LITTLE BIRD
  • HOME
  • SERVICES
    • r i n g s e r v i c e s
    • r i n g g a l l e r y
  • ABOUT
    • t e s t i m o n i a l s
    • p r e s s
    • f o u n d e r s t o r y
  • BLOG
  • CONTACT

THE ULTIMATE CREATIVE BOUNDARY PUSHING PROJECT - or - How to Get a Wizard to Custom Cut Your Gem

7/27/2015

0 Comments

 
Jean-Noel SoniJean-Noel Soni, Top Notch Faceting

For all you folks who say you want something “truly unique” we know a guy who is about to blow your mind: Jean-Noel Soni of Top Notch Faceting. This guy cuts gems to look like optical illusions. Seriously, they look like something from the bottom corner of a kaleidoscope viewer. Should he cut the center gem for your engagement ring? Are you cool enough? 

Here are a few hints that he might be the magician for you:

  • You're high on life.

  • You purchase sculpture. Because you like it.

  • Maybe you’ve waved at someone while you were in traffic.

  • Have you ever seen the title of a blog: The 5 most beautiful, pristine camping spots that no human has even been to,” complete with geotags and directions, and wanted to punch the author in the face?

  • You skinny dip whenever you can get away with it.

  • You get how Rainn Wilson is attractive.

  • Have you ever saved an animal which then lived in your shirt pocket? Are you just waiting for the opportunity?

  • You believe nothing lasts forever. Awww sorry for being serious.

  • You say that the last good year at Burning Man was 2001. And no one can tell if you’re kidding.

  • You’ve won an official air guitar contest.

  • You have faith in artists.

Or maybe you are just a freak on the inside. Bottom line, this is for the person who says “you pick” and really means it. Is this for you? Yes? Then let's hold hands and dance.

STEP 1:  Behold a collection of rough stones in a tattooed palm, or a beaded basket, or a piece of velvet. Pick your poison.
STEP 2:  Jean-Noel will take that rock under his wing and through a mystical & highly specialized process. 
STEP 3:  An artist of your choice will work with you to design the ring around the one-of-a-kind masterpiece.
note: these images do not feature the same exact gem, rather they help you understand the process.
start with rocks
he makes magic
find a designer to set the stone (note: each image features a different type of gem)
Now how to make this happen for yourself? Jean-Noel Soni works with many designers and we would be happy to help put you in touch.

Jean-Noel Soni is based in San Francisco, where he lives with his family. He travels a lot. You can get to drooling
 here.
 How to Pick an ALTERNATIVE GEMSTONE Engagement Ring! A quick guide by Little Bird Engagement Ring Consultants, www.littlebirdtol...
0 Comments

Cool Kid Trend. Antique diamonds in a new setting. 

7/1/2015

0 Comments

 
One of our favorite clients opted for this combination recently and the results were spectacular. More people should do this. We wanted to discuss the pros and cons for the rest of y'all out there. 

Old Mine cuts and old European cuts are harder to find. They are not included in the inventories of major diamond retailers, so you have to have an insider hookup. That being said, they are not as expensive as you'd think - considering their rarity - and if you know the right people you can get your hands on some truly gorgeous diamonds. Luckily, we do. ;) 

Old Mine cuts and European cuts were crafted long before the Modern Round Brilliant was invented. The cut is blockier, more fiery, and is not graded by the same standards that the industry uses to analyze modern brilliant cuts. Often these stones do not come with a certificate from GIA or another grading lab. This makes antique cuts a bit tricky to shop for, but on the plus side they are valuable because of their appeal, so you can feel free to trust your gut, follow your instincts, and choose a stone that you fall in love with. (If this sounds really scary to you, never fear, we are here to talk you through it.)

If you are looking for the classic Tiffany or Cartier engagement ring, this may not be the best route for you. These diamonds generally have a slightly warmer color and a faceting pattern that needs a jeweler who specializes in setting antique cuts to compliment their uniquely beautiful qualities. This is the best way to get the warm look of an antique without the years of wear and tear on the setting. You can work with your jeweler (such as the lovely and talented Linsday Chapman of Giador Fine Jewelry in Nashville, TN) to decide what antique elements you want to include, and what elements you want to update for your modern, glamorous lifestyle.  Or your rustic, bohemian lifestyle. Or your drunk, yoga, camping lifestyle. Your call. 

0 Comments

How to Pick a Black Diamond Ring

4/15/2014

2 Comments

 
Picture

Black diamonds can be done extremely well! Used as accent gems or featured as a central gemstone, black diamonds are captivating, enthralling and romantic. 

How do black diamonds happen? Diamond manufacturers take less than perfect diamonds, carbonize them till their black and then have them cut for fine jewelry. There isn't really such a thing as a high quality or rare black diamond, but there are some that are far more attractive and simply better than others. So if you want the best of this carbonized diamond selection, then this is what you're looking for:
​
  • Consider the size of the black diamond. A giant black rock will miss the sweet intention of an engagement ring, while stone in the .50 carat range could appear too small to make the impact you're looking to achieve. Try something with a top measurement between 6-7.5mm.   

  • Entertain the idea of soft and unique cuts. Black diamonds really shine in soft, romantic cuts such as cushion or rose cut. Rounds are nice, but they've been done. Cuts with firm edges, like princess cuts, can be a bit severe.
  • Avoid diamonds with pits or fissures, so that when they put the facets on you get a perfect, mirror like polish. 
  • Look for a completely smooth texture. Some black diamonds become over-carbonized and can have a flaky finish, which gets in the way of your sparkle game kind of big time.
  • If you are going for a ring with diamond accents, we recommend pavé as a nice place to start. 

It can be tricky to balance all these elements, so feel to drop us a line.

​You can also head on over to the Little Bird TOOL BOX where you can peruse libraries of images curated by Little Bird engagement ring consultants in order to help bolster your visual vocabulary.

LOVE, 
​The Little Birds
2 Comments

April's Birthstone is Diamond!

4/8/2014

0 Comments

 
Hey, that’s our favorite. To celebrate the transition into freshness and spring we have selected a stunning palette of colored diamonds for you to browse. Colors range from the rainy grays of April showers to the soft greens of new shoots and dewy buds. The word diamond comes from the Greek word adámas meaning "unbreakable.”  FYI the colors in diamonds appear because of trace minerals that become trapped in between the layers of carbon as the diamond crystals are forming deep within the earth. Some diamonds are 3.3 billion years old, making them the OLDEST THINGS ON THE PLANET. Older than the continents. 
0 Comments

Everything you need to know about GARNETS (and how to get yourself some...)

2/5/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
In case you didn’t know, people love garnet. In fact, it's a very popular as a Valentine’s Day gift (ehm ehm, see details at the bottom). But wait, there is so much more to garnet than meets the eye. Garnet’s chemical structure is X3Y2(SiO4)3 , which makes them about a 7 on the hardness scale. This means garnet is a fairly sturdy gem. Pro tip: Just like your heart, your garnet will never break if you are gentle with it and you never give it to someone who will run it over with a truck. 

The word  garnet is from the Latin word ‘granatus’, meaning grain or seed (most likely referring to pomegranate seeds) Garnet  appears naturally in every color in the spectrum, but it is usually a deep rich red. Unsurprisingly, it is associated with love, passion, and the God of war. Pretty dramatic, right?


Read More
0 Comments

Topaz, or not topaz: that is the question.

11/7/2013

1 Comment

 
Picture
In addition to being diamond experts, we are admittedly huge gem nerds. November is Topaz month so we wanted to share some of our favorite topaz facts. Because we have such a thing as "favorite topaz facts". 
(Hint: treasure lies at the bottom of this post.)

"Topaz" is related to the Sanskrit word "tapas" meaning "fire", and also to the Hebrew word for "orange fruit". Yes, she's one sexy mineral, that topaz. In case you care, the chemical formula is Al2SiO4(F,OH)2 - Little Birds get excited about such things. Topaz is a popular alternative center gem choice for an engagement ring. It is an 8 on the mineral hardness scale, meaning it is more durable than other popular engagement ring gems like amethyst, aquamarine and peridot, but less durable than sapphire. Topaz is also very cost efficient. It's plentifully found in many non-conflict areas. To boot, topaz comes in so many unique colors - all of them glimmering through a very translucent crystal structure. While some precious gems appear opaque or cloudy, topaz is known for being intensely clear. 


Read More
1 Comment

Diamond Safari October - Berkeley and Albany

10/17/2013

 
Picture
Anyone who lives in the Bay Area can tell you there is a wealth of talented and oh-so-cool local designers and amazing style curators who make their home base this gorgeous part of the world. We decided to pick a neighborhood and visit every fine jewelry store. On our list was Pave, Melissa Joy Manning, Fisher’s Jewelry, Oaks Jewelers, M Lowe & Company, and McManus & Sons. Then we stopped at H Julien Designs even though there is no jewelry, because it is just plain amazing.  (Ladies, this guy KNOWS floral design. Also, gifts for your mom.)

Melissa Joy Manning has an incredibly recognizable style. This is not your typical princess cut solitaire sort of store. Once you've seen her delicate bezels, lovingly presented diamond slices and  amazing variety of gemological designs, you too will be able to spot an MJM ring from down the street.  While we were there we got the skinny on MJM’s process for how to design an engagement ring using uniquely shaped stones. Every piece is one-of-a-kind. As a result, they are happy to work with customers who want to choose their center stone and work with a craftsperson to design a special and amazing ring. 

Next stop: Pavé has a reputation for being a high-end, digestible art jeweler. Their range of rings includes the most streamlined designs to the most delicate and detailed. They happily do custom work, and are known for their customer service. 
Picture
At M. Lowe & Company we chatted with the owner Margo about Fall trends, sapphire engagement rings and the process of working with a jeweler to choose your diamonds and settings separately. As usual, Margo was an absolute delight to talk to. We could have spent hours in there looking at the uh-mazing collection of antique and eclectic jewelry as well as all the modern gemmy stuff. She showed us a gorgeous 1.2 carat F VS2 round brilliant diamond that she was planning on putting in an 18k white gold halo setting. (see below) It is a popular and pretty diamond ring design, and with that beautiful center stone it is sure to be the perfect engagement ring for some lucky lady out there. We hope she says yes! 

Forward>>

    the LITTLE BIRD blog, by Danielle Mainas

    Ever wonder how to figure out her ring size? Select the perfect center stone? Pick the ideal jeweler? Read on, my friends. 

    Picture

    Archives

    March 2021
    August 2020
    April 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    August 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    April 2014
    February 2014
    November 2013
    October 2013

    Categories

    All
    Alternative Engagement Rings
    Antique
    Antique Jewelry
    Artists
    Bay Area Jewelers
    Birthstones
    Buying Advice
    Buying Guide
    Celebrity Engagement Ring
    Consignment
    Custom Design
    Customer Stories
    Diamond Conflict
    Diamond Facts
    Ethical Origin Engagement Rings
    Expert Interview
    Giveaways
    Halo
    Heirloom Diamonds
    Holiday Engagements
    Jewelers
    Lab Created Diamonds
    My Engagement Ring Story
    New York Jewelers
    Precious Metal Education
    Press & Media Mentions
    Proposal Ideas
    Reselling
    Services
    Topaz
    Wedding Resources

    RSS Feed

    View my profile on LinkedIn
HOME        SERVICES        RING GALLERY        TESTIMONIALS        PRESS        ABOUT        CONTACT        BLOG
 ​

Check out Little Bird - Diamond & Engagement Ring Expertise on Yelp

415-320-8359
contact@littlebirdtoldyou.com

YOU'RE A DESIGNER? LEARN MORE HERE
Little Bird - Diamond & Engagement Ring Consulting, LLC
  • HOME
  • SERVICES
    • r i n g s e r v i c e s
    • r i n g g a l l e r y
  • ABOUT
    • t e s t i m o n i a l s
    • p r e s s
    • f o u n d e r s t o r y
  • BLOG
  • CONTACT