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.

12 Jul

Diamond Tennis Bracelets

While this time of year is filled with so many sports, one of our favorites is Wimbledon & the French Open. And of course, the bauble that comes to mind, are the iconic diamond tennis bracelets. This piece of jewelry features a line or row of diamonds secured with a clasp. The “tennis” bracelet name came in 1987 when legendary Tennis Pro Chris Evert was asked why she called for a time-out during a very competitive match. Her response, “my diamond Tennis Bracelet came off”, and she wanted to find it before continuing the game. It was then and there that this bracelet got its name.

diamond tennis bracelets made famous by Chris Evert

If you are wondering if wearing a tennis bracelet during a match is a good idea, according to the GIA experts here is what they suggest so you can wear your bracelet without worry:

“In addition to the clasp, add a safety catch on the side of the bracelet for added protection.
Have the tennis bracelet routinely checked by a jeweler to make sure the clasp, safety catch, and mountings are secure, and
Keep the diamonds sparkling with periodic cleaning.

Nearly 30 years have passed since Evert’s unforgettable on-court incident, and the tennis bracelet is still a fashion accessory for the sophisticated set. “

At Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers we have a great selection of gorgeous diamond tennis bracelets that are sure to be a grand slam. With prices starting around $2800, these make great gifts for your bride-to-be, mom-to-be, celebrating an anniversary or birthday. Whatever the occasion, a diamond bracelet is sure to be a huge hit, on and off the court. Stop by our Whitefish Bay or Downtown Milwaukee locations to peruse our selection.

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!

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!

01 Aug

New Website – New Brands & New Look

After 15 years, Schwanke-Kasten will be launching a new website. Our goal is to provide you with the best and most convenient online shopping experience, which is what this new website will allow us to do. In addition, we’ve expanded our selection of jewelry designers with exclusive selections from Graymoor Lane Designs, Dilamani, Platinum Born and FOPE.

In the bottom right corner, there is now a click to chat/text function. The function will allow us to answer your questions in real-time (during business hours). We’ve added better mobile functionality to accommodate the increasing trend of mobile searches. In addition, we’ve improved our jewelry filters to allow you to search by stone, purity, and metal color.

We hope you enjoy our new website and the updated Schwanke-Kasten experience. As always, should you have any special requests, please let us know.

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!

18 Sep

Bridal Jewelry – Wedding Tips

In addition to diamonds being the center stone of the engagement ring and typically in the wedding band, they are also a popular choice for bridal jewelry! With the tagline, “Diamonds are Forever”, diamonds in bridal jewelry have quickly became associated with the strength and rarity of the beauty of your true love. Common examples of diamond bridal jewelry are diamond “tennis” bracelets, diamond-by-the-yard, pendant necklaces and stud earrings.

If you are looking for simplicity, the Roberto Coin 3, 5 or 7 Necklaces are great versatile choices. We love this Italian Jewelry Designer at Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers because every piece produced is adorned with their signature “hidden ruby”. This tradition stems from the “ancient belief of wearing a ruby close to the skin will promote long life, health and happiness and even…the extraordinary ability to give peace.Another common accessory for bridal jewelry is pearls. These lustrous, organic gemstones are rare and beautiful in their own unique way. Often associated with new beginnings, it is no wonder why pearls became a popular accessory for bridal jewelry. We typically find brides wearing pearls in the form of drop earrings or necklaces. One of our favorites, however, are these diamond and pearl drop earrings – beautiful and standout yet simple in itself.

Furthermore, other bridal jewelry trends we have seen are picking out a gemstone associated with the bride’s birthday.

The Knot offers 5 practical tips to picking wedding jewelry, two tips include considering the color and neckline of your wedding dress. We highly recommend stopping by our Whitefish Bay store to see our extensive selection. We’re certain that you’ll find something perfect for your special day!

05 Jun

Diamond Cutting | Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers

As we have looked at the incredible scarcity of diamonds, we decided to dive deeper, beyond the 4 C’s and into the process of diamond cutting. Diamonds, are one of the hardest objects found on earth. In fact, Diamonds top the Moh’s scale of hardness at a 10. There are entire industries dedicated to making industrial tools that use diamonds for cutting through other materials. In fact, when cutting a diamond, diamond cutters will either use other diamonds or specialized lasers.

That being said, this presents diamond cutters an enormous challenge and tedious effort to bring it from a rare rough stone to the beautiful, valuable finished diamond! In this process, there is no room for error; every step must be meticulously scrutinized because one mishap and the profitability of the diamond will be affected.

The Process:

Determining Cut, Proportions and Size:

Being the most important C of the 4 C’s, the diamond cut refers to the diamonds proportions, symmetry and polish. This, according to Lumera, is the most important factor when determining the “beauty of a diamond”. The balance between the optimal cut (a combination of brilliance, fire and scintillation*) and carat weight, is crucial. Cuts too deep or too shallow will lose light entering the diamond. This light tends to escape through the bottom of the diamond.

This is where proportions come into play; the size, shape and angle of each facet of a diamond. Light entering the diamond in the forms of refraction and dispersion, will bounce within the diamond and then exit. The result, is white light separating into the visible color spectrum. Combining the shapes, angles, culet size, polish, symmetry and facet effects determines the cut grade. Please note, that this only refers to round diamonds which the GIA attributes a cut grade.

Cleaving or Sawing:

Once the diamond cutter has planned and mapped out the cut of the diamond (usually mapped with 3D imaging), the rough diamond must be cut into smaller, more manageable sizes. Cleaving, generally refers to cutting the diamond into smaller pieces along the diamond’s tetrahedral plane, the point where the diamond is the weakest. When no plane is present, due to odd shaped rough diamonds, cutters will use either a laser or a phosphor-bronze blade rotating at roughly 15,000 rotations per minute (How Stuff Works). It is at this point, where the diamond begins to take on its initial appearance.

Bruiting or Cutting:

This step is when the diamond truly takes form into its final product. This refers to the meticulous cutting (either by hand, bruiting, or mechanically with a lathe). As we mentioned before, it takes another diamond to cut a diamond. The first step, known as girdling, uses two diamonds spinning in opposite directions to create rough round stones.

Polishing:

The process of blocking and brillianteering will form the facets of the diamond (Beyond 4 C’s). During the blocking stage, diamond cutters add 8 pavilion mains, 8 corns, 1 cutlet and 1 table facet. They will add the remaining 57 facets during the brillianteering stage. By placing the diamond on a rotating arm and using a spinning wheel coated with an abrasive material made up of diamond dust, the diamond cutter determines the diamond’s fire and brilliance during this stage.

Inspecting:

Next, the diamond is inspected and graded. At Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers, we use G.I.A. certified diamonds for our diamond engagement rings.

For a deeper insight into the diamond cutting process, we recommending checking out the video below. Call Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers at one of our locations to schedule a consultation with one of our G.I.A.-certified gemologists. Check our the diamond cutting video below. Diamond cutting is the most important part of the pricing a diamond. Poor diamond cutting can damage the structure of a diamond.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDFKRySInVs

Notes

Brilliance refers to the brightness created by the combination of all the white light reflections from the surface and the inside of a polished diamond (Lumera)
Fire is the dispersion of light into the colors of the visible spectrum, seen as flashes of color (Lumera)
Scintillation are the flashes of light and dark, or sparkle when a diamond or light source is moved (Lumera)

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

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