Wednesday, June 19, 2019

What are Ant Hill Garnets?

Rough Ant Hill Garnet
Ant Hill Garnets, What are they?

The Short Version...

The unique part of Arizona Anthill Garnets is this that they are found around the Ant Hills. Anthill Garnets are also called Arizona Chrome Pyrope Garnet. ... The ants excavate the garnets from underground passages. The ants take the stone to the surface and discard them.


Engagement Ring
Hand Cut Ant Hill Garnet

We are so excited to be adding Ant Hill Garnets to our Cruelty-Free Collection. To us, this is Wonderful. When we can find beautiful rough gemstones here in the US to hand cut in our NC studio plus 
mined by Ants!...
It's a win win for everyone.


Now, The Long Version...
Some gemstones derive a large portion of their appeal because they are found in an unexpected locality or have an unusual origin. "Ant hill garnets" are one of the more interesting of these "novelty gems."


They are called "ant hill garnets" because they are found on and around the margins of ant hills. The ants encounter the garnets while excavating their underground passages. The ants haul the stones to the surface and discard them. The rain washes the garnets clean and moves them down the flank of the ant hill, where they can accumulate in large numbers. This concentrates the little gems and makes them easy for people to collect. Their brilliant luster and red color contrasts strongly with the surrounding soil.

Author: Hobart M. King, Ph.D., GIA Graduate Gemologist




Thursday, June 13, 2019

1.5ct Hand Cut Ruby with 3 hand sculpted leaves in solid 14k Yellow Gold by Dawn Vertrees

Engagement Ring
Partially Hand Cut Ruby
from our studios.

Lost wax method
Hand Cut Ruby with my
Hand Sculpted Leaves.

Handmade Engagement Ring
The ruby and my wax sculpture
prior to casting.

Item Details
Hand Sculpted ring using the lost wax method.

Materials
14k Solid Yellow Gold
Cruelty-Free Gold

Gemstone: Hand Cut Ruby

I have waited exactly two years staring at my faceting tools until now. Creating our own hand cut gemstones is a milestone for me, it's like everything I envisioned for my hand sculpted designs has finally come full circle. I truly hope you see my vision in giving you a true one-of-a-kind ring.

Each design was created in wax to mimic little twigs with tiny branches holding a artistically hand cut gemstone in our studio.

Our Refined Gold and Gemstones are all Cruelty-Free.

Click Here, for Additional Information

Why have I chosen to hand cut our Gemstones:

Gemstone material that has not been extensively cut and polished is referred to as "Rough".

Rough material that has been hammered to knocked off the brittle fractured edges is said to have been cobbled.

So, what I have chosen to do is remove the brittle fractures by hand polishing our rough gemstones in our studio here in North Carolina and allowing a longer lifespan of the stone for our customers. A stone that has been hand cut is a stronger stone and in my opinion a safer stone to have.

To keep the integrity of the rough gemstones, we only remove the brittle edges and keep true to the unique shape of the original rough gemstone. This way we can create a beautiful artistically cut gemstone that is still Cruelty-Free but very unique in shape.

This is my way of giving you a true one-of-a-kind hand sculpted and hand cut ring. 
-Dawn Vertrees

Engagement Ring
Hand Sculpted and Hand Cut
One-of-a-Kind Engagement Ring.

Wednesday, June 12, 2019

Salt & Pepper .91ct Rose Cut Oval Natural Diamond set in 14k White Gold Twig Engagement Ring by Dawn Vertrees

Engagement Ring
Unique .91ct Salt & Pepper
Rose Cut Oval Natural Diamond

Item Details
Handmade

Material
14k Rose Gold

Gemstone: Natural Diamond

Engagement Ring
Hand sculpted Twig
Engagement Ring
Unique .91ct Salt & Pepper Rose Cut Oval Natural Diamond set in 14k White Gold Twig Engagement Ring

Hand sculpted Twig Engagement Ring, hand sculpted, a one-of-a-kind creation. 


● Matching Twig Wedding Band for this ring: https://www.etsy.com/listing/693448921/twig-branch-wedding-band-14k-or-18k-gold?ref=shop_home_active_20

● Your rings will come a black velvet ring box.

Dawn Vertrees Jewelry...Elegance Uncut.


Engagement Ring

Saturday, June 8, 2019

4.5 ct Hand Cut Ruby Twig Ring Setting in 14k Gold by Dawn Vertrees

Alternative Engagement Rings
4.5ct Hand Cut Ruby
from our Rough Gemstones
Item Details
Handmade

Materials
Gold, Rose gold, White gold

Gemstone: Hand Cut Ruby in North Carolina

4.5 ct (shown) Hand Cut Ruby in 14k Gold Leaf and Twig setting


I have waited exactly two years staring at my faceting tools until now. Creating our own hand cut gemstones is a milestone for me, it's like everything I envisioned for my hand sculpted designs has finally come full circle. I truly hope you see my vision in giving you a true one-of-a-kind ring.

Engagement Rings
Leaf and Twig Ruby Ring
Each design was created in wax to mimic little twigs with tiny branches holding a artistically hand cut in our studio.

Our Refined Gold and Gemstones are all Cruelty-Free.

Why have I chosen to hand cut our Gemstones:

Gemstone material that has not been extensively cut and polished is referred to as "Rough".

Rough material that has been hammered to knocked off the brittle fractured edges is said to have been cobbled.

So, what I have chosen to do is remove the brittle fractures by hand polishing our rough gemstones in our studio here in North Carolina and allowing a longer lifespan of the stone for our customers. A stone that has been hand cut is a stronger stone and in my opinion a safer stone to have.

Handmade Engagement Ring
One-of-a-Kind Ruby
Engagement Ring

To keep the integrity of the rough gemstones, we only remove the brittle edges and keep true to the unique shape of the original rough gemstone. This way we can create a beautiful artistically cut gemstone that is still Cruelty-Free but very unique in shape.

This is my way of giving you a true one-of-a-kind hand sculpted and hand cut ring. 
-Dawn Vertrees

Your ring will come with a black velvet pouch and a black ring box. 

Wednesday, June 5, 2019

3 Carat Hand Cut Stunning Emerald Gemstone in 14k White Gold Twig Setting Ring by Dawn Vertrees


Emerald Engagement Ring
3 Carat Hand Cut
Emerald Engagement Ring
Item Details
Handmade

Materials
Gold, Rose gold, White gold

Gemstone: Emerald

Hand Sculpted & Fancy Cut Faceted Rough Emerald

I have waited exactly two years staring at my faceting tools until now. Creating our own hand cut gemstones is a milestone for me, it's like everything I envisioned for my hand sculpted designs has finally come full circle. I truly hope you see my vision in giving you a true one-of-a-kind ring.

Description:

Each design was created in wax to mimic little detailed twigs with tiny branches holding a artistically hand cut gemstone. 

Stone: Beautiful Hand Cut 3 ct rough Emerald

Material: The Band is cast in solid 14k White Gold with textured bark markings.

Our Refined Gold and Gemstones are all Cruelty-Free.

Your ring will come with a black velvet pouch and a black ring box.

Click Here for additional Information

Why have I chosen to hand cut our Gemstones:

Gemstone material that has not been extensively cut and polished is referred to as "Rough".

Rough material that has been hammered to knocked off the brittle fractured edges is said to have been cobbled.

So, what I have chosen to do is remove the brittle fractures by hand polishing our rough gemstones in our studio here in North Carolina and allowing a longer lifespan of the stone for our customers. A stone that has been hand cut is a stronger stone and in my opinion a safer stone to have.

To keep the integrity of the rough gemstones, we only remove the brittle edges and keep true to the unique shape of the original rough gemstone. This way we can create a beautiful artistically cut gemstone that is still Cruelty-Free but very unique in shape.

This is my way of giving you a true one-of-a-kind hand sculpted and hand cut ring. 
-Dawn Vertrees

Emerald Engagement Ring
14k White Gold Hand Sculpted Twig Setting

Monday, June 3, 2019

Hand Sculpted Leaf and Twig Ring using the Lost Wax Method by Dawn Vertrees

Hand Sculpted One of a kind
Hand Cut Rough 1.5ct Ruby

We will be testing our first hand cut ruby on Wednesday 6/5/2019 which will be cast in place with the wax that I have sculpted around the stone (shown). Although we have successfully cast our rough uncut diamonds and gemstones for 8 years with only a few mishaps, casting our hand cut gemstones should reduce that number to zero.

GEMSTONE SET IN WAX CASTING has evolved over the past 10 years from a secret process used by a few manufacturers to a commonly used method. 

Lost wax method
Our Popular
Three Leaf Design cast in 14k Gold
GEMSTONES SUCCESSFULLY CAST IN PLACE ARE: Diamond, Ruby and Sapphire.

GEMSTONES NOT RECOMMENDED ARE: Emerald, Opal, Jade, Amethyst, Topaz, Peridot & Garnet. 

Aquamarine, Tourmaline, Topaz, Pearl, Lapis Lazuli, Turquoise and Onyx as these gemstones may burn, crack or discolor when exposed to high heat.

GEMSTONES SELECTED FOR CASTING IN PLACE should be high quality, dimensionally accurate, free of flaws and inclusions that can turn milky, frosty or crack when heated.

Engagement Ring
SUCCESS!!!
DESIGNS SELECTED FOR CASTING IN PLACE must allow support in at least 2 places by the surrounding investment instead of the traditional 4 or 6 prong setting. The gemstones need to be held in place securely to withstand investing, burn out and casting without coming loose.


Engagement Ring
Hand Cut Ruby Engagement Ring




Saturday, June 1, 2019

Herkimer Diamond in Sterling Silver Twig Ring Setting, Hand-sculpted by Dawn Vertrees

Statement Ring
Herkimer Diamond Ring
Item Details
Handmade

Materials
Silver

Gemstone: Herkimer Diamond

Stone: Large Herkimer Diamond
Material: Sterling Silver

● Overall Ring Size: 
18.60mm x 11.67mm

What are Herkimer Diamonds?
Herkimer Diamonds are beautiful double-terminated quartz crystals found in Herkimer, New York. Incredibly, these phenomenal gemstones are close to five hundred million years old. The crystals are magnificent works of nature, found in the rock, having a diamond-like geometrical shape. Thus, the name recognition of “Herkimer Diamonds”.

Your ring with come with a black velvet ring box and a small jewelry tote. 

Matching wedding bands are available! Just message us for details.

Statement Ring
Large Herkimer 6 Prong Twig Ring