Stories, guides & care
Everything we know about choosing, styling and caring for fine jewelry — written by the people who make it.
White Sapphire vs Diamond: An Honest Comparison
The real difference is not how they look when clean — it is how they look when dirty. A jeweler's honest comparison...
Aquamarine Meaning: Symbolism, History & Properties
What aquamarine means and where the symbolism came from — the Latin name, the documented medieval lore, why it is the same...
Amethyst Meaning: Symbolism, History & Spiritual Properties
What amethyst really means — the Greek root, the Bacchus myth that was actually invented in 1576, bishops' rings and the Apostles...
February Birthstone: The Complete Guide to Amethyst
February's birthstone is amethyst — the purple quartz worn by Greek philosophers, medieval bishops and Catherine the Great. A complete guide to...
Gothic Engagement Rings: The Complete Style Guide
What makes an engagement ring gothic, the six style families from Victorian mourning to minimalist black, the best dark stones ranked by...
Cushion Cut Engagement Rings: The Complete Buying Guide
A jeweler's guide to cushion cut engagement rings: the pillow-shaped cut, square vs elongated ratios, crushed ice vs chunky faceting, cushion vs...
Vintage Engagement Rings: The Complete Guide to Antique & Vintage-Inspired Styles
A jeweler's guide to vintage engagement rings: vintage vs antique vs estate vs vintage-inspired, design cues from Georgian to Mid-century, milgrain, filigree...
What Is Gold Vermeil? The Complete Guide to Vermeil Jewelry
Gold vermeil explained: the FTC definition (sterling silver, 10K or better gold, 2.5 microns), how it is made, 14K vs 18K, vermeil...
How to Choose a Moissanite Engagement Ring: The Complete Buying Guide
How to choose a moissanite engagement ring: what moissanite is, cut, color and clarity grades, millimeter vs carat sizes, what it costs,...
Sapphire Stone: The Complete Guide to Colors, Quality, Origins, Value and Care
What sapphire is, how trace elements create every color, how blue is graded, Kashmir to Montana origins, heat treatment and lab-grown, what...
Emerald Stone: The Complete Guide to Color, Clarity, Value, Origins and Care
What emerald is, why its green is rare, the jardin and clarity treatments, Colombian vs Zambian origins, how much emerald is worth...
What an Aquamarine Engagement Ring Means (and What to Know Before You Choose One)
What an aquamarine engagement ring symbolizes, how the stone wears day to day, the best protective settings and metals, natural vs lab-created,...
