No one can do everything alone. That’s true no matter what you’re doing. We’re inherently social creatures, and we’ve evolved to depend on one another and work in groups. Sure, there are things you can do with no help from anyone, but every creative pursuit is improved by some level of collaboration. Writers might sit at their desk alone pounding at their keyboards for hours, but they have friends and partners to bounce ideas off of and editors to help polish those ideas to perfection. Artists of all kinds have colleagues, teachers, influences, and supporters behind them helping them bring their works of art to life. Even people we don’t know are collaborators, in a sense: someone had to cut down the tree, someone else had to turn it into the paper we are writing on or drawing on or notating a piece of music on.

In the jewelry world, there is a massive worldwide network backing up even the most solitary jewelry designer, a globe-spanning supply chain getting gemstones and metals from mines to their bench, not to mention all of the people building the tools that jewelers use and working with jewelers to develop new ones. Different artisans will have a hand in cutting and polishing gemstones, casting and working gold, or engraving designs into the surface of the metal.

At a more intimate level, there’s the collaboration between designer and client. While works of art often suffer when too many people get involved, there’s something magical that happens when a few like-minded people get together to create something beautiful and meaningful.

We tend to exalt the individual genius, but so much great art is born of collaboration. Though his unmistakable works of art are signed “Rembrandt,” he wasn’t creating those paintings alone. He had a whole studio of apprentices and specialists. One artist might sketch out the pose or paint the face; another might specialize in realistically rendering the intricate folds of a queen’s gown or the complex pattern of her lace collar.

Rembrandt and many other Renaissance artists collaborated with their studio artists and developed ideas alongside their patrons. Artists of all kinds need their collaborators. Stan Lee, creator of Spider-Man, the X-Men, the Avengers, and so many other classic superheroes, couldn’t have done it without artist Jack Kirby putting images to Lee’s words. It took the special talents of John Lennon and Paul McCartney together to write those Beatles songs. In poetry, creative duos like William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge or T.S. Eliot and Ezra Pound pushed each other to new artistic heights.

With the Design Center, we give you the tools to become our artistic collaborator. You and your partner understand your relationship better than anybody. You know how to best symbolize that relationship in the form of a custom wedding band. We have the technical knowledge and the artistry to bring those ideas to life. Let’s work together and create something special.

Jewelry and technology has always gone hand-in-hand. The earliest metallurgists were more artists than scientists, but they couldn’t have worked their magic without the aid of the high-tech devices of their day: the furnace and the bellows. The progress of the jeweler’s craft through the ages is a story of technological advancement, with new technology arising to serve human imagination.

When we think about technology, we tend to think about “high technology”: electronics, computers, robots, and the like. But tools that seem low-tech to us were once the state of the art. As new technology and techniques are developed, some are adopted and become industry standards, and some fall by the wayside. It’s that balance that we want to achieve: the balance of traditional and high-tech, combining a mastery of hand-crafted artistry with the technological expertise that lets us push our vision into new frontiers.

Technology That Helps Bring the Artist’s Vision to Life

If we covered all the ways that advancements in tools, technology, technique, and machinery have changed the art of jewelry-making, this blog post would be a book. Here are just two examples of new technological developments allowing us to do new and creative things with metal.

At the end of the Stone Age, about 8000 years ago, artisans in the Near East discovered that they could melt down copper and work it into objects, typically tools or decorative and ceremonial objects. Furnaces would have to be heated to over 1000°C (about 2000°F) to separate the copper ore from slag, which required another technological innovation: the bellows. Once the copper was separated from the slag, it could then be hammered into shape. This technology formed the basis that the art and science of metalworking would develop from over millennia.

The next few thousand years brought new techniques for building hotter and hotter fires. It wasn’t until the mid-19th century that platinum could be melted down. Before then, platinum didn’t have much use. The oxyhydrogen blowpipe was the first torch hot enough to heat platinum to its melting point of over 1700°C (about 3000°F). This technological advancement ushered in the golden age of platinum jewelry, spanning the Art Nouveau and Art Deco movements of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

In between these two advancements were thousands of others that gave metalsmiths and stonecutters the ability to create the jewels that define civilizations, from the ancient Egyptians to the Mughals of 16th century India.

Computer-Aided Design: Enabling Greater Precision and Creativity

Computer-Aided Design (CAD) is one of the many technologies that has allowed us to take our creativity and precision to new levels. One of the drawbacks of sketching out jewelry designs on a sheet of paper is that you’re working in 2D. It’s not impossible, but it’s harder to know if a particular design is going to actually work. You might end up with a pretty drawing, but not a functional piece of jewelry. CAD lets you design in three dimensions, rotating the design, zooming in on details, and creating an amazingly precise design.

On the customer’s end, you can see the value of a photorealistic rendering in the Design Center. Jewelry is three-dimensional. It has to look beautiful no matter what direction you’re seeing it from. Getting that instant feedback on your design in the form of a photorealistic 3D image that you can rotate and zoom in on is so much more useful than just seeing a 2D image.

Part of the jeweler’s skill is in deciding the best tool for the job, a traditional one or a high-tech one. A skilled jeweler has a deep familiarity with the traditional, fundamental techniques of the artform. Without this knowledge, we wouldn’t be able to get the most out of the technology we use. Combining the best modern technology with a mastery of traditional techniques is how we bring you the meticulously crafted pieces found in our collections.

Conventional wisdom holds that you shouldn’t mix metals. “Don’t wear that gold necklace with those silver earrings,” someone may have told you once, “You’re going to look like a mess, like you just threw on whatever you had lying around with no thought for creating a coherent aesthetic.” Just take, for example, this forum post from 2005 asking, “Do you mix metals?” Some posters say it’s fine to do, some say they would never do it. Twenty years ago, mixed metal looks were still contentious. Twenty years before that, it was strictly forbidden by the arbiters of style.

But who were these arbiters of style? It's not clear why “don’t mix metals” was accepted as a hard-and-fast rule of fashion for so long. It’s possible that, like the old “no white after labor day” edict, its roots lay in the classism of the late 19th century. The turn of the century was a time when the old money aristocratic class devised rules to set them apart from the nouveau riche, who they saw as “uncultured.” Which fork to use, what color shoes to wear, how to wear jewelry: all these rules were about enforcing class distinctions, creating an in group and an out group. Over time, these rules of etiquette would filter down to the rest of us, devoid of their original context.

This era—the late 1800s, early 1900s—was also the first era of platinum jewelry. In the early 19th century, platinum was an oddity, rare outside of Russia (where it was used in coins), and difficult to work with due to its high melting point. But technological advances made it easier to melt and shape into jewelry. At the turn of the century, Fabergé helped to popularize both platinum and rose gold. The Art Nouveau era and the Ard Deco era saw a number of fabulous, dazzling designs in these two metals. Art Nouveau favored whimsical designs patterned after the shapes of the natural world, while Art Deco presented a more modern, angular style for the beginning of the age of technology. Look at portraits from these eras and you’ll find women in either all gold, all silver, or all platinum ensembles.

The reign of platinum jewelry would soon come to an end. In 1939, World War II began, and the platinum that would have been used in jewelry was appropriated for the war effort. White gold had been around before WWII as a low-cost alternative to platinum, but its popularity took off during and after the war. As the 20th century progressed, jewelry and fashion in general became something more personal than just a marker of class, a way for us to express something about ourselves. It’s only natural that out of this proliferation of choice, people started experimenting with mixed metals.

Over the course of the 21st century, we’ve seen the rise of layered necklaces and stacks of rings in different metals, among other mixed metal trends. You see mixed metals everywhere these days. It was one of the biggest jewelry trends of 2023 and 2024, and once again, it is set to “take over this summer,” as Vogue put it. It seems that mixing metals has gone from a trend to just another way to express yourself with jewelry.

Now that mixing metals is an acceptable fashion choice, what is the next frontier? Two-tone jewelry, or jewelry that combines two metals in one piece. Two-tone designs give you the best of both worlds. You get the unity of style of a single-colored metal with the statement of a mixed metal look. Our designs, combining two and sometimes three metals in a single ring, are designed with timelessness in mind. After all, the goal is to wear that wedding band for the rest of your life. A two-tone ring combines that timeless, classic wedding band feel with a modern sensibility and personalized flair.

Times have changed. The old rules are out. What’s in is creating a more individualistic look that makes you feel good and reflects your sense of self. It takes a little more work to figure things out for yourself, but developing your personal taste is ultimately so much more rewarding than blindly following outdated rules. 

Crabs have their armored shells and powerful claws to protect them. Similarly, those with their Sun sign in Cancer are driven by a need for safety and security. They care deeply about their families and pride themselves on being protective, nurturing providers. At the same time, this sign has a reputation for, well, crabbiness, going all watery at the slightest misfortune, dwelling at the bottom of a sea of self-pity. In truth, Cancer tends to be sensitive and feels emotions, both positive and negative, deeply.

Element: Water

Water flows wherever gravity takes it. If it meets an obstacle, it will simply flow around it. Water doesn’t have any shape of its own; it takes the shape of its container. Water signs are intuitive and adaptable, emotional and creative, living a vibes-based life. In Cancer, their element usually manifests in a nurturing, familial orientation.

Ruling Planet: The Moon

Wait, the Moon is a planet? Listen, our understanding of a “planet” was a little different back when ancient astrologers were tracking the movements of the stars and heavenly bodies. The stars seemed fixed in place against the background of the sky, but the planets were things that moved through the sky: the heavenly bodies visible to the naked eye at night (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn) plus the Sun and the Moon.

In astrology as in art and literature, the Moon represents feminine energy, the unconscious and inner thoughts, instinct and emotion, and habits. Think about how the moon pushes and pulls the tides by the unseen force of gravity. The unconscious is a sort of emotional gravity working inside us that we’re not even aware of. Between their watery and lunar dispositions, it’s no wonder that Cancer has a reputation for being overly emotional.

Cancer Aesthetics

Cancer has a rich inner world and a strong sense of self that translates to individualistic styles. As a sensitive sign, Cancer might gravitate toward softer color palates and clothes and jewelry that are stylish and expressive but also comfortable.

Compatibility With Other Signs

Any pair of zodiac signs can become a powerful team if you know your own strengths and areas to work on. In any relationship, knowing yourself, allowing yourself to be honest and vulnerable, and being receptive to your partner’s needs are the keys to happiness. Understanding your tendencies and traits as well as those of your partner’s can help you turn any perceived point of incompatibility into a strength.

Aries: Aries is a fire sign and Cancer is a water sign, and when you mix fire and water, you’ll get a lot of hissing. Aries never backs down from a fight and would rather settle problems directly than ignore them. Cancer would rather avoid pain and can easily get their feelings hurt by direct, uncompromising Aries. Without a thorough understanding of communication styles, this relationship can be a challenge.

Taurus: Taurus loves to be taken care of. If anyone will appreciate Cancer’s doting affection, it’s Taurus. On the other hand, Taurus might be a little closed-off emotionally for the average Cancer. If they let you into their world, however, you’ll find a well of thoughts and emotions almost as deep as yours to bond with. Taurus and Cancer is usually an easy match: both signs crave comfort and stability, and both are deeply devoted to their partners.

Gemini: Adjacent signs aren’t always the best match, but that doesn’t mean it can’t work. Cancer tends to be introverted, dedicated to home life, and a little secretive. Gemini tends to have a rich social life and a large circle of friends, which Cancer might find tiring. A Gemini looking to get in touch with their deepest feelings and a Cancer looking to get out of their own heads and into the outside world could enjoy a rewarding life together.

Cancer: Building a relationship with someone of the same sign is not always easy, but it is in the case of a Cancer-Cancer relationship. Deep emotional bonds, nurturing instincts, and a devotion to family? Sounds like a great base to build a family on.

Leo: Like Cancer and Gemini, Cancer and Leo are signs with a lot of opposing traits. Leo is outgoing and loves to be the center of attention. However, Leo is also loyal to family, an important trait for anyone looking to form a lasting relationship with Cancer.

Virgo: Virgo is often stereotyped as being fastidious, organized, and regimented, too rigid and emotionally distant for sensitive Cancer. But Virgo has its nurturing side, and as an Earth sign, Virgo enjoys the comfort and stability of a loving family life.

Libra: Indecisive Libra often has their head in the clouds. Cancer prefers plunging the depths of the ocean of their soul. You can see why this match can be a challenge. Libra has its charming, creative side, which may initially attract emotional Cancer, but they may prove too enigmatic for Cancer, who just wants someone to settle down with. While it can be hard to connect one on one, a rich social life or shared activities can help bring these two very different signs closer.

Scorpio: Two water signs, Scorpio and Cancer are both imaginative, with deep inner lives. In Scorpio, this can manifest as secretiveness. If Scorpio proves trustworthy to Cancer, their other water sign traits—loyalty, the need for security, an ability to form rich emotional bonds, and devotion to family—make for a strong, lasting connection.

Sagittarius: Sagittarius craves adventure, friends, romance, experiences. They want to experience every sensation life has to offer. Cancer would rather spend the weekend at home with family. Flighty Sagittarius might struggle to provide Cancer with that sense of safety and emotional grounding.

Capricorn: If Cancer wants to start a family, they can’t do much better than settling down with Capricorn. Cancer is the archetypal nurturer. Capricorn just wants to go to work every day and provide for their family. The only point of friction might be their divergent communication styles. Cancer is intuitive and emotional, while Capricorn is a more rigid thinker. If Capricorn opens themselves to Cancer’s emotions, and Cancer can learn to understand Capricorn’s Earth-sign stubbornness, these two can be the perfect match.

Aquarius: Even more whimsical than Libra and just as flighty as Sagittarius, Aquarius can likewise initially attract a Cancer, but will have to work to keep them. Aquarius just wants to have fun, and while they might find themselves fascinated by artistic, scientific, or spiritual ideas, the more eccentric the better, they often use these interests as an alternative to feeling their own feelings too deeply rather than as a way to more deeply connect with themselves. If they can turn that energy inward and take an interest in understanding themselves and their partner, this pairing can work.

Pisces: The three water signs are all sensitive and deep in their own ways, and for Pisces, their watery nature manifests in a tendency toward creative daydreaming. This creativity often leads Pisces to the arts and a love of deep conversation and connection. Of all the signs, Pisces might be the best at understanding Cancer’s emotions and providing them with the safety they need.

Your Love is Written in the Stars

Who is the one you want to protect and nurture, Cancer? No matter how the stars have aligned for you, you’ll find your match in our Zodiac collection. Check out the collection and design your paired Zodiac rings here. Just choose your ring sizes and your signs and we’ll take care of the rest!