Happy Stories From our customers

Tension rings possess a unique look and offer certain advantages that other rings don’t. For the very active spouse-to-be, the tension ring assures that your stone will most likely stay put because the way the ring is designed.

Tension rings are also chic and have a certain contemporary feel for people who prefer that style.

Here’s what one expert has to say:

Tension Rings

For a more modern twist on the engagement ring, consider a tension ring. Instead of being held in place by clasps and prongs, these elegant alternatives stay in place by the sheer pressure of each end of the ring.

Nothing says they have to be diamond, either. Why not consider getting your birth stone in it, instead, or another gem that means something to you and your betrothed? Because of the high tension involved, however, you will need to make sure your jewel can withstand the pressure, or it might need to be attached with hidden prongs or fasteners for a faux-tension look.

Such a classy look comes with a high price tag, however. Your tension ring will need to be custom made, partly because everyone’s tension levels will differ, but mostly because you need a perfect fit. Because of the physics involved, you’re never going to be able to resize a tension ring without destroying the band.

Our Gallery of Joseph Schubach Jeweler’s Tension Rings.

Style 9500M

Tension Set Round Moissanite Engagement Ring With Diamonds

Tension set ring with .51ct t.w. round diamonds (setting only, does not include center stone)

At Joseph Schubach Jewelers, we pride ourselves in our local community of Scottsdale, Arizona. But of course, we’re an Internet-based business as well, which gives us the opportunity to make global connections.

Take Diane and Simon from France, who ordered two stunning sapphire rings from us:

Dear Beth:

Just a short note to let you know that our rings have arrived safely. We are absolutely thrilled with them. Simon’s ring is unique, elegant, discreet and fits perfectly (of course!) My ring is stunning and the blue colour of the sapphire is amazing. I would never have thought it possible to create something so beautiful. The white moissanite set the sapphire off perfectly. So, we are both extremely happy and send our thanks to you and your team for creating such beautiful jewellery. With our best wishes!

~ Diane & Simon

Some mines have all the luck! Take Petra Diamonds, who just stumbled across this beaut:

JOHANNESBURG — Mining group Petra Diamonds has discovered a 507.55 carat white diamond at South Africa’s Cullinan mine, one of the largest high-quality rough diamonds ever found, the firm said on Tuesday.

“This spectacular gemstone was recovered on Thursday 24 September and is currently with experts for analysis,” said a statement released by the London-listed company which operates mainly in Africa.

Initial examinations of the diamond which weighs just over 100 grams (3.5 ounces), have shown it to be of exceptional colour and clarity.

The diamond is undergoing colour grading, but is believed to be a rare Type II diamond, with very low traces of nitrogen — considered an impurity — making them among the most transparent and colourless of the gems.

“The Cullinan mine has again given the world a spectacularly beautiful and important diamond… we now eagerly await the findings of the expert analysis,” said Johan Dippenaar, Petra?s chief executive.

The precious stone was found alongside three other special white gems of similar colour and clarity, a large diamond of 168.00 carats and two other stones of 58.50 and 53.30 carats.

The mine which was previously owned by diamond mining giant De Beers, is renowned for the discovery of the famed Cullinan Diamond in 1905, which is part of the British crown jewels and weighed 3106 carats.

In May 2008, the mine produced a sparkling 101.27 carat diamond, roughly the size of a ping-pong ball.

The Cullinan Diamond Mine is the third richest diamond producing mine in South Africa.

Source: Canada.com

If a weighty diamond is a little out of of your fiscal comfort level, take a look at our Moissanite gallery. Not only is moissanite highly affordable, its quality is unsurpassed and eco-friendly.

Silver is one of the most beloved and versatile metals worldwide and it has been for some time. Silver is never out of fashion and it’s often quite affordable, especially during tough economic times.

The amazing value of silver jewelry has persisted throughout the ages, proving its versatility by adapting to the changing styles and trends of time. Used in tribal ceremonies, eastern and western religions, and department store malls, silver jewelry around the world continues to be a popular choice.

The history of silver jewelry is just as alluring as its beautiful, light-reflecting qualities. Even before 4000 BC, this valuable metal was discovered and mined in Anatolia, known today as Turkey. The groups of people developing in that part of the world began to use and trade items made of silver, and as time passed the metal was mined more intensely.

From these silver mining beginnings, the central hub for extensive silver mining changed from culture to culture, as new improvements and demands developed. At different points in time, China, Greece, and Spain all became main suppliers of silver, sending their silver jewelry around the world.

Today, the statistics show that Mexica and Peru produce the most silver. Mexico in particular supposedly mines 1/5 of all the world’s silver! New and enhanced methods for mining and refining silver have been introduced over the years, and today we have several varieties of silver jewelry with differing levels of durability and shine.

Pure silver jewelry tarnishes easily, so a new 92.5 % silver metal alloy, called sterling silver, is mixed with nickel, copper, or zinc, to keep the pure shine of silver in a durable, longer lasting manner.

Source: SilverFlake.com

Create your own silver jewelry with the help of our custom design team. Whether it’s a piece you saw on a celebrity or reminiscent of a family heirloom, we can bring your jewelry dream to life. Here are some samples, to whet your appetite. The last two pieces are for men (the dogtag is making a real comeback – great holiday gift for your guy!):

Just when you think just about everyone is pulling their purse strings a little tighter, a new report shows that the wealthiest in the U.S. still consider jewelry a priority and are still spending:

According to JCKOnline.com:

Affluent households, those making $100,000-plus a year, have spent roughly 3 percent of their annual discretionary income on watches and jewelry so far this year. With 20 percent of American households categorized as affluent, 15.1 million affluent adults spent $21 billion on fine watches and jewelry, with almost $16 billion spent on fine jewelry alone, according to the 2009 Mendelsohn Affluent Survey.

Based on the U.S. Census Bureau’s current population surveys, the Mendelsohn Affluent Survey estimates that there are 43.1 million affluent heads of house living in an estimated 23.9 million households. As of the start of 2009, the estimated 20 percent of affluent American households have a total household income of $4.6 trillion; that’s just over half of the $8 trillion the U.S. government estimates is the total household income for all Americans, according the recent survey.

Of that $4.6 trillion, the survey estimates there’s annual discretionary spending of $1.2 trillion spent in 120-plus categories. The top-three discretionary spending categories are “home-related” (19 percent), “personal insurance” (8 percent), and “travel” (16 percent). “Watch and jewelry” purchases account for 3 percent of that discretionary spending pie, which is tied with “personal care and wellness.” Affluent Americans spend 2 percent of their discretionary income on “weddings” and “alcohol” and spend more on “computers and electronics” (5 percent), “leisure, entertainment and dining” (7 percent), and “apparel” (10 percent).

Additionally, the 2009 survey also measures close to 1,000 name-brand products and services (including fashion and apparel brands, watches and jewelry brands, home electronics brands, travel brands, financial service brands, etc.). Of the 43.1 million affluent households that shopped at a store in the past year, 6 percent shopped at Tiffany & Co. with 1.2 percent shopping at Bailey, Banks & Biddle.

The percentage of affluent households that shopped at exclusive jewelry designers and watch shops include Cartier (6 percent), David Yurman (1.3 percent), Tourneau (0.7 percent),Van Cleef & Arpels (0.3 percent), and Harry Winston (0.2 percent).

The results of the 2009 Affluent Survey are based on 13,275 completed questionnaires from male and female heads of house with household incomes of $100,000 or more.

If you’re not of the upper crust, not to worry – jewelry can still be a priority in your life. Tell us what you can afford and we can create a hand-crafted piece of jewelry with your budget in mind. View our custom jewelry designs for inspiration!

We’ve had a long-standing, loyal list of customers that dates way back – sometimes generations.  With each repeat client, we’ve gone through engagements, marriages, graduations, anniversaries, holidays….the works!

People have come to rely on our high level of customer service and our custom design work that goes above and beyond.

Here’s another pleased client:

Hello Beth,

I know you were looking for pictures of the beautiful ring that you made for me, thanks to Paul, the wonderful man I’m going to marry. The pics are attached, and I wanted to personally thank you so much! My ring is exquisite and it looks even more beautiful than I thought it would! I’m thrilled with it!

Now, Paul and I are looking for wedding rings but we’ve hit a snag. I have a particular design in mind and it’s going to be a tough one, I fear.

If you start with your Style 6908WB, we’d like to make certain changes. We love the tri-gold twist along the center of the band, but we’d like the white gold on the inside of the band instead of the yellow. Also, the width would need to be no more than 4mm for my ring.

Is this a possibility??

Thanks again for my wonderful ring, and please give my best to everyone at Schubach!

Best regards,

Joan B.

Joseph Schubach Custom Design Jewelry

The amazing aspect of jewelry is its remained surprisingly unchanged over centuries and centuries. That’s not to say there isn’t a variety of jewelry – but when you look at pieces made hundreds of years ago, there’s a connective thread – a similarity or look that resonates even today.

Take the Celtic Cross:

The Celtic cross (aka “high cross,” or “sun cross”) is a familiar, and iconic motif that is associated with Celtic Christianity, although its origins are pre-Christian, dating back to the Bronze Age in the 3rd millennium BC. As a “sun cross,” the Celtic cross represents both the Solstices and equinoxes. Other interpretations say that the Celtic cross symbolizes the the four elements of air, earth, fire, and water, or perhaps the four quarters of the earth.

The beauty in learning the history of jewelry is that you can create a piece using mythic symbols that span centuries. Symbols are powerful and transformative. Some say grounding or protective. Others simply like the look. Here are some sample to spur your imagination. And remember, if you want a piece rich in historical signficance and fashionably sound, we can create it with you!

And some Celtic pieces from today:

It’s easy to decide on your pearls for that upcoming wedding or that simple pendant for a picnic in the park. But some events call for something in-between. This would include a work-related party or a PTA meeting or a semi-casual first date or an important family affair, like a 25th anniversary party. Times like this, it’s nice to accent a little bit more.

Here’s what one expert has to say:

There are those in between places you go, where slightly dressier attire might be called for. A simple dress or a modern looking pant suit is the likely choices for things like this. There is such a wide variety of mod looking jewelry available that have classy looks. Outfits like these ask for a little more than the simple little chain and pendant. The newer pieces like solid silver neck pieces with a stylish slide pendant are great for dressy casual wear. Cuff bracelets and bangles made from all sorts of metals are appropriate as well. Just do not over do your jewelry in comparison to your clothes.

The most fun occasions to wear jewelry are those occasions when we have the opportunity to break out our nicest pieces and can wear them to the elegant places we love to go. Things like plays and fancy restraints are the perfect reason to wear our bigger diamonds, strands of beautiful pearls, and luscious colored gem stones. If you are like most of us these chances do not happen everyday, so put on your most glamorous jewelry and look like a million!

Here’s a few samples from our gallery:

Classic Sweetheart Pave Necklace

Classic Sweetheart pave necklace with 1/5ct t.w. round brilliant stones set on an 18″ cable chain. Fits a 4.5mm (1/3ct diamond) round center stone. (setting only, does not include center stone).

Style 10110

Inside Out Hoop Earrings With Round Stones

Prong set inside out hoop earrings set with round brilliant stones.

We are in the process of hand fabricating a piece of custom jewelry – a palladium engagement ring for a client and thought we would show you how a hand fabricated piece starts out and explain a little how the process works.

A truly hand fabricated piece of jewelry is different from a traditional lost wax/cast process. With a custom lost wax process, the wax model is carved by hand or carved with a machine (CAM). This wax is then used to directly cast in metal the final piece of jewelry. With a hand fabricated piece, we start out with a piece of metal, like the metal rod shown here. The metal is then worked (filed, hammered, shaped, etc.) by hand into the shape of the final piece. So, rather than carve a wax and cast from the wax, a hand fabricated piece is literally made entirely from hand. It is a much more difficult process to do.

Some pieces are better off being hand fabricated than cast. For example, jewelry that has very fine scroll detail or gallery sections that require fine, intricate polishing are great candidates for hand fabrication. This piece will have very long, smooth curves, and hand fabrication will give us a smoother, more even finish when we’re through.

We’ll try to get some pictures of this ring mid process and post to the blog.

Looking for a platinum alternative? Try palladium (click here for additional information).

Jewelry has existed for eons. It was used in the past not only as a form of adornment but also as a sign of status or religious affiliation or a form of protection. Egyptian jewlery, some believe, is where jewelry making became more relevant and widespread. It’s influences are still felt in jewelry today.

According to one site:

Many consider the period of Egyptian jewelry as the dawning period for our modern form of jewelry. It was during this time that the manufacturing of jewelry became a profession and techniques and skills evolved to create a wide variety of styles and adornments.

Jewelry craftsman began to utilize artistic skill and an increasingly wide variety of materials. While artistic skill was valued the primary purpose of jewelry was to act as amulets and talismans. Gemstone and metal color was of greater importance than any other attribute. Gold was used extensively but this is primarily because it was readily available and very easy to work with. Many expensive gemstones we consider precious today like diamonds were very rarely used simply because they did not exhibit the color or symbolism of other gemstones.

Egyptian beliefs stipulated that every gemstone carried certain mystical powers which would be transferred to the owner when worn as jewelry. Symbols such as the sacred Egyptian scarab also formed an important part of jewelry and were also believed to carry certain powers.

Here are some pieces that still inspire. If you’re looking for a piece with a classic Egyptian feel, consider us. We can custom design a jewelry piece with your classic tastes specifically in mine.