Mokume Gane FAQs
How do you pronounce mokume gane?
Moh-coo-may Gah-nay
What is mokume gane?
Mokume gane is an ancient Japanese technique that involves fusing alternating layers of precious metals. Mokume gane translates to “wood eye metal.” The patterns of the metal resemble the patterns seen in woodgrains. Click here to learn more about how we make our mokume. Continue reading…
Diamonds Demystified
Where to Start
It’s wonderful that there is so much information about diamonds out there! You can really dive in and learn all about them before you buy one, but all of that information can be a little overwhelming. I mean, where do you start? The answer is right here. Continue reading…
Colorado Aquamarine
U.S. Gems and Stones
We have been sourcing U.S. gems and stones for years. It really dates all the way back to when Chris went on a family vacation to a sapphire mine in Montana when he was about 13 years old. After a day of digging, and with a hand filled with sapphires, Chris was hooked. Continue reading…
The Rainbow World of Garnets
Garnets: A Rainbow of Colors
When you picture a garnet, a dark red stone probably comes to mind, but did you know that this January birthstone actually comes in a variety of colors? Whether red, orange, yellow, green, pink, purple, or colorless, garnets stand out from the crowd. Some garnets even change colors. Continue reading…
Open House & Studio Tour Fun
Last month, we opened the studio doors and took over our parking lot to welcome our friends, family, and East Austin neighbors. We enjoyed having guests in our world, giving them a taste of what we do here in the studio, and celebrating our fellow artisans and small-business owners.
Client Collaboration: Repurposing old keepsakes
Have you ever wondered what to do with your old wedding rings? Wonder no more.
Field Journal: Mining sapphires in Montana
On a family expedition years ago to the Diamond Bar sapphire mine outside of Helena, Montana, I got hooked on the treasure hunt of gem mining. It wasn’t limited to experts – anyone can do it – and even a 13-year-old beginner is guaranteed to find something. The tools are water and a shovel, wieldy for anyone from a teenager to a retiree. It’s an immediate adventure, a hands-on quest that both suits and feeds the independent spirit of the explorer.
Where Your Sapphire Comes From Matters. Here’s Why.
The Sapphire Saga
The oldest sapphire legends come from eons ago when ancient beholders of the gemstone’s celestial blue believed it held intrinsic powers of harmony, peace, and healing.
But in time, this treasured jewel spawned a profit-hungry industry—in some areas, at the expense of the ecosystems that formed around the geological landscape in which these beautiful stones were created. Continue reading…
Tiger’s Eye and Moonstone: June’s Alternative Birthstones
If you were lucky enough to be born in June, you have not one, but four gemstone options to commemorate your birthday. Perhaps it’s perfect that Geminis, the chameleons of the zodiac, have classic pearls, rare alexandrite, ethereal moonstones and bold tiger eye to choose from. Equally beautiful and unique, moonstone and tiger’s eye make very different visual statements.
Chrysoprase: The Other May Birthstone
When you think of May, a brilliant green gemstone might come to mind. Of course! The glorious and ostentatious emerald hogs the spotlight this time of year. But there’s an equally beautiful, lesser-known green stone sharing the month of May. Chrysoprase.