Stories, guides & care
Everything we know about choosing, styling and caring for fine jewelry — written by the people who make it.
Alexandrite Meaning: Symbolism, History & the Colour-Change Effect
Alexandrite means transformation, and the symbolism is literal — green by day, red by...
Garnet Engagement Rings: Which Garnet, and Are They Durable Enough?
Garnet is a group of more than twenty mineral species, not one gemstone —...
Black Diamond Meaning: Symbolism, the Curse Legend & Who Should Wear One
Black diamonds are coloured by their own inclusions and fractures — their flaws are the beauty, and the symbolism follows. What they...
Black Diamond Engagement Rings: The Complete Buying Guide
A black diamond is black because it is full of inclusions and microfractures — which changes everything about how it looks, how...
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...
