We love your love! That is why we have decided to reach out to a few of our amazing Kasia Family 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 Kate & Bethany. Two creative souls whose hearts merged during the most serendipitous time! 

When did you know that your partner was THE ONE?

Bethany: Cliche, I know, but from the moment we first kissed I knew I wanted
to be with her forever. Being with Kate just makes me feel like home, and I
feel so connected to her that it seems like we have known each other for a
lifetime.

Kate: Sometimes you meet someone and there is just kind of “a knowing.” I
have always felt magnetized to her presence and I think we were always
meant to find each other eventually. We used to joke in the beginning that
we were on the same wavelength, but I do believe that to be true. I feel
the luckiest in life to have found someone that understands without needing
to explain, joins me in my humor and allows me to show up as the most
authentic version of myself.

What is one thing you love about your significant other?

What is an activity you love to do together?

Kasia has always been inspired by nature and as Earth Day approaches, we would like to reflect on the natural wonders that surround us. From towering mountains to vast oceans, the Earth is a true marvel. One of the most stunning examples of natural beauty lies beneath the planet’s surface: gemstones. These remarkable stones are formed deep within the Earth and are a testament to the incredible forces of nature. In this blog post, we will explore the formation of five natural gemstones that you can find within our collection - emerald, tourmaline, aquamarine, and sapphire - along with their unique qualities.

Emerald: A Precious Gemstone from Ancient Times

Let's start with one of the most recognizable and valuable gemstones - emerald. Emeralds have been cherished for centuries for their range of vivid green colors, from light tones such as that of our Esmeralda ring (pictured below, right side) to deep hues like the one seen in the Medium Diana ring (pictured below, left side). These variations in color are caused by the presence of chromium and vanadium.

They are formed in metamorphic rocks, which are created when rocks are introduced to intense heat and pressure. In the case of emeralds, the rocks that produce these precious stones are typically shales, marbles, or schists. The process of emerald formation begins when magma rises from deep within the Earth and heats up the surrounding rocks. This then causes the rocks to transform, which then creates cavities or fractures in the rock. As the magma cools, fluids containing the elements needed to form emeralds seep into these fractures and cavities and over time, these fluids crystallize, forming emeralds.

Emeralds are found in many parts of the world, including Colombia, Zambia, Brazil, and Zimbabwe. 

Tourmaline: A Colorful Wonder of Nature

Tourmaline is another gemstone that is loved for its array of colors; even the name itself comes from the Sinhalese word "tura mali," which means "stone with mixed colors". This stone can be found in shades of pink, red, green, blue, and even black.

Tourmalines are formed in a variety of ways, including through igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary processes. The specific conditions under which a tourmaline is formed are what determine its color. For example, green tourmalines such as the Brazilian tourmaline center stone of the Eunice ring (pictured below, left side) are formed in igneous rocks that contain a lot of iron, while pink (Suki ring pictured below, right side) and red tourmalines are formed in metamorphic rocks.

These stunning gems are highly valued by collectors and are a favorable alternative engagement ring center stone due to their hardness!

Aquamarine: The Stone of the Sea

Aquamarine is a beautiful blue-green gemstone that is closely associated with the ocean; its name means "water of the sea" in Latin. If you know us, you know the ocean in particular holds a special place in our hearts with our Cardiff showroom being just steps away!

Aquamarines are formed in pegmatites, which are igneous rocks formed by magma that cools slowly beneath the Earth's surface. As this process occurs, it forms large crystals, including those of beryl. Aquamarines are formed when the beryl contains traces of iron and is exposed to high-pressure fluids which contain other elements such as aluminum and silicon. These trace elements are what determine the tone of blue in each individual stone such as the light hue of our Elsie ring's center stone (pictured below).

Fun fact: Aquamarines are a type of beryl, the same mineral family as emeralds.

Today, aquamarines are found in many parts of the world, including Brazil, Nigeria, Madagascar, and Pakistan. You can also find them in the heart of Cardiff at our showroom! Discover aquamarine collection pieces here.

Sapphire: The Gem of Royalty

Sapphire is a gemstone that has been treasured for thousands of years primarily for its deep blue color and association with royalty. This regal stone, much like Tourmalines, can also be found in a wide array of shades such as pink, yellow, green, and even white. Our collection of sapphires covers a broad range of these shades from the rich yellow tone of a Sri Lanka Sapphire in our Joss ring (pictured below, left side) to the mesmerizing bicolor tones of the Madagascar Sapphire in our Dew ring (pictured below, right side). 

Sapphires are formed in metamorphic rocks, such as schists and gneisses, and much like the previously mentioned stones, these are created under intense heat and pressure. Aside from their range of unique shades, Sapphire is another favorite gemstone in our collection due to their hardness, making it an excellent alternative engagement ring center stone. Discover Sapphire collection pieces here. 

The Beauty of Natural Gemstones

There is something truly magical about natural gemstones. From the intricacies surrounding the formation process to the uniqueness of each individual stone; no two having the same story of formation and journey to the Earth's surface. When we look at a gemstone, we are seeing a testament of Mother Nature's force. 

Our collection of fine jewelry features natural gemstones in a variety of styles and settings. Whether you prefer the rich green of emeralds or the brilliant blue of aquamarines, there is a gemstone that speaks to your unique style, personality and story. As we celebrate Earth Day, we honor the beauty and power of nature, and the incredible gemstones that remind us of it every day.

We love your love! That is why we have decided to reach out to a few of our amazing Kasia Family 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 Danae & André. Two ballroom dancers that tangoed their way into each other's hearts! 

When did you know that your partner was THE ONE?

This is a funny one where we both have pretty different answers. We met each other at work, at a ballroom dance studio. One of their coworkers, who was a bridesmaid at the wedding, remembers a day where André asked her “I want to marry a girl like Danae. Do you think I have a chance?” to which the coworker responded “No way!” So for him, he knew very early on! I was more cautious, and took a while to even accept a date. However, once I gave him a chance, I was very quickly won over. I don’t think there was a specific moment I knew, but I know that one thing I noticed early on and loved about him was how great he is with kids…I remember watching him and thinking not only would he make a great husband, but also an amazing dad to our future children. 

What is one thing you love about your significant other?

What is an activity you love to do together?

One of the most important things anyone should know about their fine jewelry is exactly in the name- it is fine jewelry. Some may be surprised to find a lifted prong, dents, scratches, or even a break in their jewelry. The reality is that accidents can occur if not practicing mindful, proper care of your piece. This is especially common with rings, as we tend to forget just how active we are with our hands, and with everyday tasks. The good news is that these oopsies can certainly be avoided as long as you keep some best practices in mind!

We’ve listed what we believe are 6 of the most common ways that you can unintentionally mishandle your jewelry, also known as our KJ Jewelry Don’ts. We've outlined them here in order from the least, to the most common ways we’ve seen pieces be mishandled: 

Don’t #6: Touch your stone/ring from the top

Avoid touching your diamond to prevent getting fingerprints/dirt on it, and avoid loosening of the prongs by pressing directly on the stone (remember, diamonds are strong and can damage metals). What we recommend instead is to handle your ring from the sides (see the photo). This helps keep your stone clean and shining, while preventing any added pressure to the prongs as you handle it. 

Don’t #5: Rub your jewelry against each other

Avoid wearing rings right next to each other, as the pieces can easily rub against one another and cause damage over time. Additionally, diamonds can easily scratch and further damage other diamonds when worn next to each other (yes, diamonds can damage other diamonds). We recommend alternating fingers when wearing multiple rings.

Don’t #4: Get Caught on your clothing

Some jewelry pieces have prongs or pronounced contours that can get caught on heavy knits, or against pockets and other clothing accessories. Make sure to practice care when getting dressed or wearing clothing that can easily snag.

Take note if your piece is repeatedly snagging, as a prong may have lifted and is in need of attention.

Don’t #3: Slam your doors or cabinets

This everyday move is so common, we forget just how quickly we can easily hit or jam your fine jewelry! Watch out for washing machine doors, too!

Don’t #2: With  your furry friends

Whether it’s wrapping the leash around the hand to hold on to our furry friends, or playing around with our loved ones, our energetic family members can surprise us at any moment. All it takes is one, “...Squirrel!”

Don’t #1: Wear your piece when heavy lifting

This is one we know all too well! Just the right amount of pressure while carrying or moving something can result in misshaping and damage to a piece of fine jewelry. Keep in mind, 14k gold is a malleable, fine metal that can become damaged by just the right amount of pressure! 

Our Biggest Do’s:

Handle your piece with love and care

Be sure to remove your piece when applying lotions/perfumes, or working with harsh chemicals- and be sure to store your piece in a safe space. Make sure you keep these best practices in mind and be weary of some common mistakes that can occur.

Schedule “Oil Changes”

Get regular check ups as often as every 6 months here 

Refer to our Resources

Always refer to our care guidelines, or check out our other blog post regarding proper care and cleaning.

We love your love! That is why we have decided to reach out to a few of our amazing Kasia Family 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 Stephanie & Brandon. Two friends who reconnected years later to create their forever love story!

When did you know that your partner was THE ONE?

Steph - I knew Brandon was the one shortly after we started dating. I really don’t know how to explain it but it just felt “right”. Other guys I had dated it felt like so much work and with Brandon, it came easy. He felt like my best friend and it was a no brainer.

Brandon - I knew Steph was the one for years before we dated, but the stars were never aligned. When our paths finally crossed and that opportunity became available it just made perfect sense.

What is one thing you love about your significant other?

Steph - I love how hard working and kind Brandon is. He treats everyone he knows as if they are special and will go above and beyond for all of his friends and family.

Brandon - Steph is so loving and kind to others. She is also so fun to be around and her smile is contagious!

What is an activity you love to do together?

We love to travel together. We’ve been to France, Costa Rica, Bahamas, Maldives, Tulum and more! Brandon is a professional photographer so that takes us to a lot of places, but also just traveling for fun is something we love to do. We love experiencing new places! Just as much as we love to travel we also love to just hang out at home and watch a good movie or documentary. I think that’s what makes our relationship so great; we really just love to do anything as long as it's together!

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

We met in High School the summer before freshman year, back in 2005! We were in the same math class. We went to a small private school, so we frequently had classes together and hung out with similar friend groups. We did not start dating until January 2014. We were always friends and never lost touch between high school and college. When it was finally meant to be for us, it was just right! Stephanie was living in San Francisco at the time and Brandon was in Los Angeles. Brandon had an opportunity to go to football game up north and invited Stephanie to attend. The rest is history!

How did he/she propose?

Brandon proposed October 2019 a few days after Stephanie’s Birthday. Steph had planned a trip to San Luis Obispo (her college town) to go wine tasting and visit with old friends. Little did she know Brandon had a plan of his own! The two of them and a friend went on a hike in Montana De Oro. This was a place Brandon had taken some photos of a few years back. Brandon had remembered one photo he had taken of Stephanie there and remembered how beautiful and happy that moment was, so he wanted to recreate it. Stephanie was completely shocked when Brandon got down on one knee and proposed on the gorgeous ocean cliffs during sunset.

How does Kasia Jewelry fit into your story?

Stephanie has always admired Kasia Jewelry for their unique pieces. She always knew that she wanted a super traditional classic engagement ring, but when it came time to pick the band she wanted something with a little more character. Her and Brandon drove down to San Diego to visit the bands on site and they both fell in love with their bands immediately!!