Round Cut” – Most popular and greatest flexibility within the four C’s
- “Fancy Shape” – Any diamond shape other than round
  - “Emerald Cut” – Square or rectangular shape with cut corners. However, on the crown and pavilion there are three concentric rows cut (think stair steps)
  - “Radiant Cut” – Resembles the cut of an emerald cut but with the brilliance of a round cut.
  - “Cushion Cut” – Also referred to as a “pillow cut” are square or rectangular cut diamonds with rounded edges
  - “Princess Cut” – Resembles a square or rectangle
  - “Pear Cut” – Resembles a tear drop
  - “Oval Cut” – An elongated round cut
  - “Marquise Cut” – Similar to an oval cut but with definitive points at each end
  - “Trilliant Cut” – Resembles a triangular cut
  - “Heart Shape” – Resembles a heart
- “Clarity” –
  - “Inclusions” – Impure characteristics found within the diamond
  - “Blemishes” – External flaws on the surface of a diamond
- “Carat” – Refers to the weight or size of the diamond. All other factors equal, the more carets the more expensive
  - “Point” – Refers to 1/100 of a carat
- “Color” – Generally refers to the degree of absence of color.

Diamond Vocab – Parts of a diamond

“Crown” – The top half of a diamond
“Culet” – Protects the tip of the pavilion from being damaged
“Girdle” – The outer edge of a diamond
“Facet” – Any smooth flat surface of a diamond. Round brilliants almost always have 58 facets
“Table” – The largest facet and top part of the diamond
Pavilion – Lower half of a diamond

Diamond Ring – Diamond Vocab

“Mounting” – Is the full ring setting minus the “head” or center stone
“Semi-Mount” – A ring setting with the side stones pre-set. The main (center) stone is selected by the customer
“Shank” or “Band” – Refers to the metal of the ring that wraps around the finger
“Center Stone” – The main stone
- “Prongs” – Hold the center stone in place
“Side Stones” – Diamonds that surround the main stone
- “Halo” – Side stones that surround the main stone on all sides
“Shoulder” – Side stone diamonds that recede down from the center stone to the shank

Moreover, stop by Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers today to work with our highly trained sales employees and GIA certified gemologist to find the diamond as beautiful as your true love!

27 Jul

Engagement Ring Mounting Guide

So, you’ve chosen the perfect diamond for your engagement ring – now you need to display it! That is where the ring setting or engagement ring mounting comes into play. There are a few things to consider before selecting your engagement ring mounting design:

Engagement Ring Mounting Considerations

One – where or when will the ring be worn the most? If someone has a job where they are in and out of latex gloves, you might consider a mounting where the diamond sits a bit lower, like our Claire or Charlize engagement ring designs.

Two – what type of metal should be used? Platinum? Gold? What’s the difference? Some people are allergic to the alloys (like silver, nickel or zinc) which are added to gold to make it more durable for jewelry. Therefore, designing a ring in platinum would be recommended. Additionally, if you are going with a “white” metal for your ring, then platinum will always stay white; where as white gold, after 5-10 plus years or so, will need to be rhodium plated as the nickel, zinc and/or silver begins to wear through. It’s not a big deal to have this done, and fairly inexpensive.

Three – what is your budget? You’ve spent most of the budget on the center stone, but a plain 14K rose, white or yellow gold mounting is $500. Obviously, the more detail that you add the price will increase.

Design Preference – Engagement Ring Mounting

After that, it’s all about personal preference in the design. When you think about it, there are really only four ring styles – solitaire, solitaire-plus, halo and three-stone. Creating a ring that is unique from the other is about other choices like how you want the diamond to sit on the ring itself, and do you want additional diamonds around the center stone (which creates the halo style) and/or on the ring band itself. And if you do elect for diamonds on the sides, should they be formed as a split shank (V-shape) or tapper up to the diamond, or maybe they should be set in channel or bar style, etc.

Here is a brief explanation of ways to mount the diamond, the different rings styles and designs:

DIAMOND MOUNTING / HOW THE DIAMOND IS HELD ON/IN THE RING

4-Prong … this is how most diamonds are mounted; look closely at our SK Solitaire ring and notice the prongs.
6-Prong … this creates a more star-like appearance and is more secure. Usually seen only with solitaires.
Bezel Set … this is where metal is surrounding or partially surround the diamond. This gives the ring a more modern appearance.
Tension Set … where the diamond is held by the pressure the metal of the band. While these are super cool, they are very difficult to size because of the exact engineering behind the metal holding the diamond in place.

BASIC RING STYLES

The SOLITAIRE Engagement Ring – This style continues to be the most popular choice because of its simplicity, and ability to pair perfectly with most wedding bands. With the solitaire, it is one diamond mounted on a ring with 4 or 6 prongs, or bezel-set or tension set. If you are looking to create a unique look to your solitaire, choose a mounting that has more detailed design in the metal. But a word to the wise, do have a wedding band created to match your special engagement ring to ensure the rings fit together properly.
The SOLITAIRE-PLUS Engagement Ring – This is one diamond but has added diamonds on the sides that either tapper up shown here or have a split shank as seen here.
The HALO Engagement Ring – This is one diamond surrounded by a crown of smaller diamonds, creating the illusion of a larger looking center stone. This is great choice if you are selecting a smaller stone for the center. The Halo looks great on a plain metal ring or one ornate with diamonds.
The 3-STONE Engagement Ring – This ring literally has three stones that represent the past, present and future. The center stone is typically bigger than the two side stones. Note, if you want to make this ring more unique, consider a blue sapphire or ruby as your center stone.

DIAMONDS ON THE SIDE ALONG THE RING BAND

BEZEL SET – all diamonds are enclosed with medal surrounding them – historically, this was how much of jewelry was designed. So, if you are looking for a more vintage style, our Henley engagement ring is for you.
CHANNEL SET – Brides next most popular ring choice is a channel set engagement ring. Just as the name implies, it’s a channel of diamonds that sit into the metal of ring. These rings make great wedding band as well.
BAR SET – Is a bit opposite from the channel set, in that a BAR of vertical metal is between the diamonds, where the diamond is only exposed on the outside edge of the ring. This looks great with Ascher or Emerald cut center stones.
U-SET / PRONG SET – are variations of setting exposed diamonds along the band, so all you really see is diamonds.
PAVÉ – Jewelers “pave” the ring with diamonds. The pave setting “pa-vay” closely sets smaller diamonds with small metal beads or prongs to create a continuous sparkle. This magnifies the overall brilliance as well as the center stones presence.

If you are choosing an engagement ring mounting with diamonds on the sides of the band, we strongly encourage you to also have a matching wedding band created at the same time, so that you are sure to have all the diamonds matching in color, size, and quality. Your fiancé will have to relinquish her engagement ring for a week to ensure all the stones match and line-up.

At Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers, we carry a full range of GIA certified diamonds and can help you choose or customize the perfect engagement ring mounting. Stop in or set-up an appointment to visit us at our Whitefish Bay or downtown Milwaukee location.

22 Jan

Tips for Choosing Your Wedding or Engagement Rings

The purchase of wedding bands and engagement rings is based purely on two things: personal style, and budget.

Once your budget has been determined and it’s time to go shopping for these special gifts. We at Schwanke-Kasten have listed some pointers for you to help make your purchase as easy and as tailored to your tastes as possible.

1) If you’re buying an engagement ring, have a look at the style of jewelry your partner tends to like most. Do they like unique art pieces? Are they a fan of gold or white gold? Start by thinking of your partner and what would really ‘wow’ them.

2) Once you’ve had a look at the different styles, one or two of them may make a big impression on you. Window shopping before the actual purchase will show you the various selections. The Internet is an invaluable way to peruse the wedding bands all over the world, and artists who create unique pieces. When you have a general idea of what you like, it’s time to do some actual ring shopping. Don’t leave this until the last minute, as it takes time to try on rings, and upon selection, to have engraving and other customization done. Upon engagement, you should begin looking for rings as soon as possible to ensure that they satisfy your wishes, and are ready.

Wedding Bands

3) Once the engagement ring has been selected, the proposal has been made, and you got that answer you were hoping for, it’s now time to search for wedding bands. Go window-shopping together and take input from both yourself, and your partner. Stop by one of our Schwanke-Kasten locations so we can help you navigate the conversation! Since the engagement is established, you can share the fun of choosing your rings together. Your partner will most likely look for a wedding band that complements their engagement ring. If the engagement ring holds a uniquely cut diamond, the wedding band should be a simple one to not overload the engagement ring. Look for a band that will interlock or physically fit alongside the engagement ring. For a more standard cut stone, some creativity will compliment it nicely. A band with a diamond pave, for example.

4) Wedding bands do not have to match, so consider the style of yourself and your partner. It’s not a problem if you like platinum and your partner prefers gold, and it does not deviate from any sort of tradition. Custom wedding bands that blend both of your styles are a choice that many choose so they can express their own styles while mingling with the style of their partner’s ring. These rings are forever, and so should reflect the two of you. If you look for a custom ring like a braided multi-metal band, it will take 1-3 months to construct. In any event, even with completely different styles, some elements should be shared to truly make them a ‘set’. Even just the same engraving on both rings should be sufficient.

Size is important

5) Choose rings that are comfortable. Sizing is important. You are going to wear these rings for the rest of your life, and they should be chosen to reflect your lifestyles. If you are active in sports or work with your hands, a minimally intrusive band should be considered. There are ring bands that are designed for comfort that are just as beautiful as any other band.

Ring selection should be an enjoyable process,

Have fun! Get the rings that are perfect for you, just as perfect as your partner. And congratulations!

Schwanke Kasten - Wedding Rings

From Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers

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