We love your love! That is why we have decided to reach out to a few of our amazing Kasia Tribe members, new and returning, to tell their stories. Love is powerful, beautiful, diverse and worthy of honoring through your unique story. By sharing these openly with you, we intend to spread joy in a time when we need it the most. We understand the privilege it is to be a part of your story, and we hope the sincerity of these couples will reflect the very special relationships we aim to have with everyone who walks through our doors (whether in-person or virtually).

Next up, we have Amy and Tim, adventure-lovers from San Diego.

When did you know that your partner was THE ONE?

Neither of us can pinpoint a specific date, but we both knew early on in our relationship. Communication was easy for us and we were always so present in each moment together. 

What is one thing you love about your significant other?

Tim said, "the way she looks at me and how that makes me feel - comforted, important, loved."

What is an activity you love to do together?

Hiking! We love the outdoors. On the trail, with everything stripped away, we have our best and deepest conversations.

How did you two meet? (Give us as many details as you’d like!)

We met while hiking for a Make-A-Wish fundraiser on the Pacific Crest Trail. We hiked 10 miles together on the 28-mile one-day hike. Our conversation was smooth and easy.

How did he/she propose?

After camping a night in the woods under the pines (my favorite!), Tim took me back to the same spot on the trail we met on. After hiking a few miles, he set up a camera and tricked me into thinking we were just taking some pictures in front of the PCT (Pacific Crest Trail) sign. He then got down on one knee and proposed. Our wedding ceremony is even taking place on the Pacific Crest Trail!

How does Kasia Jewelry fit into your story?

Kasia jewelry is untraditional, like our love story. My Muse engagement ring and Mali wedding band have that old soul love story vibe that we were looking for. When I saw the Muse Ring, I thought of Tim, and instantly knew we found my ring.

*All Photos courtesy of: Laurie, Laurie Ashley Photography

LIVING OUR LIFE LIKE IT’S GOLDEN..

Yellow gold, white gold, rose gold, and platinum- Which should you choose and why? Choosing a type of gold should be an educated and aesthetic decision to best suit you, your lifestyle, how you use your hands, and even your skin tone. 

For centuries, gold has been the most sought after metal for use in jewelry. In the modern world, The most common types of gold and karat are - 14k yellow, 14k white and 14k rose gold-- all of which are formed by mixing the natural metal with alloys to strengthen it and make it suitable for use in everyday wear. The karatage (defined by the ‘K’)  is an indication of how much metal in the piece is, in fact, gold. In terms of standard percentages, there is 58.3% pure gold in 14K, 75% gold in 18K with 100% gold being present only in 24K gold. For this reason, 14 karat gold is stronger, less resistant to malleability, and is more durable than any higher karat gold since there is more alloy (strengthener) in 14K gold. 

WHICH ONE TO CHOOSE?

Yellow gold, the most popular gold, occurs naturally and is the purest form of the metal. It is strengthened for jewelry by combining pure gold with elements such as zinc or copper.  Similarly, white gold is mixed with palladium or nickel to give it a color close to silver. It is also plated (covered by another metal) with rhodium which requires some down the road. Lastly, rose gold contains about 25% copper, giving it a pinkish color.

Another metal option is called Platinum. Platinum is even more rare than gold! It occurs in its purest form in very scarce amounts and is generally formed during the mining process of nickel and copper. It is a type of naturally white metal, mixed with alloy. However, it is not plated and therefore develops a 'patina' style wear over time that requires polishing. Platinum is the strongest and most durable of the metals.

HOW WILL IT LOOK ON ME?

There is also an aesthetic side of determining which gold is best for you! At Kasia Jewelry, a majority of our pieces feature 14K yellow gold. This is because yellow gold is classic, timeless, and suits the majority of skin tones. If pink undertones are present in your skin, choosing rose gold could potentially draw out those tones and cause the metal to visually fade into your skin. Whereas yellow gold, with its universal warmth, adds depth and shine to any skin tone. We highly encourage all our clients to follow their hearts when choosing their metal - if you adore rose gold, go for it! We are happy to create any piece in your metal of choice. 

HOW DOES IT LOOK WITH EVERYTHING ELSE?

Another element of choosing the type of metal for your precious piece is the type, color, and clarity of your center stone(s). Ironically, a diamond that has more of a yellow tint would be best-suited for yellow gold to add warmth around the stone and cause it to appear brighter and whiter. In contrast, if you put the same stone in white gold, platinum, or rose gold, the yellow tint of the diamond might be significantly more visible due to the contrast of colors. If your center stone is a Salt and Pepper Diamond, yellow gold will create more of a contrast combining the coolness of the stone along with the warmth of yellow gold which adds shine and depth. White or even rose gold will bring out more drama out of the cold hued Salt & Pepper Diamonds! Champagne diamonds, often sourced by Kasia to fall within neutral range, are appropriate for all color metals.

Choosing a type of gold for your jewelry is a very personal choice and varies from person to person. The decision also involves your style (classic, edgy, feminine, etc), undertones in your skin, and other metals already present (or soon-to-be) in your collection. Our informed stylists can easily help educate and guide you toward the right gold for you when choosing your new treasure. Schedule an in-person showroom or virtual appointment to see the amazing variety present in our collection, and don’t forget, we can create any piece in your specific metal choice!

While we know you love Kasia Jewelry’s Salt and Pepper and Champagne Diamond obsession, what about White Diamonds? Our love for Diamonds naturally extends to White Diamonds throughout our extensive collection. We love to pair all colors of Diamonds to create unique and creative stacking stories. For instance, pair a White Diamond engagement ring or band with Champagne Diamonds to create a soft and feminine contrast. Or, pair White Diamonds with Black Diamonds for a bold and edgy statement. Hop on a virtual styling appointment with one of our stylists to help you create the White Diamond stack of your dreams.

White Diamonds are nature’s miracle! Formed billions of years ago, deep within the earth, these beauties have been treasured for centuries. The first Diamond ever found was in India in the 4th Century, BC. Diamonds came to be more well known and desired in the public market after early advertising agencies in the 1990’s created Diamond demand with the well-known phrase, “A Diamond is Forever.”

But is a Diamond truly FOREVER? Let’s take a deep dive into Diamonds and discover their hidden secrets and beautiful pairings. 

Diamonds are made up of 99% carbon and contain varying levels of inclusions (natural internal defects or trace elements and minerals) that can affect its color and internal structure. These trace minerals and inclusions help to identify a Diamond as real versus lab grown, and give each Diamond a ‘fingerprint’. Some Diamonds are prized for their inclusions, such as some Salt and Pepper Diamonds, that display an array of inclusions creating soulful, galaxy-like patterns.

White Diamonds are considered ‘white’ by the public when they display little to no visible color. While it is possible for Diamonds to be found in nearly every color of the rainbow, certain colors are dramatically more rare and valuable than others. The color of White Diamonds is evaluated (graded) on a ‘D-Z’ letter scale. ‘D’ refers to a perfectly clear Diamond (these are extremely rare). This range extends to ‘Z’, which is very yellowed, but not saturated enough to be considered a Yellow Diamond. 

Unlike other gemstones, Diamonds have a high (but not perfect) resistance to chemicals, heat and scratching. They are rated as a 10 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness, the hardest gemstone, meaning they can not be scratched by other stones. However, other stones can be scratched by a Diamond. 

Before a Diamond gets chosen by Kasia to be part of the collection, and then onto your finger, it passes through dozens of hands - from the miner to the polisher! Diamonds often travel world-wide to various sorting, cutting and polishing centers. Once a stone finally lands in our collection you can guarantee it has been safely, carefully and artfully chosen to create a stunning piece for you to fall in love with.

As mentioned, Diamonds are beautiful, prehistoric miracles that have a strong (but not guaranteed) resistance to damage. However, they are NOT forever. It is very important to care for your Diamonds properly to ensure they last generations! For more information on proper care and cleaning of your pieces, please see our “Care and Cleaning” blog post. 

When did you know that your partner was THE ONE?

From the moment I met her. Aly radiates the most incredible energy and I fell in love with her after an hour of spending time with her!

What is one thing you love about your significant other?

I adore the passion that Aly has. Whether she’s diving into a new creative project, trying to improve her basketball skills or cooking one of her favorite recipes, she dives head first into the process and puts her whole heart and soul into everything she does.

What is an activity you love to do together?

Aly and I both love plants! So we try to find new nurseries, farms and plant shops in south Florida to visit in our free time together.

How did you two meet? (Give us as many details as you’d like!)

Aly and I met on New Year’s Eve (2016 going into 2017) and both were talked into going out by a mutual friend. We met at our favorite sushi restaurant, she offered me a sip of her iced green tea (her fave) and hit it off right away! One of the things that made me fall in love with Aly that night was that she made a point to call her grandma in the middle of dinner to wish her a happy 90th birthday. My heart literally melted! 

How did he/she propose?

We proposed to each other on the same day! We both had rings made by Kasia and in true Florida summer fashion we got engaged in our bikinis under the palm trees in our backyard.

How does Kasia Jewelry fit into your story?

Now that you own a piece (or two) from the Kasia Jewelry collection, we want you to wear it for years to come. Fine jewelry is just that- fine jewelry. Properly caring for and cleaning your jewelry, especially those pieces with precious stones, is vital to your piece’s longevity and overall daily appearance. It requires consistent care in order to maintain the metal longevity, prevent avoidable damage to your stone or setting, and to avoid buildup, causing a dirty or cloudy appearance. Here are a few simple steps you can take to keep your jewelry looking like new!

Proper Wear

It starts from your fingers! Be mindful of wearing rings right next to one another, where fingers may rub against each other! 

Gold is a very soft metal, and the higher the karat (meaning the purer the gold), the more vulnerable a gold piece is to nicks, scratches, and even warping. We recommend removing your precious jewelry before any activity that can harm the metal, most importantly the prongs or the stone(s). Exercising, gardening, showering, sleeping, moving boxes, etc. are just a few activities to name that can harm the integrity of your piece. 

Chemicals

Remove all jewelry before being exposed to chemicals of any kind, including cleaning chemicals, lotions, soaps, and makeup. This keeps your jewelry free from harsh chemicals that can damage the metal causing mild erosion, and also prevents your precious stones from collecting grease and oils that can cloud its appearance and brilliance. Diamonds in particular attract oils from our fingers which can cause a cloudy appearance, so it is important to not directly touch your diamond without a soft cleaning cloth. 

Heat and Light 

This damage doesn’t occur too often but it’s something to be mindful of. During the summer months, we tend to bring our jewelry out where it’s sunny and warm. While this doesn’t harm the pieces in small doses, it’s important that when you get home, your jewelry gets to have a reprieve from the bright light and the heat. Too much sunlight can fade gemstones - especially opals, corals, and pearls. Additionally, if it gets hot enough, the metal can easily bend or warp. 

Cleaning

Clean your jewelry regularly using warm water, gentle soap, and a soft toothbrush. If your jewelry does appear dirty, cloudy, or just not sparkling as much as it used to, we recommend using warm water, basic soap (no moisturizing agents) and a soft toothbrush to clean the top, sides, and if possible, the bottom of your stone. Please don’t forget to plug the drain before doing this cleaning. Rinse it off! To dry your pieces, gently pat it with a paper towel. Every once so often we recommend giving your jewelry a professional cleanse.

Storing

Store your jewelry in a soft pouch or padded jewelry box. Different stones have different levels of hardness and can cause damage when rubbed up against each other. Diamond is the hardest precious stone and can scratch or cause damage to any other stone (including other diamonds) and metal. This is why it is important to separate your jewelry, in a soft pouch or case. Each Kasia Jewelry purchase comes with a small pouch to make sure you store your jewelry safely. We also offer specially made, portable pouches with specific segments for rings, earrings, necklaces and bracelets to keep pieces where they belong. To purchase one of these beautiful and useful cases, please visit us at our Solana Beach Showroom. 

“Oil Changes”

Schedule bi-yearly appointments to maintain the condition of the piece. At Kasia Jewelry, we like to refer to this as coming in for a “jewelry oil change”. Jewelry oil changes are a vital part of caring for your jewelry. As stated earlier, even our everyday activities that involve our hands have potential to lift a prong, damage the shape of your ring or even crack your stone if struck hard enough. These changes in your piece may be so subtle that you may not see them with the naked eye, so it is important to bring your piece in every 6 months for a proper inspection personally performed by Kasia. For warranty information on your piece, please visit:

https://kasiajewelry.com/pages/warranty

We hope this information makes you feel at ease and educated on how to care for your growing Kasia Jewelry collection! If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us here.