THE JOURNAL

Stories from the Bench

Editorial reflections on our master goldsmith process, behind-the-scenes glimpses of the South Surrey studio, and deep dives into the provenance of our materials.

September 4, 2026

Types of Chains: A Guide to Choosing the Right One

A chain looks simple until you're standing at a counter trying to decide between a dozen styles that all catch the light the same way. The difference isn't just appearance. Link co

September 3, 2026

10 Most Common Diamond Shapes

"Cut" and "shape" get used interchangeably, but they're different things. Cut refers to how well a diamond's facets are proportioned to reflect light. Shape refers to its outline,

September 2, 2026

What Is Rose Gold?

Rose gold isn't a separate metal. It's an alloy, meaning it's pure gold mixed with other metals to change its properties, and the pink color comes specifically from a higher propor

September 1, 2026

What Is a Goldsmith?

A goldsmith is an artisan trained to work gold and other precious metals directly, shaping, forming, and finishing metal by hand rather than simply selling or repairing finished pi

August 31, 2026

Where Do Pearls Come From?

Pearls form inside mollusks, most commonly oysters and mussels, as a direct response to an irritant that gets inside the shell. The mollusk can't remove the irritant, so it coats i

August 30, 2026

The Meaning Behind Each Finger

Ring placement carries centuries of tradition and symbolism, though it's worth being upfront that these are cultural customs, not fixed rules. There's no requirement to follow them

August 29, 2026

Why Are Rubies Red?

A ruby is red because of chromium. Rubies and sapphires are actually the same mineral, corundum, and the only real difference between them is which trace elements got mixed in duri

August 28, 2026

July Birthstone: Ruby

Ruby is the modern birthstone for July, a designation that traces back to the official birthstone list adopted in 1912 by what's now known as Jewelers of America, and it's remained