The perfect wedding band

Congratulations!!! You have your beautiful engagement ring and you are just over the moon with it... so you have started thinking about what would look best beside it-what wedding band to opt for.

I'm always asked by bride to be's what would look best as a wedding band? With the individuality of each engagement ring the possibilities can be endless. 

What metal to choose...

Generally women opt to have matching metal colour and carat to their engagement ring. For example if you have an 18ct white gold engagement ring, match it with an 18ct white gold wedding band.

However this isn't always the case, the gorgeous rose engagement ring below was designed and handmade by Cassandra Mamone fine jewellery and featured a yellow gold band and a rose gold Rose setting (petals and all). Cassandra Mamone then designed and made the wedding band to match the rose gold of the Rose setting, this made the set look unique and continued with the two tone theme of rose and yellow gold. Both a wedding and eternity band were made to complete the set on either side of this engagement ring. So here you see two different tones of gold working together to create a matching and elegant set.

Rose Engagement Ring, 18ct rose and yellow gold featuring white diamonds
Wedding band, 18ct rose gold featuring customers own cognac diamonds

Diamonds or not...

Another question you might like to ask your self is whether you would like diamonds or not and if so, what type of setting to opt for... The pave` set as shown below has been matched with this solitaire engagement ring and works well as we chose the same shape diamonds. The engagement ring features a round brilliant and we have used small round diamonds for the wedding band. You might also like to note that the dimensions and profile shape of the wedding band match perfectly to the engagement ring. Something that is perfected with hand made pieces.

18ct white gold solataire engagement ring, matching pave` set wedding band

There are many types of setting choices, from pave`, channel, claw, pressure, to bar set. Seek expert advice and try on a few with your engagement ring. 

As I designer I believe it's nice to incorporate elements of the engagement ring in with the wedding band so that it ties together and  is visually appealing.

How should it sit on the finger...

Many choose for their bands to sit flush with their engagement ring- this means that both rings sit together with no gaps. This is a preferred method for Cassandra Mamone fine jewellery, I design many engagement rings with the intention of having the wedding band sit flush. Engagement rings that have settings that protrude from the side of the band means that in some cases bride to be's may opt for their the wedding band to be designed with a cut out that slots in with their engagement ring so they can sit flush. Some may prefer a band with no cut/curved out design, this means that if the engagement ring setting is protruding the band will sit on the finger with a visible gap (the size of gap depends on the size of engagement ring setting). In some cases this can look quite lovely and effective.

For enquiries and ideas on what to have as your wedding band email designer Cassandra Mamone at sales@cassandramamone.com

Kisses,

Cassandra

Bridal Inspiration

With the warmer weather, comes the wedding season, a season full of proposals, engagements and of course beautiful weddings. Because we love weddings so much, we wanted this post to inspire our Bride to Be's. Here are our favourite and inspiring pics...

Find more inspiration on our Pinterest page-Cassandra Mamone...from dresses to themes- see what we love! 

Some of these images are not ours but we thought we'd share them with you as we just adore them!

tag @cassandramamone in your favourite pics on Instagram. xx We love to see them.

Kisses
Cassandra

Piece of the month - Proposal on the Adriatic Coast

When Remo's girlfriend of 3 years Alana, mentioned to him a place in Italy called Polignano which she had seen on an episode of The Bold and the Beautiful, Remo decided to research it. The couple had been eagerly planning their romantic vacation overseas for a year, but little did Alana know, Remo had plans of his own.

After secretive research, Remo soon discovered that Polignano on Italy's Adriatic Coast would be the perfect location for his marriage proposal to Alana. 

"I found this amazing restaurant set in a cave, overlooking the ocean! It was the perfect place to propose." Remo says.

Collage of the unique setting in Polignano where Remo proposed

Remo went to see Adelaide Jewellery designer Cassandra Mamone well ahead of time to seek out the perfect diamond. Remo knew that Alana had always loved the elegance of brilliant cut diamonds, so Cassandra sourced a beautiful 1.30ct brilliant diamond and it was set in an elegant and classic platinum band, perfect for Alana's petite hands.

1.30ct brilliant cut diamond set in a classic handmade platinum band

On the evening of the proposal, Alana and Remo shared a very romantic dinner topped with a delicious dessert, it was then that Remo got down on one knee and asked Alana to marry him. After initial shock, Alana burst into tears said "yes" and they shared a big hug and kiss.

The happy couple share a kiss whilst on holiday

What do you think of Alana's elegant ring? and what would be your perfect proposal destination?

Let us know in the comments below.

Kisses,
Cassandra

The Passport Issue

It's been a short while between visits and now I return refreshed from another inspiring holiday and get back into the wonderful grind of work...but not before eagerly telling you all about my fun filled trip to the West Coast of the United States.

First stop San Fransisco... 

"The coldest Winter I ever spent was a

Summer in San Fransisco"

The notorious quote by Mark Twain was confirmed for me on the second day in this humble cable car city, but the chill didn't dampen my spirits. I saw a wonderfully colourful city, with attractions that include Fishermans Wharf and Pier 23, the Golden Gate Bridge and of course The Rock (Alcatraz).

You may remember these colourful houses from the opening credits of the 90's TV show Full house

Next stop Las Vegas...

A creatively elaborated city with bright lights...in the middle of the Nevada desert. I spent my days here lounging by the pool day clubs and shopping in the forum shops of Caesars Palace.

The foyer of our hotel Aria

Lounging poolside

Something I can tick off my bucket list is that I took a helicopter ride into one of the seven natural wonders of the world- The Grand Canyon.

By night Vegas has an array of clubs to choose from, each with unique sounds from special guest and resident Dj's. The nightlife is exciting and the shows are nothing short of spectacular. I saw Cirque du Soliel's Zarkana - an awe inspiring show!

The Las Vegas strip at Night

Last stop Los Angeles...

Panoramic view from above the W Hotel in Hollywood

The hub of entertainment, the city of dreams, the place where many come to make it big in showbiz.
You can walk along the 'walk of fame' taking pictures with the stars of your favourite actors, directors, musicians and radio personalities.

Myself at Mark Wahlberg's Star

Rollerskating at the beautiful beach of Santa Monica was a highlight for me. It was a fab way to fit with the locals and an express form of transportation to Venice Beach from Santa Monica.

At Disneyland watching the colourful parade

I gotta say I had an amazing trip and returned with much direction and inspiration for the next collection.
Here's one I'll let out of the bag...you're guaranteed to see colour... ;)

Stay tuned...

Kisses,

Cassandra

Old to New anyone?

Do you own an “unusual” piece of jewellery that you do not wear? Have you considered transforming that family heirloom, or fine jewellery piece that no longer suits your style, into an exciting new piece of fine jewellery?

Remodelling is a great option for transforming an old piece into something new that you will love for years to come.

As a jewellery designer it excites me when clients decide to revamp an old piece of jewellery, sometimes they come to me with an assortment of old or broken jewellery to create something completely new and fresh.

Adelaide jewellery designer Cassandra Mamone specialises in custom design and can work with you to design something that you will adore from the pieces that you no longer wear.

Cassandra Mamone has helped lovely clients to redesign and recreate their old jewellery. 

For example, one client had a sapphire and diamond 18ct white gold cluster set within a yellow gold pendant which she never wore.  We transformed this piece into a stunning 18ct white gold cocktail ring.

 

 

Do you remember Cheryl's engagement ring? We removed the centre diamond from her old yellow gold ring and designed a beautiful new 18ct white gold sparkling engagement ring to set it in.

 



 

 

Has this got you on the hunt in your jewellery box? Have a scavenger through and see what metals and interesting gemstones you can find and then just imagine the possibilities...

 

Please feel free to contact Cassandra via www.cassandramamone.com

 

Kisses til next time

 

Cassandra

PEARLS! The only organic gem!

A  pearl is a spherical object formed within the soft tissue of a living shelled mollusk. As such a pearl is made up of calcium carbonate in tiny crystalline form, which is deposited in concentric layers. An ideal pearl is perfectly round and smooth, but many other shapes of pearls (baroque pearls) occur. 

The value of pearls is determined by the luster, color, size, symmetry and the lack of surface imperfections.

For many centuries the finest quality natural pearls have been highly valued as gemstones and because of this, pearls have become a symbol as being rare, classic, admirable, and very valuable.

Valuable pearls occur in the wild, but they are very rare.

Cultured or farmed pearls make up the majority of those on the market today. Pearls from the sea are valued more highly than freshwater pearls.

Pearl Diamond ring- 18ct rose gold, white diamonds.

The story goes...

The last Egyptian queen Cleopatra prepared a banquet for the Roman leader Marc Antony. At the banquet Cleopatra bet Antony that she could give the most expensive meal ever provided. When the only thing placed in front of her was a cup of sour wine Antony wondered how she would be able to win the bet. At which point Cleopatra removed one of her pearl earrings and dropped it into the glass where it dissolved in the strongly acidic solution, Cleopatra drank it down, winning her bet. 

Rosebud pearl earrings, pink pearl earrings, baroque pearl necklace

Pearl Care

Because pearls are an organic gemstone, They are softer and more delicate than other gemstones and precious metals, they can therefore be more easily scratched, cracked, and damaged. Substances such as perfume, hair spray and even natural body oils and perspiration can dull the luster of pearls. 

It's a good idea, to apply perfume, hair spray, and other cosmetics before putting on your pearls, to  minimize the amount of product that comes into contact with the pearls. 

After wearing your pearls, wipe them with a soft damp cloth to remove any traces of cosmetic products or body oils. Wash the pearls occasionally with a mild soap and a soft cloth, to remove any build-up.

To prevent scratches or other damage pearls should be stored separately, away from other jewellery. If possible, store them wrapped in soft cloth, pouch or a soft-lined jewellery box.

It's a good idea to have your pearls restrung every so often. Knotting the strand between each pearl will prevent all of the pearls from falling off the strand in the event the strand breaks, it also reduces the pearls rubbing against one another.

Hope you found this little round gem, with all it's history fascinating!

Feel free to leave your comments.

Until next time

Kisses

Cassandra

Thinking about popping the question?

Knowing what engagement ring to opt for can be slightly daunting... after all this special piece is worn for a lifetime- so it's worth taking the time to get the right one.

So what exactly is the right one? How do the fella's go about getting the perfect style to pop the question with?

Adelaide fine jewellery designer Cassandra Mamone asks the questions to help you through the process and ensure the journey is as easy and exciting as possible. 

Upon your initial consultation with Cassandra you'll be asked various questions like what metal you would like? eg. platinum, 18ct white or rose gold. Diamond shape? eg. brilliant, pear or oval. etc.

Metal choice

Platinum being the rarest and most durable metal is fast becoming the most popular choice for engagement and wedding bands. With new trends coming through and women seeking more unique designs- 18ct rose gold is quickly becoming a favourite.

'Cognac Beauty' from Sorrento collection. 18ct rose gold featuring cognac diamonds

Picking the stone 

Diamonds are traditionally the choice for stone with engagement rings, sapphire's, rubies and emeralds follow closely behind as they have strong and durable properties and can be just as hard wearing as diamonds. Due to it's unmatched strength and purity, the diamond is symbolic of the love declared between the couple.

Brilliant cut (round) diamonds are the most popular shape for diamond engagement rings, other shapes include emerald cut, pear, princess, oval etc. Click selection for further info.

So you've decided on metal and stone, but now you may be wondering what style would suit your future fiance best?...

Style

Many engagement rings feature the centre (larger) diamond set with smaller diamonds around it. The 'halo' style is very popular as it is elegant and can enhance the size of the centre stone if designed well. Another popular style is diamond solitaire, where the diamond is set on it's own as the feature. Rest assured that the design process is always fun and we will help you create the perfect style for your lady love.

Custom made ring with two tiered 'halo's' around claw set brilliant cut diamond.

The finer things

It's always best to have the finger properly sized, but most likely you won't want your bride- to- be to know of your plans of proposal so Cassandra will give you ideas on how to do this so she won't have a clue.

Always consider the lifestyle of the wearer of the ring, occupation and daily environments will determine choice in style and metals. e.g. nurses or carers may prefer lower settings as they are less likely to catch and women who constantly handle abrasive papers in the office area might prefer platinum as this will out- wear gold many times over.

Well, I certainly hoped this has helped you. Ladies feel free to share this post with your man. 
Fella's, we hope you feel more confident now and feel free to email with any questions.

Did you learn anything new? We hope so.

Feel free to leave your comments :)

Kisses,

Cassandra