Four C's, Lost Wax, and High Fives

     When Mike and I were engaged, I selected an interesting and unusual ring.  It was not a traditional engagement ring, and these days I don't wear it on my third finger, left hand.  Mike has wanted me to have a traditionally styled engagement ring, but we never could find a ready made ring that looked exactly right sitting next to my wedding ring.  We knew that Family Jewelers http://www.familyjewelers.com/, the Marlton establishment where we bought our wedding rings, had a jewelry designer on staff, so a few weeks ago, we stopped in.
     Gary Spivak is a master jeweler and the in-house designer at Family Jewelers.  With a sense of humor, plenty of good advice, and a few of his signature high fives, he lead us through the process of making a one of a kind ring.  After we selected a stone, Gary sketched the ring that would be made.  The next step was to make a wax model.  After we approved the wax model, a metal ring was made through a process called "lost wax casting."  The wax was enveloped in plaster of Paris, melted away, and replaced with metal.  Then the plaster of Paris was broken away, and the ring was sanded, polished, and the stone was set.
     The most important thing I learned from this experience is not the four C's or how jewelry is made, but how to properly size a ring.  A ring fits properly when it has to be forced a bit to get it over the knuckle.  Since wedding sets are top heavy, they have to be snug enough below the knuckle to prevent spinning.  I didn't want to believe Gary when he set my ring size at 6-1/4, but he was right.  I'll need to have the wedding ring reduced so both rings fit perfectly.  Gary also suggested welding the two rings together so they are always in perfect alignment (kind of like the stars when Mike and I met).
     I don't know why anyone would go to Sansom Street when Family Jewelers is right here in Marlton.  They have been around since 1937 with the third generation running the business these days.  They have a jewelry designer and an appraiser on staff.  If you are in the market for engagement or wedding rings, they have everything from simple to blinding in the cases.  You can buy trendy items like Honora pearls in a rainbow of colors or silver designs by Barbara Bixby and Charles Krypell.  If you want to receive money instead of spending it, Family Jewelers buys gold, platinum, and silver.
     Family Jewelers is another local business that has served us well.  High five!