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