Tuesday, November 5
Lawrence Business Magazine LLC
Lawrence Business Magazine LLC
2016 Second Quarter - The Business of Weddings

Wedding Rings

By on 346 Comments
Technology, Custom Design Change Face of Ring Selection

Local Wedding Bands and Wing Designers

| 2016 Q2 | story by JULIE DUNLAP | photos by Steven Hertzog
Wedding Rings

Marks Jewelers

Before a couple can say, “I do,” one of the two must first ask, “Will you?”

As the 14th-oldest jewelry store in the country, Marks Jewelers, at 817 Massachusetts St., has facilitated that question and the “I do” to follow ever since opening in 1880.

Owner Brad Parsons, a 43-year jewelry veteran with Marks, steadfastly carries on founder Sol Marks’s tradition of honesty and kindness 146 years later, assisting couples daily—both in person and remotely—with the selection and design of engagement and wedding rings.

“We take their ideas and grow them with mechanical integrity,” he says of the store’s mission, “and find a way to get them what they want.”

The jewelry industry has changed both in trend and technology during the many decades. Most new to the process is the use of computer-aided design (CAD), with 3-D photo renderings and printings available.

Wedding Rings

Wedding Rings Marks Jewelers – The Work Shop, Ring Design


Couples typically enter the store with photos of designs they like, sometimes with a family gemstone they would like to incorporate into the new ring. Parsons and his staff of jewelry designers work with the couple, blending the couple’s ideas with the mechanics needed to make the ring last a lifetime. This includes designing the ring to the correct specifications either by hand-carving a wax model or using CAD technology to create a lifelike photo rendering and/or 3-D-printed model.

Once approved, a wax model is created and placed into a soup can-sized cylinder filled with plaster, sealed and heated high enough to burn out the wax completely, leaving a fossil-like mold for the actual ring to be cast. The precious metal of choice is then poured into the mold and filled via vacuum force to produce the setting. From here, the experienced jewelers buff, polish and set the ring with the stones.

Parsons says roughly 98% of the rings they produce are made from start to finish in-house, “so the customer is always talking with the person who is actually making it.”

Over the decades, Parsons has watched the life cycle of several trends blossom and fade, noting that fewer brides and grooms are choosing the three-piece set of matching engagement and double wedding bands. And, while diamonds are still a girl’s best friend, alternative stones are being used, as well.

“There is no right or wrong way to do it anymore,” he wisely explains.

Wedding Rings

Kizer Cummings


Just down the block at 833 Massachusetts St., Kizer Cummings owner Ernie Cummings and his team note a shift to custom design, as well.

Kizer Cummings has been in business since 1982 and has seen a significant rise in requests for custom engagement and wedding rings, slipping custom-designed engagement rings on well more than 150 ring fingers last year alone.

“Today’s brides-to-be are almost always looking for a custom ring, whether it be tweaks in a current in-stock ring or a ring designed from scratch,” says Erica Greve, Kizer Cummings GIA diamond specialist, citing the current trends for couples to forgo the traditional wedding band and incorporate various colored sapphires into the engagement ring for a more unique look as well as cost savings.

In-house jeweler/designer Blaine Allmond, a degreed metal smith and jewelry designer with nine years design experience, including four years with CAD, personally meets with couples looking for a custom-designed ring. The couples give Allmond their specifications and requests, ranging from shape and size of the gems to arrangement.

Wedding Rings

Wedding Rings Kizer Cummings – Handcrafting Rings


Allmond may spend as much as six hours designing a ring, even with the use of CAD technology, as every design is created from the ground up. Other than the metal casting, which is often sent to an oxygen-free facility off-site, the entire process from conceptualizing to the polishing of the finished product takes place in-house, with Allmond’s expertise leading the way.

While under the right circumstances a custom ring can be completed in as little as three weeks, finding the right stones and creating the right design usually requires six to eight weeks from initial consultation to final product, especially one built from concept or rough drawing.

Allmond’s most creative request?

“I worked with one couple to design a ring with the stone being held by two swans wrapped around it,” Allmond recalls. “It was one of the more challenging jobs and took a few tries, but the couple loved it when it was finished.”

This kind of happily-ever-after tale is just one of thousands from Lawrence’s downtown jewelers over nearly a century and a half, with thousands more to come.

Share.

Related Posts

346 Comments

  6. 온라인카지노 on

    After exploring a number of the blog articles on your site, I seriously appreciate your technique of blogging. I saved as a favorite it to my bookmark webpage list and will be checking back soon. Please visit my website too and tell me what you think.

  29. молитва о заведении детей on

    1 аркан матрица судьбы таланты, визитная карточка 1 матрица судьбы что значит
    число 79 гадание дата имени
    обзывалки на имя сергей, обзывалки на имя леша
    молитвы о здравии родного человека

  31. Lexxie on

    Do you want hot phone sex and a little more? Then you should get to know the combination of both! Phone sex with live cams offers you exactly what you need for hot live cams models on the Internet. Horny women on the phone who have nothing else on their minds but to have fun with you in front of the cam. There are always horny women online waiting for your call and once they have you on the line they also switch on their cam.

  36. 公安とは わかりやすく on

    SH2IFT-2 goals to shut essential data gaps identified by stakeholders from industry and government by way of development and redevelopment of existing modelling instruments, leak-, fire- and explosion experiments of assorted scale, but in addition research based mostly input to tips for secure use of hydrogen.

  39. 日本航空 株価 今後 on

    In a Midwestern city greatest recognized for zipping or twisting down a fiberglass water slide, earning itself the moniker “Water Park Capital of the World,” a extra “pure” water park option will debut in time for the summer season.

  46. 안전놀이터 on

    An outstanding share! I’ve just forwarded this onto a friend who was doing a little research on this. And he in fact bought me dinner due to the fact that I found it for him… lol. So allow me to reword this…. Thank YOU for the meal!! But yeah, thanks for spending the time to discuss this subject here on your site.

  51. America Times News } on

    I’m amazed, I must say. Rarely do I come across a blog that’s both educative and entertaining, and without a doubt, you’ve hit the nail on the head. The problem is something that not enough folks are speaking intelligently about. I’m very happy that I found this during my search for something regarding this.

  63. porn on

    An impressive share! I’ve just forwarded this onto a colleague who has been conducting a little research on this. And he in fact bought me lunch simply because I found it for him… lol. So let me reword this…. Thank YOU for the meal!! But yeah, thanx for spending the time to talk about this topic here on your site.

  64. blue dream on

    Can I simply say what a relief to find someone who really knows what they’re discussing on the web. You actually know how to bring an issue to light and make it important. A lot more people have to check this out and understand this side of the story. I can’t believe you are not more popular given that you definitely have the gift.

  71. бастауыш сынып мұғалімі эссе on

    алтын су күміс су, әлемдегі ең ірі күміс өндіруші ел екінші д.ж.с.
    жапонияның тынық мұхит бассейініндегі
    қарсыласы болған мемлекет,
    қытайлық ғажайып шарыктау шеги деген не, оқиғаның басталуы деген не
    айди мед капчагай контакты, авиценна капчагай отзывы

  85. blue dream on

    I’d like to thank you for the efforts you’ve put in writing this website. I really hope to see the same high-grade blog posts from you in the future as well. In truth, your creative writing abilities has encouraged me to get my own, personal site now 😉

  87. 名前 強く 生きる on

    Fascinated by the broad vistas, serene skies, glassy water, and reflections of the houses along the shore, Monet believed his non permanent residence supplied a range of subjects to occupy a lifetime.

  92. атырау қалалық білім беру басқармасының басшысы on

    қошқарбаев туралы, рақымжан қошқарбаев суреті
    көптеген түрік тайпаларының ортақ
    атауы, түрік қағанаты бүгінгі түркі
    әлемінің бастауы эссе численность населения узбекистана 2022,
    население россии 2022 дүниежүзі тарихы тест жауаптарымен, дүние жүзі тарихы 7 сынып тест жауаптарымен

  104. マン 投資 on

    In 1886, after police tried to interrupt up an anarchist meeting in Chicago’s Haymarket Square, somebody threw a bomb, triggering a riot during which six officers and quite a few other people died.

  120. J88 on

    Excellent site you have got here.. It’s hard to find good quality writing like yours nowadays. I seriously appreciate individuals like you! Take care!!

  122. J88 on

    Hi, I do think this is an excellent web site. I stumbledupon it 😉 I will revisit once again since I bookmarked it. Money and freedom is the best way to change, may you be rich and continue to help other people.

  155. porn on

    I want to to thank you for this very good read!! I absolutely loved every little bit of it. I’ve got you book marked to check out new stuff you post…

  174. online dispensary that ships to all states on

    The very next time I read a blog, Hopefully it won’t fail me just as much as this particular one. I mean, Yes, it was my choice to read through, nonetheless I genuinely thought you would have something useful to talk about. All I hear is a bunch of whining about something that you could possibly fix if you were not too busy seeking attention.

  182. 金融 ネイル on

    It is the ebook that offers full conjugations, one per page, for 501 of the most common French verbs, and lists more than one thousand additional verbs conjugated identically to the 501 given explicitly.

  188. Plano web design on

    Howdy! This blog post couldn’t be written much better! Reading through this post reminds me of my previous roommate! He always kept preaching about this. I’ll forward this article to him. Pretty sure he will have a great read. Thank you for sharing!

  194. Salon in Kota on

    Your style is so unique in comparison to other people I’ve read stuff from. Thank you for posting when you’ve got the opportunity, Guess I will just bookmark this web site.

  199. 全国健康保険協会 広島支部 on

    It doesn’t matter what kind you select, an Acoustic Field pool pump enclosure has many advantages together with saving money on vitality bills by providing a extra environment friendly approach for pumping water from your pool in addition to keeping debris out so it’s at all times clean and secure.

  202. streamate on

    Good site you have got here.. It’s hard to find quality writing like yours nowadays. I seriously appreciate individuals like you! Take care!!

  209. joyourself on

    Hi! I could have sworn I’ve visited this site before but after going through many of the posts I realized it’s new to me. Regardless, I’m definitely happy I stumbled upon it and I’ll be book-marking it and checking back often.

  211. では 文法 on

    Among the finest methods to dip down the heating temperatures of the season is by diving into blue waters of your pool, with luxurious home parties and enjoyable get-togethers near poolside.

  226. 新規 メール on

    It’s a graveyard of antique tractors, gasoline pumps, military aircraft and scrap steel, all decomposing on the sandy soil of the Pine Barrens because the forest encroaches around it.

  262. Torrie Heagy on

    I’m amazed, I have to admit. Rarely do I encounter a blog that’s equally educative and amusing, and let me tell you, you have hit the nail on the head. The problem is something which not enough folks are speaking intelligently about. I am very happy that I stumbled across this in my search for something concerning this.

  265. Blue Dream on

    The next time I read a blog, Hopefully it won’t disappoint me as much as this particular one. After all, Yes, it was my choice to read, nonetheless I really thought you would probably have something useful to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about something you can fix if you were not too busy looking for attention.

  266. Blue Dream on

    Hi, I do think this is a great website. I stumbledupon it 😉 I will return yet again since I bookmarked it. Money and freedom is the greatest way to change, may you be rich and continue to guide others.

  270. 京都 観光に便利な駅 on

    In 1976, Clarke obtained the Churchill Extension Fellowship to study art in architecture and contemporary painting within the United States, where he related with the art of, and later befriended, Robert Rauschenberg, Jasper Johns, and Andy Warhol.

  277. ジレット 株価 on

    The OHSAA later stated that, even if Bishop Sycamore were not a bona fide high school, groups in their jurisdiction would still be allowed to schedule and play them, as no rule in the OHSAA bylaws requires OHSAA teams’ opponents to be affiliated with any highschool.

  279. 美容師の世界 厳しい on

    Despite not being a very commanding goalkeeper within the penalty area, as he just isn’t notably tall and does not possess particularly massive arms, Cudicini was however an excellent and instinctive shot-stopper, who was identified in particular for his positional sense, intelligence and composure in aim, as well as his agility, velocity and explosive reactions, which made him effective at stopping penalties.

  283. 自分を労う 意味 on

    The intrigue surrounding the recipe grew to become so intense, it gave birth to a well-liked city legend, which goes like this: A girl and her daughter ask a clerk if they will have the cookie recipe.

  285. 온라인슬롯 on

    An intriguing discussion is worth comment. I think that you should publish more about this subject matter, it might not be a taboo matter but typically people don’t talk about such topics. To the next! Many thanks.

  287. ounce of weed in a bag on

    Oh my goodness! Amazing article dude! Thank you, However I am having difficulties with your RSS. I don’t know why I can’t join it. Is there anybody else having similar RSS problems? Anyone that knows the solution can you kindly respond? Thanx.

  299. cpt とは on

    Formed of European settlers and indigenous colonial units of French North Africa, French West Africa, and French Equatorial Africa, the Army of Africa obtained ample provides from the United States via a lend-lease plan.

  314. bokep indonesia on

    My spouse and I stumbled over here different page and thought I might as well check things out. I like what I see so now i’m following you. Look forward to going over your web page for a second time.

  325. 슬롯커뮤니티 on

    An outstanding share! I have just forwarded this onto a colleague who was doing a little homework on this. And he actually bought me lunch because I discovered it for him… lol. So let me reword this…. Thank YOU for the meal!! But yeah, thanks for spending some time to talk about this matter here on your web site.

  326. 슬롯추천 on

    Hi, I do think this is a great website. I stumbledupon it 😉 I am going to return yet again since i have book marked it. Money and freedom is the best way to change, may you be rich and continue to help other people.

  327. Cameras & accessories on

    I was pretty pleased to uncover this website. I need to to thank you for ones time just for this wonderful read!! I definitely loved every part of it and i also have you book marked to check out new things in your website.

  328. Earphones on

    Spot on with this write-up, I really believe this amazing site needs a great deal more attention. I’ll probably be returning to read more, thanks for the advice.

  335. 金メダル 2人 on

    If pool continues to be a little bit cloudy, superchlorinate the water as recommended by the manufacturers (normally three to four occasions normal chlorine dosage) and filter until clear.

  337. 鵡川の天気 on

    For instance, in the United Methodist Church solely two female ministers have ever led churches with membership numbers within the highest a hundred of United Methodist churches in the U.S.

  341. 伊藤沙莉読み方 on

    We value our merchandise competitively without making any compromises in the quality or timely delivery that are very important to our customers relating to ordering on-line for photograph print cakes.

Leave A Reply

Contact to Listing Owner

Captcha Code