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!!

Photography by @love_is_wed

Intro to Inclusions

One of our favorite things about natural gemstones is that each one is completely unique. No two stones will ever be the same, no matter how alike they may appear on the surface. In fact, each stone contains a world of its own, much like the special stories each of our clients have. We love that a gemstone can be a beautiful reflection of your own complexity and individuality. 

As stones form over thousands, if not millions, of years, they develop different inclusions, which are trace elements within the stone that make it truly one of a kind. These inclusions act as a sort of fingerprint, vital in the process of grading stones and in identifying one from another. Here, we will explore some common types of inclusions – and why we always celebrate them. 

Keeping It Natural 

Inclusions occur more often in natural stones compared to synthetic stones. However, certain inclusions in lab-developed gems are the specific result of their growth process, therefore serving as a way to distinguish a synthetic gem from a natural one. The inclusions in natural stones also relay important details about them; the presence of specific materials in a stone can indicate where and when it was formed. This is what makes these naturally-occurring inclusions so special. They help tell the story of every single stone, a story that begins long before a stone finds its way to a Kasia Jewelry design. Keeping nature’s lingering touch present in every piece. 

Types of Inclusions

There are four main types of inclusions commonly found in stones. They not only help to determine key facts about the stone, but also help craft its unique identity – which is then thoughtfully highlighted through specific Kasia Jewelry designs. 

Needles

Among the primary types of inclusions in diamonds and colored stones are needles, which appear like long, thin rods under standard magnification. These rods are actually crystals made up of a mineral other than that of the stone, formed along with the stone itself. Most needle inclusions are much too small to see without a microscope, but still set a stone apart and help distinguish one stone from another. 

Clouds

Clouds are another type of inclusion, formed by many clustered needles or pin-points, which are crystals in the form of tiny dots. These clouds can look like a small hazy patch in the stone, creating a unique and striking visual effect. Cloud inclusions can occur in a wide variety of natural stones. 

One of our favorite examples of a beautifully cloud-included stone is the salt-and-pepper diamond. This special diamond gets its name from the black carbon inclusions and unique characteristics it holds. These speckles can be sparse, leaving areas of clear stone; dense, with a dark and stormy appearance; or anywhere between. We love featuring salt and pepper stones in our designs for their endless uniqueness and captivating complexity. If you’re seeking a stone as one-of-a-kind and captivating as your story, consider a salt and pepper center stone. 

Fluid

Another inclusion that occurs regularly is fluid. Fluid inclusions consist of liquid or gas that became encapsulated within the formation of the stone as it developed. These inclusions can sometimes take on fantastical shapes within the stone; microphotography of fluid inclusions even produces beautiful pieces of art. Some stones even contain little bubbles of water or air, perfectly preserving a piece of the earth from millions, if not billions of years ago. 

Crystals

Finally, crystal inclusions are highly common within stones. While needle and cloud inclusions are technically crystals as well, the term applies to crystals of more apparent and irregular shape. These inclusions are almost as if a microscopic gem was contained within the stone. Emeralds, a commonly included stone, often contain pyrite crystals. These appear as small, dark prisms within the emerald, creating a complex interior world. Crystal inclusions give each stone its own special look. 

Imperfectly Perfect 

Diamonds have a unique relationship with inclusions because, more than any other stone, they are graded based on their clarity – their lack of inclusions. Clarity is one of the 4C’s used to determine a diamond’s value. However, a diamond that is truly without inclusions is extremely rare. The majority of diamonds used in jewelry are considered “‘eye clean,” which means their inclusions aren’t visible to the naked eye and therefore don’t impact the appearance of the diamond. When grading a stone with a microscope, though, a gemologist sees any inclusions and makes a diagram of the interior of the stone. Just like a fingerprint, this chart means that the diamond is completely unique and can always be identified. 

Inclusions are often what gives a colored stone its beautiful appearance. We’ve mentioned emeralds and salt-and-pepper diamonds, but there is a wide variety of stones whose own inclusions greatly enhance their allure. 

For example, inclusions are also what give rubies and sapphires their color! Both stones consist of a mineral known as corundum. The presence of chromium inclusions in the corundum creates a red hue - such stones are categorized as rubies. Any other inclusion and the stone is considered a sapphire, prized especially in its classic deep blue or in vibrant pink. 

Whether you choose a diamond or a colored stone, the inclusions that your gem contains are an integral part of its identity. Visible inclusions enhance a stone’s complex beauty; the ones too small to be seen are an important part of what makes your stone completely unique. 

One-of-a-Kind, Every Time

There is an infinite variety of inclusions that can be seen in stones. Every gemstone has a different quantity and prominence of inclusions, something that is taken into account when selecting a piece for Kasia Jewelry. We champion this variety and are endlessly inspired by the range of beauty in these nature-made stones. Our collection features gems that are as perfectly individual as their wearers, stones through which nature tells its long and beautiful story. With a Kasia Jewelry piece, you get to create your own story. 

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 Elena & Samuel, two lovebirds that migrated to San Diego to let us be a part of their special story! Grab a tissue box, this one had us teary-eyed.

When did you know that your partner was THE ONE?

It was a combination of things of course, from us having so much fun when we were together that we would stay up all hours of the night talking, to him going above and beyond for me any moment he could, I couldn’t imagine not having him in life. After we had been dating for awhile, it just became known that he would be my constant. He would always be there no matter the situation and we could make each other happy even if we lived in a shoebox, was all signs of the perfect husband for me. Plus he has reallllllly good hair.

What is one thing you love about your significant other?

There are so many things! I think my favorite is that we have so many things in common. We are both in similar careers, love doing the same things, and have the same exact taste buds. It sounds strange, but having the same interests, goals and taste in everything means we are both doing what we like all the time together.

What is an activity you love to do together?

We love spontaneous travel adventures - our perfect day would be enjoying charcuterie boards and wine by water, and staying in by a fire and watching scary movies by night. (A pool is a plus!)

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

We both worked at a boutique realty, construction, and design firm and instantly had a crush on each other (while avoiding ever coming in contact with each other obviously because we were too shy). We were friends for awhile before I asked him on a date out of the blue! I told him if the date went terribly, it could be really great practice none the less - ha! After the date, the rest was history!

How did he/she propose?

Sam knew my love for vintage designer chairs and my favorite chair of all time was the Cherner chair, we would always go to vintage shops trying to get lucky and find one. He ended up finding one and proposed to me with it - my favorite chair, a ring, and a soon to be husband. Best day ever!

How does Kasia Jewelry fit into your story?

We knew we wanted to elope by the water, so we went to San Diego to scope out a couple places and check out Kasia Jewelry at the same time as we had been drooling over their Instagram for awhile… Our appointment couldn’t have gone better. We were so thrilled with the experience and our gorgeous rings!

Photography by @melodyjoyco