How Do We Source Our Stones?

So, how is the quality of a diamond measured? By the 4 C’s of course! The 4 C’s were coined in the 1940s by Robert M. Shipley, the founder of GIA, and are as follows: carat, clarity, color, and cut. Evaluating each of these factors has become the universal language by which to assess the quality of a diamond.

Founder and designer Melanie Casey hand-selects, reviews, and maintains our extensive collection of diamonds and gemstones. As a master jeweler, Melanie knows the deep intricacies of sourcing both diamonds and gemstones. While she uses the 4C’s as a guideline, years of experience have informed her expert eye. She can spot a diamond’s quality, even when it's not represented on paper. This means you can be sure we will not set stones with good certification marks but low in-hand quality. This also means that Melanie can find stones of great price-to-quality value. For example, a stone with a lower clarity rating may come at a lower price point. Melanie, with her expert eye, can look at this diamond knowing that the inclusions will not be visible when set and take advantage of the price point without sacrificing quality.

As a fine jewelry line that values crafting practices and jewelry to outlast a lifetime, ethical and sustainable sourcing is non-negotiable. Melanie only sources from trusted suppliers whose quality can be verified, meaning that no matter if it's a diamond or gemstone, a Melanie Casey stone is of the highest quality. We are vetted members of the Ethical Metalsmith Community and only ever use ethically sourced stones and sustainable sourcing methods. We also prioritize using materials with low environmental impact like Montana sapphires and recycled gold. 

So once Melanie has expertly sourced diamonds and gemstones, what do we do with them?

Our engagement ring collection is divided into two categories: In Stock and Made to Order. In Stock Engagement Rings feature focal stones hand-selected by Melanie. These rings can be one of a kind designs never seen before or beloved favorites set with a specific stone. Our In Stock Engagement Ring Collection is where you will find all colored diamonds and gemstones.

Our Made to Order Engagement Rings put you in the stone-sourcing seat. After choosing one of Melanie’s designs, you’ll have the opportunity to choose your own diamond. You’ll see a 360-degree view of the diamond as well as its cut, color, and clarity grade and a link to its certification. Don’t be intimidated! Our customer care team is made up of diamond experts who are here to help you pick the perfect stone for your chosen design.

Did you see a stone you loved in our collection that’s no longer available? Have a vision for a stone that we don’t offer? We can source a custom stone for you! Custom stone sourcing is available by request and you can contact our customer care team to get started. We can source diamonds, sapphires, or other gemstones to set into your favorite Melanie Casey ring or necklace. We can source based on color, shape, size, or type of gemstone. As you already know, Melanie only sources from trusted suppliers whose quality she can verify. This might mean we can’t get the exact gemstone you’ve seen online, but you can be sure each stone we source is of the highest quality and we’ll do our very best to make your vision a reality.

If you have a loose stone you’d love to set, an old piece of jewelry with a stone you want reset, or have sourced a stone yourself, consider our heirloom reset program! Send us your stone and we’ll set it into your favorite Melanie Casey design!