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Birthstone month: AprilColor: Ideally colorless, though many diamonds have a hint of yellow or brownFamily: DiamondMoh's Hardness: 10Transparency: Transparent Typically, gem-quality diamonds are colorless or nearly colorless. When the discoloration in a diamond is intense enough to be viewed as an entirely different color, though, these diamonds are intentionally marketed for their color and inclusions. Yellow diamonds, blue diamonds, black diamonds, gray/salt and pepper diamonds, champagne diamonds, and cognac diamonds are all variations valued for their non-standard look. Here's an example of a raw, uncut diamond: Diamonds are unusual in that they are the only gemstones that are comprised of...

My brother Ben asked me to create a custom engagement ring for his girlfriend, Meg. He had a few images of vintage-inspired rings that Meg mentioned she was interested in. I had been picking up clues over time, as well. I already knew her finger size, that she likes round diamonds, and prefers bezel settings. That's enough to start with! (Ready to start dropping hints yourself? Send me a message!) I created two options for Ben to look over. The first option featured a round brilliant center diamond with a simple split-prong halo. I added some leaf-shaped filigree underneath the...

Does your ring spin on your finger, but barely fit over your knuckles? How can you fix this? An easy and fairly permanent option is to add sizing beads to the inside of your ring. Sizing beads add a little more surface area for your ring to grip your finger, but they slip easily past your knuckles.   Having trouble with a spinning ring? Ask your local jeweler to add sizing beads! xo, Christine

Birthstone month: MarchColor: Varies from pale, watery blue to intense greenish blueFamily: BerylMoh's Hardness: 7.5 - 8.0Transparency: Transparent Aquamarines range from blue to greenish blue, with intensity ranging from pale, watery colors through more intense blues. Smaller stones, particularly under five carats, typically lean towards the paler end of the spectrum. Larger, deeper stones are more likely to exhibit a more intense blue color.     Just like emeralds, aquamarines come from the beryl family. Aquas often grow in large, eye-clean crystals that are excellent for creating gem-quality gemstones.Aqua is the traditional birthstone for March, and is also the gemstone...

My newest design is the Protea Marquise Earrings. They're small, lightweight marquise-shaped earrings with a raised pattern based on the sharp leaves and ribbed anthers of a King Protea flower. Dark oxidation in the recessed areas helps highlight all of these minute details.