An Idea. A Company.

Transcription

An Idea. A Company.
An idea. A company.
Christian Caine is a unique assembly of consultants, gemologists,
goldsmiths, and designers dedicated to the mission of returning relationship and romance to the heart of the jewelry experience. They are led in
this effort by head designer and company founder Christopher Rankin
Christopher began his career in jewelry design under the tutelage
of Robert Ahrens, former head designer for French jeweler Van Cleef &
Arpels. While knowledgeable in many aspects of the jewelry industry,
including manufacture and gemology, his true passion lies in design.
Christopher spends much of his time working directly with clients on
custom design projects. In addition, design work with his staff in the
Paris studio has resulted in exclusive lines of bridal and fashion jewelry,
solidifying Christian Caine as a premier designer of original, Europeaninfluenced jewelry.
Making design notes in a Paris garden
Who is Christian Caine?
The staff exploring Paris
1
Our inspiration.
Paris is parks and palaces, cafés and cathedrals. She is
art, architecture, and aristocracy. Above all, Paris is the City of
Romance. In 2000, when Christian Caine decided to design an
exclusive collection of engagement and bridal jewelry, Paris was
the natural choice to inspire such an undertaking. The initial designs were conceived in a small studio flat overlooking the Seine,
just around the corner from Notre Dame.
Île St-Louis from the Paris studio
2
The design process is a collaborative one, and the entire
staff travels to Europe to work on new concepts. The days are
spent immersed the ambiance of the city, soaking in the culture
and style of a bygone era. Back in the studio, experiences and
impressions are discussed and translated into design ideas over
dinner and a bottle of fine Bordeaux.
Designing in the City of Romance
The staff studies the Louvre’s architecture
Discussing the day’s design ideas
3
Classic Solitaire
Pavé
Three-stone
Scroll motif
4
Heart of Paris
In a city that celebrates romance, the old city center, “le coeur de Paris,” is perhaps the most
romantic place of all. The narrow alleys and secluded parks create a sense of quiet intimacy.
Adorned with motifs suggested by the area’s characteristic wrought-iron railings, Heart
of Paris captures that place and feeling.
Ornate wrought-iron grilles
5
6
Heart of Paris
Variations on a theme. These client-inspired designs expand the range of the original Heart of
Paris concept.
Île St-Louis in the heart of Paris
7
View from our studio window
8
Une Romance à Paris
Perched on the river’s edge, our Paris studio offered stunning night views of the Seine. The street lamps, the
shimmering stars, the sinuous river–this ring was designed by Paris herself.
9
Paris Channel
Paris Pavé
Streets of Paris
The Little Beauty
Paris Eight-Stone
Paris Bezel
Louvre pyramid and the Arc du Carrousel
10
Other Paris
Designs
Our trips to Paris have yielded many designs, including those illustrated above.
To see more Paris-inspired creations, visit us on-line at christiancaine.com
11
12
Three-Stone Rings
Three-stone rings are more popular than ever, and we offer many designs of our own. Most feature a European shank with our
signature, flush-set diamond, and many also display an accent diamond set in a bezel below the center diamond.
13
14
Three-Stone Rings
Contemporary and distinctive, our bold three-stone designs make a statement.
Café in the Place des Voges
15
Fashion flair.
CC Select is a hand-picked collection of designs that represent today’s most popular
styles. Most are available in your choice of 14 karat white or yellow gold, or in platinum.
Whether you choose one of our Christian Caine Signature Diamonds or have a diamond
of your own, the CC Select option can accommodate nearly any size and cut. See more
examples at christiancaine.com.
16
CC Select
17
18
19
20
CC Select
View along Paris’ Grand Axis
21
22
Solitaires
If you like solitaires, you’re not alone. We have created many variations of this perennially popular
style, inspired by Paris and featuring a diamond-accented European shank.
Place de la Concorde
23
One-of-a-kind.
In addition to our many Paris-inspired bridal designs, we offer a selection of unique
pieces in a range of styles. Often designed around a specific diamond, these are one-ofa-kind or limited edition creations.
24
By Design
25
Express yourself.
Have a design of your own in mind? We make custom
designing your own ring a relaxing–and surprisingly affordable–
experience. Whether you have a clearly defined idea for a ring,
or just a few vague notions, our design consultants can guide you
smoothly through each step of its development. In the shop, our
own goldsmiths take care of all the technical details, from model
making to stone setting.
These are just a few of many custom designs we have created. See additional examples and learn more about the custom
design process at christiancaine.com.
26
Custom Design
27
Relaxing in the Garden of the Tuileries
28
Uniquely Engaged
Not bound by tradition. Using contemporary design or bold color, we can
help you express whatever makes your relationship unique.
29
Banding together.
Choosing the perfect engagement ring is only half the challenge. We make finding the perfect
band as easy as possible by offering many different styles of matching and complimentary designs. Many
are exclusive to Christian Caine and coordinate with our Paris-inspired bridal lines. Of course, if you’re
after that extra level of exclusivity, we will happily design and make a pair of custom bands.
Here is a small sample of our band selection. More designs
are pictured with their matching rings throughout this brochure.
30
Wedding Bands
31
The heart of it all.
The diamond is the heart and soul of the engagement
ring. With that in mind, it’s no small wonder the effort we put
into selecting the diamonds that will give the spark of life to
one of our creations. We start in Antwerp, center of the world’s
diamond trade, where our staff hand chooses the inventory for
upcoming designs. Back at our own diamond lab, matching
pairs are chosen to make our three-stone rings.
When you sit with one of our diamond
consultants to select your center stone, you’re
choosing from among diamonds already
screened for exceptional value and beauty.
Uncut diamonds
32
Diamonds
Inspecting diamonds at the office of one of our Antwerp suppliers.
33
It all happens here.
Christian Caine is a truly full-service jewelry store. From design and
model-making to polishing and stone-setting, it all happens here in our in-store
shop. In the skilled hands of our experienced craftsmen, state-of-the-art tools like
our CAD-CAM mill and laser welder produce miniature art works of remarkable
beauty and durability. Those same hands can also repair or restore your worn or
damaged jewelry.
Sketching the design
34
Our Shop
The wax model
Assembling the ring
Inspecting the work
Need an appraisal? Our GIA-trained and certified staff gemologists can
not only accurately judge the value of your treasured items, but routinely evaluate
our own diamonds and gemstones to ensure a consistent level of beauty in all our
designs.
The finished project
35
Explore our home town.
Shepherdstown is set like a jewel in the rolling countryside of West Virginia’s
Eastern Panhandle, high above the scenic Potomac River. The town is rich in history,
and many of its buildings date to the late colonial era. Shepherd College, now Shepherd University, was founded in 1782. Five years later, inventor James Rumsey made
a successful demonstration of his steam boat here, and, more recently, Shepherdstown
hosted the 2000 Israeli-Syrian Peace Talks.
Most people come to Shepherdstown to enjoy perusing the town’s shops and galleries, or to savor a meal at one of our excellent restaurants. In July, people come from
all over to experience the latest works of playwrights such as Lee Blessing, Richard
Dresser, and Joyce Carol Oates at the Contemporary American Theater Festival. Shepherdstown also makes a convenient, central base from which to tour nearby Harper’s
Ferry, Antietam National Battlefield, and the C&O Canal, just across the bridge.
View along German Street
36
So while you’re in town to visit Christian Caine, we encourage you to discover
the rest our home town has to offer. Ask any of our staff for recommendations or help
with reservations.
Shepherdstown, WV