The California Poppy Engagement Ring

November 11, 2022 Austin Capone

Often functioning as more than just a simple accessory that complements an outfit, jewelry can represent the most important aspects of a life–love, friendship, family, heritage, rites of passage, birthdays, anniversaries, to name a few. Even the slightest incorporation of meaning, whether it be a simple engraving or a decorative accent, renders a piece not only sentimental but also individual, carrying a personal story that no other piece possesses. We were fortunate to be a part of this “California Poppy Ring” that created a beautiful engagement ring together with representing the life and love of the couple to whom it belongs.

The client, referred to us by a dear friend, lives up north, splitting time between Rhode Island and Brooklyn, New York. He contacted us via email with three pictures of possible engagement ring designs for an oval cut diamond and concluded the email with the picture of the California poppies to the right, inquiring about somehow including them into the design.

We went back and forth a few times with some possibilities until he had drawn his own sketch of the concept that he had envisioned. Seen below, one side had two poppies while the other was meant to display a single flower.

Once the design was finalized, we proceeded with the lost wax process, as opposed to CAD design, for greater ease in carving the flowers by hand to get the exact look that a computer may not depict as accurately. The lost wax process is one of the oldest known metal-forming techniques, dating back 6,000 years. The wax is first melted so that it can be formed into a ring, leaving spaces open to set stones. The wax was then used to create a silicone mold (below), which forms the gold in the casting process. It took a few tries to get the side-view of the poppy just right, finally settling on the same design as the picture to the left.

This is the story as told by the client’s fiancée, who was thrilled with not only the design concept, but also the thought that her fiancée put into it, as well as the beauty of the ring itself:

“I grew up in California and moved away after college to Austin TX. All of my family and friends were still in CA, and it was scary to go off on my own but also exciting. Since then I’ve lived in Illinois (where I met Jon), Rhode Island, and New York. Despite living far from California, it will always be home and hold a special place in my heart. The CA golden poppy is the state flower and has been a special symbol to me and brings me so much joy as it reminds me of home and family. I’ve thought about getting a poppy tattoo for years and still am likely to do so. Jon picked three poppies as a representation of several things with two smaller and one larger being very important. They are our past and present coming together to create our future. They represent us individually and us together.”

If that doesn’t explain the sentimentality that a piece of jewelry can hold f o r e v e r…then nothing will. Congratulations to this adorably radiant couple! We wish you a forever of happiness together!

The Infinity Gauntlet

April 8, 2021 C. Capone

Whether you are a Marvel comic book aficionado, a Marvel Cinematic Universe (known as the MCU to the hardcore) devotee, or simply a fan of the custom jewelry design process, then you can understand our elation to “assemble” this project. This ring was commissioned by a high school friend of Austin’s as a wedding ring for her husband in the form of the Infinity Gauntlet from the Avengers comic books, TV shows, movies, and any other medium in which Earth’s Mightiest Heroes may appear. In fact, Austin’s two sons are such avid Marvel enthusiasts that the whole family dressed up as the superheroes for Halloween, so needless to say Austin was exceptionally thrilled at the prospect of this project.

For those of you who may not be familiar with the Infinity Gauntlet, some background information might help to clarify its vital significance in the Marvel universe. To make an intricately complicated story short, the Infinity Gauntlet is a giant metal hand that was created for the evil alien, Thanos, as part of his attempt to conquer the universe. The Gauntlet was designed to hold all six Infinity Stones (more about these later) in order to harness and channel all of their individual powers into one. Each stone has its own purpose, and when they are all utilized at once, they can basically execute any feat imaginable. Once Thanos found all six Infinity Stones and placed them in the Gauntlet on his left hand, all he had to do was snap his fingers and half of all life in the universe disappeared. Honestly, if you haven’t watched the movies, we recommend you do so as soon as possible. It is the preferred family activity in the Capone household and a wildly hilarious and exciting ride.

As for the design and fabrication process for the ring, there were many steps involved to achieve creating a product that would closely resemble the Infinity Gauntlet while also maintaining our commitment to creating a piece using only the best quality metals and stones. Once Austin was approached with the idea, the first step entailed doing some research to come up with the best concept for the design. Consultations are typically more effective in person, but due to the fact that this client lives in California, we were able to grasp basic ideas virtually. Since the Infinity Gauntlet already exists, it was more a matter of creating an inspiration from the original as opposed to an actual glove that fit over one’s hand (not to say that it couldn’t be done!).

Next came the sketch. Truman’s artistic skills come in quite handy when we want to give our clients a visual of the concept that we have created in our minds. Peep his sketch below.

Once the sketch was approved, we moved on to picking out the gemstones to represent each Infinity Stone. It was our goal from the start to keep the ring as accurate as possible in terms of order in the Gauntlet in addition to the colors of each stone. We conspired to choose the stones that were not only of the highest quality but would also radiate the utmost vibrancy. Each Infinity Stone has its own color and its own power. Below explains the power and color of each in addition to the gemstone we chose to represent it:

Orange - Soul - Orange Chalcedony
Red - Reality - Tourmaline
Blue - Space - Blue Topaz
Purple - Power - Amethyst
Green - Time - Emerald
Yellow - Mind - Yellow Sapphire

The stones that we sourced were all originally different shapes and sizes, so we had to have them cut in order to accurately fit the design of the ring. Once the stones were selected, we then chose the metals to incorporate into the bezels and band. We decided to fashion the band in silver while adding several different colors of gold to highlight the many layers of complicated machinery that bedeck the original Gauntlet.

Constructing a wax model was the next step in the process so that we could show the client a 3D rendering of the ring for them to try on. It gave us a good idea of how it would fit along the contours of his finger. Once that step was approved, the wax was then used to create a silicone mold, which forms the gold in the casting process.

One might think that once the casting was sent back the work was practically finished, but there was still much more to be done. First, a number of layers of metal were polished. After, the platinum bezels for the stones were fabricated to be extremely secure and to withstand heavy wear for a long period of time. On the outer edge of the bezel, a second one was fabricated in gold to help emphasize the colors of the stones while also adding some hues and design to the ring. In the band of the ring, a combination of different color metals were used, including silver, yellow gold, rose gold, green gold, and platinum.

Once the conglomeration of all the metals on the band was complete, we moved on to setting the stones. Each stone was set in a platinum bezel with a low-profile height in order to lessen the risk of damage. Hours of engraving were then devoted to this piece. From the extraordinary detail on the side panels to the milgrain and etching throughout the entire surface. Additionally, a process called oxidation (also known as antiquing) was then employed to give the ring a finished aged and regal look to it.

We are so thankful to have this opportunity to be a part of such a cool design that also happens to be associated with something that is so loved by our family. Avengers Assemble!

Custom Combination

July 27, 2020 C. Capone

While jewelry updates are a typical service that we provide, it is a welcomed challenge to combine two beautiful pieces into one.

What is a Jewelry Appraisal?

April 17, 2020 C. Capone

A jewelry appraisal is an official document that contains the assessed value of a piece in case of damage, loss, or theft. It is provided for your insurance company and your personal records.

With over 75 years of combined experience, Capone’s Jewelry assesses the most accurate value of your jewelry. A certified GIA Diamond Grader will analyze your diamond, gemstone, and precious metal jewelry. Bring any documentation, such as sales slips, diamond or gemstone grading reports, as well as warranties if you have them. Please note that current metal markets and trademarks, brand names, serial numbers can have an impact on the assessed value.

We also appraise estate collections that include multiple items. Please call to discuss pricing.

Schedule an appointment for an appraisal here.

Your Guide to Ring Sizing!

April 18, 2017 C. Capone

Why Sizing?
There are many reasons why someone might be interested in getting their ring sized. They may have recently gained or lost some weight. Perhaps a woman has just had a baby or someone has been struggling with arthritis, both causing their knuckles to grow in size and making it difficult to slide a ring on and off. Say one’s significant other did not want to give away a surprise and guessed the wrong finger size. Or you simply just want to wear the ring on a different finger. What do you do? Consult a jeweler!

How to Measure your Finger Size
It is always a good idea to consult a professional jeweler about finger size. Do not attempt to measure ring size yourself. We also recommend that you get measured multiple times because hand size tends to fluctuate due to many factors, such as diet, how much sleep you got the night before, etc.
Ensuring proper fit is also crucial to determining your ring size. The ring should go on rather easily; however, it should be slightly more difficult to get it off. Obviously, if it slides off too easily, there is a greater chance that it will get lost. You should also keep in mind that if you are not accustomed to wearing rings, they will probably feel a little awkward the first couple of days, so be patient, and you will get used to it.

Sizing Down
As far as the actual sizing process goes, making a ring smaller is much easier than making it larger. Therefore, you should err on the side of caution when choosing a ring size. Once we have determined that the size should be smaller, we will cut a small piece of the metal from the band and solder the two sides together. The band will then be cleaned and polished, and you should not be able to tell that the ring has been resized. However, rings that have ornate designs, such as patterns or filigree, are difficult to resize without losing the detail of the design. If it is possible, the design would have to be remade or restored, adding to the cost. Additionally, if there are stones on the sides of the band, they may need to be reset, which also makes the job more complicated.

Sizing Up
If you find that you need to increase the size of your ring, there are two options that we will consider. First, we can simply stretch the band. However, this usually only works for about up to half of a size, and it does depend on the material as well as the design. This process works better with plain wedding bands usually. The other option would be to cut the ring, add metal, and solder it together. Keep in mind that the aforementioned issues with ornate designs and rings with stones remain the same in sizing the ring to make it smaller.

Cost
It is difficult to give a set cost of ring sizing due to the many factors that may be involved in resizing. For example, the metal (i.e. gold prices) and labor costs (i.e. the difficulty of the job). The starting cost is typically around $35 - 40, but can go upwards to $150 - 200.

What We Can't Size
There are certain materials that are impossible to size. Basically we would not be able to do anything that is made of non-metal, titanium, tungsten, or stainless steel. So keep that in mind when shopping for your wedding bands.

Virginia Gemstones

March 13, 2017 C. Capone

It might be a little known fact that some gemstones are mined right here in Virginia. We recently purchased some new stones that hail from our beautiful home state, and below is some information about the ones that are pictured above (order is from left to right):
Amazonite - This beautiful blue-green square(ish) stone is mined in Amelia County. In addition to being pleasing to the eye, it is said to enhance intuition, psychic powers, creativity, intellect, and psychic ability.
Unakite - This mottled pink and green oval stone came from right up the road in Lexington, Rockbridge County. It is typically found in the valleys of rivers after having been washed down from the Blue Ridge mountains. Unakite helps balance emotions and relieve stress.
Rhodonite - The middle stone that comes to a point at the top is a type of rhodonite that originated from Fluvanna County. The stone next to it is a Pink Rhodonite, which comes from the same location. They come in pink and red colors and often contain black manganese oxide veins running through them. Rhodonite is believed to relieve anxiety and is also a symbol of grace and elegance.
Limonite after Pyrite - This distinct gemstone gets its name from its "birth" process and comes from Schuyler, Nelson County. First, the pyrite starts to decompose due to chemical weathering, and the iron in the rock starts to rust. Once the rust has begun, limonite starts to pseudomorph into, i.e. take the shape of, the pyrite. This square stone has a brownish red color with tiny holes, which gives it a distinctively dramatic look. Pyrite is typically used as a shield to defend against negative energy while limonite helps to support physical strength and virility.

Custom Engagement Rings for a Swedish Couple

February 20, 2017 C. Capone

We have been fortunate to have a diverse demographic of customers over the years here in small town Blacksburg, VA. Learning about and adhering to other cultures’ customs during the engagement and marriage process is something that we have enjoyed being included in. While wedding and engagements rings are often a universal symbol of love and commitment, there are cultural variations of how they are presented, chosen, and designed. The rings shown in the picture below are ones that we designed for a couple from Sweden.

Whereas the tradition in many cultures is to propose with a diamond ring, the custom in Sweden has been for both men and women to wear simple gold bands as their engagement rings. Afterwards, a diamond ring or another band is typically purchased for the woman to receive at the wedding. Although the bands have traditionally been simple and plain, the look is evolving to include more ornate designs that incorporate individual style and flair.

For these particular rings, the custom process started when the customer brought in a drawing of their own design. We used their sketch to develop a wax model of the ring with hand carvings, which was then cast in 18k yellow gold. There was some difficulty in determining finger size due to differences in sizing and number conversions, but we thankfully figured it out. Next, some milgrain and other engraving details were added around the edges, and two small round diamonds were set in one of the rings. Then the bands were polished, and the couple was ready to start their matrimonial journey. They emailed us the picture from Sweden along with the following thoughtful message:

Dear Faith,

We would like to send our thanks to you for making our rings. We are
very happy with how they turned out and they both fit perfectly on our
fingers. Thank you for making our design come true. We are now happily
engaged and will be married in the summer.

Best wishes from Sweden,

And thank YOU for allowing us Americans to be a part of your Swedish engagement and design process! :)

Custom Design Onyx and Ruby Gent's Ring

February 20, 2016 C. Capone

We typically don't carry men's rings other than wedding bands in stock. It's difficult because there is such a wide variety of styles that we normally just custom design them. This particular concept was exciting and out of the ordinary, which is always a fun creative process to be a part of.
This ring was commissioned by a local artist and retired professor of Virginia Tech. Donning a ring on almost every finger, he really wanted this particular one to stand out but still blend in with his look and personality. He sports heavy vests, hats, a large bushy beard, as well as silver chains with skull and wing medallions hanging from them. You know, just your run of the mill custom design request!
Having long artistic fingers, we knew this ring needed to be quite large. He deeply admires Native American silver motifs, which he wanted included into the design. Even though he prefers turquoise, it was decided a dark cabochon onyx would hold up better from daily wear and tear. Because he loves the color red and wanted the ring to have its own personality, a small natural ruby was added to the side serving as a talisman for passion and wealth.
A hand-carved wax model was created to adhere to the shape and size of his hand as well as to the proportion of the stones. Having made several original indigenous-inspired designs, Kirk carved the tribal graphics, which were derived from Native American, Aztec, and Caribbean roots, around the shank and bezel. It was then cast in sterling silver, the stones were set, the ring was polished and ready for wear!

Do Your Prongs Need Retipping?

November 4, 2015 C. Capone

When was the last time you had your rings checked? We recommend bringing your rings in twice a year to ensure that the prongs are not worn down and are efficiently holding your stones in place.

What is a prong?

A prong is a metal tine or projection that holds a gemstone in place. A ring can have anywhere from four to hundreds of prongs.

How does it get worn down?

Prongs become worn from everyday normal use! However, erosion can occur faster due to several situations. For example, if a ring is too large and is constantly being readjusted by your finger (in which case it would also be a good idea to have it sized), or if a stone has been loose for a period of time. Also, wearing your rings while doing manual labor can also cause them to wear more quickly. Do you wear your rings to bed? If so, sheets can actually be abrasive on metal prongs - believe it or not!

How do we fix it?

If we check your rings and find that a prong (or prongs) are worn down, then we will recommend retipping. This process involves soldering a metal bead or wire to the prong with the stone still in place and shaping it so that it functions as a new prong. In some cases, a prong needs to be replaced. If that were the case, then we would saw off the old prong, solder a metal wire and shape it into the new prong - also with the stone still in place. In rare cases, the entire prong setting needs to be replaced where we would remove the stone, assemble a new setting, and then reset the stone.

Why Fix Prongs?

If you do not fix a prong, then you risk your stone coming loose and potentially losing it. It's certainly more economical than replacing a stone!

If it's been more than 6 months since you've had your rings checked, bring them in, and we will check them for you free of charge.

Kirk retipping… — Kirk retipping a prong

Capone's is MOVING!

September 8, 2015 C. Capone

We are very excited to finally announce that our store is moving from its current location to the historic old Annie Kay's building in the Brownstone. This new space will allow us to have a more accessible and one-level storefront, parking spaces in the back, updated cases and lighting to better display our jewelry, and a new workshop in the back. Plus, we get to remain in the original 16 blocks of Downtown Blacksburg! The renovation process has already started - the layout is currently being framed, and long windows are being installed along the side. Keep checking the blog for updates! We hope you are as excited as we are! This is a picture of Austin and Jackson checking out the progress on the new spot:

Custom Three Stone Engagement Ring and Band Set

August 18, 2015 C. Capone

One of the most interesting and sometimes complicated aspects of custom design in jewelry is finding a way to aesthetically incorporate old stones or metal into new pieces. Jewelry can hold a sentimental or nostalgic value to a person or family, and while a customer may find an inherited piece of jewelry tired or outdated, they don't necessarily want to trade in the piece for a brand new one. There are not many industries where this type of "recycling" (for lack of a better word) is possible. It is rather gratifying to be able to redesign pieces that the customer enjoys wearing and that still maintain the sentimentality.
We were recently commissioned to redesign an engagement ring for a couple that has been married for some time. They wanted to incorporate the diamond from the previous ring as well as one recently inherited. They wanted a three stone ring, so we had to locate a third stone that would match in cut, carat, color, and clarity. Matching stones can be challenging, but fortunately we successfully accomplished the task! The customers also requested a more vintage-looking piece with the diamonds set as low as possible to the finger. This is the wax of the ring with the stones set in it:

We decided to go with a bezel setting, which is the whole diamond surrounded by metal. While this is one of the safest settings for a gemstone, a drawback is that it can reduce the light coming in, which inhibits the shine of the stone. Therefore, we put tiny cut outs in the sides of the bezel to bring in more light. Since this ring is set in platinum, it is more dense and can better support the diamond with the cut outs, which made us feel more comfortable in doing it. Another way that we were able to integrate the old engagement ring was to remove the part holding the diamond, the head, to make a plain white gold band that would fit nicely next to the new ring. Here are the finished rings:

Custom Engagement Ring for Justin and Sarah

July 30, 2015 C. Capone

Justin came to Austin with several pictures of engagement rings for his girlfriend, Sarah. He wanted his own ring to be unique, so he decided to have a custom ring made. He had his own middle stone already and wanted side stones to match. He requested sketches before a wax was made. Three different designs were created:

Justin liked different elements of each design, so a wax was created that incorporated a combination:

Since Justin and Sarah live in Charlotte, photos of the wax were stealthily sent to Justin for final approval. We slightly adjusted the size of the band, and because this ring is set in White Gold, it was sent out for casting:

The stones were set, the ring was polished, Justin proposed in the Outer Banks, and Sarah said YES! Congratulations to our best friends!

Making the Steger Award, A Poetry Prize for Virginia Tech Students

April 30, 2015 C. Capone

For the past 10 years, we have been commissioned by our longtime customer and friend, Nikki Giovanni, to make an award that is presented to the winner of the Steger Poetry Prize. We hammer and forge sterling silver to create a magnifier statue meant for a desk. The design changes slightly each year. Setting the magnifying glass in a bezel is always a challenge - it is equivalent to setting a giant gemstone. A big congratulations to this year's winner!

Read more about the award below:
http://www.vtnews.vt.edu/articles/2015/04/042915-clahs-stegerpoetry.html

Custom Antique Flatware Bracelets

April 25, 2015 C. Capone

We often have customers coming in and asking us what they can do with antique silverware that they have inherited. Since flatware comes as a set, it is unlikely that you would want to split it up among family members. We recently had a customer who had a set of flatware and pictures she found on the Internet of similar designs. They were her grandmother's, and she wanted a bracelet made for her and her sister. The fork tines were melted and manipulated into heart shapes. While the engraving was already etched on the fork, it can always be added afterwards for a personal touch. Rings can be made out of smaller forks or spoons as well. This is a great way to maintain the sentimentality of a common family heirloom. It's personal yet stylish at the same time!

Custom Design Yellow and Green Emerald Necklace and Earrings

April 22, 2015 C. Capone

A customer recently came in with an idea for a custom Yellow and Green Emerald necklace for their 55th(!) wedding anniversary, fittingly also known as the Emerald Anniversary. They brought in their own emeralds and their own sketch of the layout they had in mind, which Faith adapted into her own sketch (below). The necklace was to have a minimal amount of yellow gold showing, which is why prongs were used. Additionally, they wanted it to be worn at different lengths, so it was designed so that they could adjust the length to be 16, 18, or 20 inches. A pair of matching earrings were also made. Both the necklace and earrings turned out absolutely stunning!