milwaukee engagement rings Archives | Schwanke Kasten

30 Mar

Cushion Cut Diamonds

A cushion cut diamond is the perfect answer for those torn between round brilliant and princess or square cut diamonds. Cushion cut diamonds were once the standard cut for diamonds, before round brilliant cuts took over. With their soft, rounded corners, cushion cut diamonds bridge the gap between round brilliant cuts and princess cuts. At Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers, we have a beautiful array of GIA certified cushion cut diamonds for your engagement ring or jewelry piece.

Cushion Cut Diamond Engagement Ring from Rahaminov

PROS & CONS of Cushion Cut Diamonds

Jewelers and recipients alike, enjoy this design for its classic and timeless aesthetic. Furthermore, gemologists have determined these cuts to have the most dispersion of light, or fire. Additionally, the jewelry market typically prices round brilliant cut diamonds higher than cushion cut for two reasons.

Demand
Less waste

However due to the deeper cut needed for this design, you will need to overcompensate with a larger stone than anticipated.

4 C’S

CUT:

Chunky vs Crushed Ice: Jewelers refer to these two terms when talking about the back facets and light reflections. If the light reflections appear in broad flashes, it refers to “chunky” aesthetic, if it appears as broken glass

"Crushed Ice" Cushion Cut — “Crushed Ice”

Length-to-Width Ration: Cushion cuts can come in “square” ratios as well as varying rectangle ratios. We should mention that you ought to avoid a length to width ration between 1.06 to 1.10.
Standard vs Modified Brilliant Cushion Cuts: Beginning in the 1920’s, diamond cutters added an extra row of facets beneath the girdle. However there is minimal affect on the beauty or structural integrity of the diamond.
Depth and Table: look for a cushion cuts with a depth and table under 70%. As well as symmetry and polish that is very good or excellent.

CARAT WEIGHT:

As we previously mentioned, cushion cuts tend to appear smaller than their round counterparts due to the depth of the cuts. That being said, if size is an issue, you may have to go larger than anticipated.

COLOR:

Cushion cuts show more color than round brilliant but this effect is negated by their brilliance and dispersion. However, we suggest looking for cushion cuts with color grades of I or higher.

CLARITY:

Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers tell shoppers to choose clarity grades of SI1 or higher as the integrity of the stone is not compromised as well as the aesthetic.

Email, text or call Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers today to learn more about cushion cut diamonds and how to set up a free consultation with one of our highly trained sales associates.

20 Nov

Green Diamonds | Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers

Gemologists rank green diamonds as among the most rare of the naturally colored diamonds. These marvelously beautiful and unique diamonds have been exposed to cosmic radiation over its million year formation. Other colored diamonds tend to have an additional element such as hydrogen as an inclusion. Please note, holding a green diamond will not make your finger fall off as the radioactive half-life has long since passed by the time it has been found. Diamonds with the natural colors of green, blue or red account for less that 0.07% of all diamonds examined by the GIA.

Green Diamond Formation

As we mentioned before, green diamonds form due to radioactive materials being present during its formation. Moreover, these materials could be uranium or thorium. Geologist have concluded that radiation penetrates the diamond crystal and can knock electrons or carbon atoms out of the specific crystal lattice. This often appears as a shallow “green” skin on the outside of the diamond, but uniform green throughout the diamond can exist although it is much rarer.

Furthermore, because electrons and carbon atoms are displaced in the crystal lattice, the way light enters and is refracted is affected. Hence the green portion of the visible color spectrum is reflected while the rest are absorbed and gives the diamond that appearance.

Additionally, diamonds can also have structural defects due to the presence of nitrogen, hydrogen or nickel atoms that may give the diamond its green appearance. However, natural irradiation is much more common.

Fancy Color Scale:

As for all natural colored diamonds, they follow a similar color grading scale: faint green, very light green, light green, fancy light green, fancy green and fancy intense, vivid and deep. For green diamonds, the more intense, vivid or deep the natural color is, the more expensive the stone is.

Diamond cutting:

As we mentioned before, often times green diamond color is very shallow, so this presents diamond cutters with a problem. How to maximize the natural green color in an exceptionally rare diamond.

Famous Green Diamonds

In fact, Christie’s Auction sold the Aurora Green diamond in 2016 for $16.2 million. The sale made it the most expensive green diamond as well as the largest Fancy Vivid Natural Green Diamond.

At Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers, we pride ourselves on being South Eastern Wisconsin’s go-to jewelry store for all natural diamond jewelry. Stop by our beautiful Whitefish Bay location just north of Milwaukee to see our beautiful selection of diamond necklaces, rings, and bracelets! Additionally, Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers also carries GIA certified diamond engagement rings.

02 Aug

Marquise Diamonds

One of the most unique and definitive engagement ring diamond cuts are marquise diamonds. Jewelers and fans also refer to marquise cuts as football cuts, cat-eye cuts and boat cuts because of the highly elongated elliptical shape. This 58 faceted diamond cut is actually a vintage style and looks great on long, slender fingers. Furthermore, this romantic cut breathes an aristocratic air and carries a royal pedigree.

According to the legend, marquise diamonds date back to the 18^th century where “King Louis XV commissioned a jewelry to design a diamond cut that resembled the lips of Jean Antoinette Poisson, his mistress”. Furthermore, these diamonds also signify a rank just below duke, where individuals would actually wear these diamonds to signify said rank.

Additionally, gemologist originally design marquise cuts for diamonds, however jewelers now use these cuts with emeralds, rubies and sapphires.

Custom Marquise Diamond Engagement Ring by Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers

Marquise Diamonds – TIPS

Marquise cuts are a fairly extreme cut when it comes to diamond cuts, so they are susceptible to chipping, so you may want to look for a mounting with protective prongs along the ends of the diamond.
A higher cut grade is important for the marquise diamond. Typically, elongated shapes tend to form a bow tie effect in the middle of the stone. Additionally, the symmetry of marquise cuts are very important.
One noticeable benefit is that marquise cuts tend to make the center stone look larger.

Do you like marquise diamonds? You know who else does too? Victoria Beckham, aka Posh Spice, Ashley Simpson and THE Catherine Zeta Jones.

Ashlee Simpson Marquise Diamond Engagement Ring

At Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers, we can create the perfect marquise diamond (or other precious gemstone) engagement ring. Additionally, stop by our Whitefish Bay or Milwaukee location to talk with our in-house gemologist.

05 Jun

Yellow Diamonds – Colored Diamonds

Enter into the exciting and highly exclusive world of fancy colored diamonds, where the traditional notions of diamonds being colorless shatters that concept. The first color diamond Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers will explore with you, is the yellow diamond; also known as the canary diamond.

Yellow Diamonds – A Canary Delight!

In the Superman comics, the hero crushes a lump of coal (carbon-based material) so hard that it produces enough heat and pressure to form a diamond for Lois Lane. While coal, under immense heat and pressure does not create diamonds, although they possess similar atomic makeups. However, when nitrogen enters the rigid structure of the composition of diamonds, they absorb blue light and give off a yellow shade in the visible light spectrum. The amount of nitrogen present in a yellow diamond will affect how light or dark the color is. Moreover, this logic of wanting more nitrogen, an impurity, naturally present in a yellow diamond is the opposite of a flawless white diamond. Additionally, gemologist give recognition to fancy color yellow diamonds a secondary hue such as orange or brown.

Yellow Diamond Engagement Ring from Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers

The GIA grades yellow diamonds slightly different than traditional white diamonds. Diamonds Pro sums it up nicely, “if the white diamond color scale [D – Z], were to continue past Z – all the way to a rich, yellow color – you’d have a Fancy Vivid Yellow Diamond”. Essentially this means that the best quality yellow diamond will be fully saturated with yellow and have no traces of whiteness.

Colored Diamond Scale:

Faint, Very Light, Light, Fancy Light, Fancy, Fancy Intense, Fancy Vivid/ Deep/Dark

Gemologists estimate that one out of about every 10,000 carats of diamonds are a natural colored diamond. Furthermore, 60% of those natural colored diamonds are yellow. So, while they are common among natural colored diamonds, they are still exceptionally rare among the grand scheme of things.

Yellow Diamonds - Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers Engagement Ring in 18k white gold with diamond halo

At Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers, we are fortunate enough to have a gorgeous example of one set in a beautiful engagement ring. This 1.39 cushion cut, fancy yellow diamond is set with 0.56 carats of round diamonds on the halo and down the shanks in 18kt white gold! We would love to see you propose with this stunning diamond engagement ring! Additionally, stop by Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers to peruse our exceptional collection of diamond engagement rings in Milwaukee and Whitefish Bay.

10 Apr

Princess Cut Diamonds

Your true love is your princess; it’s only fitting to propose your undying love for her with a princess cut diamond engagement ring? This beautifully and interestingly square cut diamond is actually the second most popular style of diamond cut, below round but above cushion! At Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers, we decided to share with you all there is to know about princess cut diamonds

Princess Cut Diamonds History:

Surprisingly, diamond cutters have been only creating this style of cut for around 40 years to 50 years. Although it is hard to pinpoint, gemologist argue that a man named Basil Watermeyer created the cut as the Barion Cut in the 1970’s, however this was a combination of an emerald cut and a marquise cut. Others point to Arpad Nagy, a London Based diamond cutter, who created the what was then known as the “profile cut” back in 1961. started seeing demand for this style around the 1970’s. Israeli diamond cutters, Betzalel Amber and Israel Itzkowitz popularized Nagy’s cut several years later under the name Princess Cut, which was a “fancy French inspired cut”.

The Cut:

The princess cut was designed to have a modern, clean and feminine look to it. It is actually a modified square cut stone. Typically, princess cut diamonds appear as square, sometimes rectangle. On the profile, the stone has an inverted pyramid shape with four beveled sides. These stones typically have between 60 to 70 facets. Furthermore, because they retain, on average, 80% of the original rough stone, they are prone to having more inclusions than a round brillian cut. Which is not a negative, this allows the uniquely cut ring to have a very interesting and gorgeous light play to it!

The Cost:

Because Princess Cut Diamond only lose 20% of the rough stone when being cut (compared to 40-50% of a round diamond) they are a less expensive cut when all other factors are held constant (i.e. the 4 C’s).

Similar Cuts:

Cushion Cuts – have larger facets than princess cuts which increase their brilliance and highlight the clarity. However, they do not have as sharp of a sparkle and have an older, more vintage feel. Furthermore, they do not have as sharp of edges as princess cuts.

Round Brilliant – The most popular style of ring tends to look bigger when comparing the same carat weight stone. However, due to the cutting process, they are more expensive when all factors are held constant.

Asscher Cut – Similarly cut to a princess cut but with step cuts (a commonly found on emeralds, hence the name, emerald cut).

Famous Princess Cuts

Chicago Cubs World Series Rings features two princess cut diamond, among others.
Emily Ratajkowski – When choosing an engagement ring, she couldn’t decide between a princess cut or a pear cut, so she got both!
Cameron Diaz
Snooki – Everyone’s favorite Jersey Shore socialite has an engagement ring with a princess cut center stone.

Snooki Engagement Ring - princess cut diamonds — Snooki Engagement Ring

At Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers, our professionally trained sales team and GIA-certified gemologist are eager to help you find the perfect diamond for the perfect engagement ring. Visit Schwanke-Kasten in one of our two convenient Milwaukee Locations (Downtown Milwaukee and Whitefish Bay).

15 Mar

Diamond Halo Engagement Rings

Simply put we love diamond halo engagement rings! The added sparkle and light play are indescribable with words! In fact, diamond halo engagement rings are the second most popular style of engagement rings, behind solitaire rings.

History

In fact, halo rings can be traced back to the Georgian era in Europe (1714-1837), where round diamonds and pearls were surrounded by smaller stones. During the Victorian era (1837 – 1901) the style grew even more popular with the rise of colored gemstones as engagement rings. Finally the modern sense of a halo ring arose during the Art Deco Movement.

Benefits

Aside from adding additional fire, sparkle and light play, the biggest benefit of a diamond halo engagement ring is to enhance the size of the center stone. This benefit is a great way to stretch your engagement ring budget!

Milwaukee Diamond Halo Engagement Rings

At Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers, we have a full range of semi-mounted engagement rings as well as ready to go ones! Additionally, we are also able to fully customize an engagement ring to your liking! Here are a couple of our favorites!

martin flyer diamond halo engagement rings

Classic Round Halo Engagement Ring

Accentuated by 41 micropave set diamonds in a halo and on the shanks, this round brilliant cut, 0.71 carat, I color, SI2 clarity diamond center stone is a thing of beauty! Beautifully made by Martin Flyer as a part of their FlyerFit range, this ring is set in 14k white gold and sized as a 6.5. The suggested retail is $5000, including the center stone.

Rahaminov Cushion-Cut Engagement Ring

World-reknowned diamond jewelers, Rahaminov consistently create remarkibly beautiful diamond jewelry. This stunning cushion-cut brilliant engagement ring from Rahaminov is almost as beautiful as your true love! Additionally, the GIA certified center stone is 2.01 carats, F color and SI1 clarity. Accompanying the center stone is a melody of diamonds totaling 0.64 carats that form a halo and continue down the shanks. Furthermore, the designer set the ring in platinum and in a size 5. Moreover, this ring is valued at $43,575.

Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers' in-house Marquise Cut Diamond Engagement Ring

SK Marquise Diamond Engagement Ring

We especially enjoy unique engagement rings, which is why we created this gorgeous one-of-a-kind engagement ring , set in 18K white gold, has a Marquise center diamond with 1.57 carat weight, D color and SI1 clarity. Additionally, the side diamonds have a 1.43 total carat weight. Valued at $16,500.

Pear Cut Engagement Ring by Martin Flyer

Pear Cut Halo Engagement Ring

Recently, a lot of celebrities (i.e. Paris Hilton and Cardi B) have been opting for the ever-fashionable pear cut engagement rings. Furthermore, this Martin Flyer ring mounted in 14k white gold, the center stone is 0.70 carats, E color and SI2 clarity. Moreover, the designer set 38 micropave diamonds around the ring. Valued at $5,000. Price includes center stone and sized as a 6.5.

Schwanke-Kasten in Whitefish Bay and Milwaukee

Stop by Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers in Milwaukee and Whitefish Bay today to explore our wide range of beautiful and unique diamond engagement rings. Additionally, our highly trained sales team is eager to make this as enjoyable and personalized as possible!

05 Feb

2019 Valentine’s Day

Rings, bracelets and necklaces, when worn, they have no beginning or end, which is why symbolically they make sure great Valentine’s Day gifts! At Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers, we’ve curated a 2019 Valentine’s Day gift guide to find a gift worthy of the beauty of your true love.

2019 Valentine Day Gift Guide

Roberto Coin

Timelessly beautiful with exceptional quality, the prolific Roberto Coin is one of our favorite jewelry designers. Incorporating the ancient legend of a ruby touching your skin will grant you prosperity, happiness and love, in every piece, it only makes since that Roberto Coin jewelry is perfect for Valentine’s Day! One of our favorites, the Princess Flower Collection. Diverse and chic, with plenty of opportunity to make sets, the Princess Flower is gorgeous. This piece in particular, the Princess Flower Diamond Drop Earrings are set in 18K yellow gold, and feature a medium diamond “Princess Flower” dangle on a levered back post closure. They have a .35 ctw diamond, and each has the signature hidden ruby. Valued at $3,100.00.

Martin Flyer

The FlyerFit collection by Martin Flyer, is the flagship line of engagement rings with matching wedding bands. These mountings come in array of beautiful traditional and nontraditional styles with gorgeous center stones that scream, “Our love is as solid as a diamond”. We also carry a number of ready-made engagement rings available online as well! Take the Round Brilliant Halo Engagement Ring by Martin Flyer, accentuated by 41 micropave set diamonds in a halo and on the shanks, this round brilliant cut, 0.71 carat, I color, SI2 clarity diamond center stone is a thing of beauty! The ring is set in 14k white gold.

Graymoor Lane Designs

We love the solstices! The romantic associations of when the sun shines the longest or being snuggled up with your true love on winter’s day. Graymoor Lane Design’s perfectly encapsulates that feeling with their Solstice Collection. Available online and at both Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers location, this beautiful Solstice Bangle Bracelet in 14k yellow gold features a leaf motif and is spring hinged. Value at $1,295.

FOPE

Based out of the heart of fine gold jewelry making, in Vicenza, Italy, FOPE brings impeccible designs time after time! As a family owned and operated jewelry designer, we are particularly fond of them. Using a beautiful and high quality basket weave style with their 18k gold jewelry designs, their pieces are designed to last a lifetime. We love their 17” Prima necklace with a Tri-Color Rondel, this piece looks great by itself or layed with other jewelry. Available in white or yellow gold and valued at $4,630.

Be sure to check out our 2019 Valentine’s Day Collection online on the Schwanke-Kasten website. Save up to 20% off of sterling silver jewelry until Valentine’s Day as well! Use the code: VALENTINES-DAY-2019 when checking out.

07 Jan

Solitaire Engagement Rings

Solitaire engagement rings pack a lot of significance and beauty, within its unassuming and simple designs. Structurally, a solitaire engagement ring only has two parts, the center stone and the setting, both can be customized to your specifications (i.e. marquise cut diamond set in platinum to a princess cut set in 14k yellow gold) however the ring still remains understated. At Schwanke-Kasten, we are by no means saying that is a bad thing either!

A solitaire diamond ring places the focus on the center stone, like your love for your one “true rock”. Additionally, the ring, being a shape with no beginning and end and a diamond, a pure carbon structure material, symbolizes pure and endless love for your partner. Furthermore, this style of ring is a perfect option for any budget!

Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers custom diamond solitaire engagement ring

At Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers, we love this timeless design for its ability to showcase the true shine of the diamond ring.

Buying Guide – Solitaire Engagement Rings

Here is a list of things to consider when looking at diamond solitaire engagement rings:

The Diamond (or center stone)
- Shape (Cut) – Oval, round, princess, pear, emerald, etc.
- Color – The more colorless the better, when shopping for traditional white diamonds
- Clarity – the higher grade, the more pure (or transparent) the stone is
- Carat – The size of the diamond
The Band
- Metal – 14k, 18k or platinum? Yellow, Rose or White?
- Width – How wide should the ring be
The Setting – bezel set, channel set or prong set? Furthermore, be sure to consider whether your future partner wants more sparkle or a more discrete or low diamond height.

rahaminov diamond engagement ring — Rahaminov Diamond Engagement Ring – Tapered with Diamonds

We recommend stopping by our store in either Whitefish Bay or in Milwaukee to get an idea of styles and prices and then work with one of our specialists to find an engagement ring that is truly reflective of the special bond between you and your partner!

08 Nov

Holiday Proposals

Holiday proposals mark a special time when family and good friends gather together. If you are out-of-town with your significant other, and are coming home for Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Years, all are great occasions to “pop” the question. Whether you have everyone around the table for dinner or dancing the night away at a New Year’s Eve party, a quick “clink-clink” with a spoon on a glass gets people’s attention.

Not sure where to start in selecting an engagement ring … go to your love’s Pinterest page to see all the romantic pics of items they’ve been collecting. Next checkout our online engagement collection or stop by one of our stores. If you are looking for something completely unique, bring your ideas to our Whitefish Bay location and our onsite gemologists will help make your dream a reality. Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers carries a wide array of renowned ring designers, styles and materials.

Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers, a locally owned store since 1899, has a full-service sales staff to assist you. Whether you are in the Milwaukee area or coming to town for the holidays just give us a call. We carry an expanded selection of ready-to-go ring designs; however, if you are looking to have a mounting created, the process takes about 3 weeks or so.

Make the holidays of 2018 something you both will remember forever with a holiday proposla!

01 Oct

Three-Stone Engagement Rings

At Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers, we understand that the amount of engagement ring styles, materials and dozens of other factors can be overwhelming. Therefore, we thought we’d breakdown some of our favorite styles starting with the gorgeous three-stone engagement rings.

Three-Stone Engagement Rings Symbolism

The tri-stone engagement ring has been popularized by its symbolism; either signifying a relationships past, present and future, friendship, love and fidelity or even religious implications. Furthermore, this symbolism gives the engagement ring that extra edge of significance and personalization. A three-stone ring gives you still gives you a substantial amount of flexibility in terms of style.

Schwanke Kasten Engagement Rings

Take our Schwanke-Kasten Sapphire Diamond Engagement Ring for example. Should your fiancé-to-be be born in September or you plan on “popping the question” in September.

Rahaminov Engagement Rings

While many three stone rings use princess cut diamonds, we carry a beautiful oval-cut three stone ring by Rahaminov that features halos around each stone and a 1.01 carat, d-color and SI1-clarity center stone diamond set in 18k white gold.

Naledi Engagement Rings

In addition, diamonds on the shanks of the ring can give the engagement ring a little extra sparkle. Our Naledi Design’s Trista Engagement Ring perfectly showcases this feature by utilizing 0.26 total carat weight of diamonds to accompany the three stones.

Martin Flyer Engagement Rings

However, if simplicity is your speed, the Martin Flyer Flyerfit™ Three Stone Ring might be a perfect ring for you. With 1.01 total cart weight of diamonds, this particular Martin Flyer engagement ring is ready to wear!

However, we recommend stopping by either Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers location in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to consult with our professionally trained sales team as well as to browse our full inventory of world renowned engagement ring designers. Additionally, Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers has an in-store GIA certified gemologist and goldsmith should you wish to fully customize an engagement ring or repurpose a family heirloom.