The Fine Jewelry Handbook: Quality and Craftsmanship That Last
You don’t have to be a gemologist to spot exceptional quality, but knowing what details to look for can help you select fine jewelry worthy of your most cherished occasions. Beyond what’s written in a grading report or stamped on a price tag, true quality comes from the care, skill, and jewelry artistry that only dedicated craftspeople can provide.
Since 1984, Coffin and Trout has built its legacy in Chandler on that belief, crafting every piece in-house so that no detail is left to chance, a philosophy we call the C&T Difference. This guide walks you through those details, drawing on what our gemologists and bench jewelers have learned, so you can judge artisan jewelry with confidence and choose a piece worthy of becoming a family heirloom.
Look Past the Diamond Grading Report
A certificate is a useful starting point, but it cannot tell you how a stone will behave under the sun or across a candlelit table. Two diamonds with identical color and clarity grades can look remarkably different, because cut (the proportions, polish, and symmetry that govern sparkle) shapes a diamond’s beauty more than any other factor. Some stones are “paper pretty,” impressive in their specifications yet flat or dark in person.
For that reason, our gemologists often compare ten or twenty diamonds of the same grade before choosing one. Each is color graded against our master set of comparison diamonds,and we double-check even those arriving with grading reports from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) or the American Gem Society (AGS). We never sell fracture-filled, laser-drilled, or clarity-enhanced diamonds, and every diamond we set is VS clarity or better.
Judge the Setting as Carefully as the Stone
Good craftsmanship is easiest to spot up close, often in parts of a ring people rarely think to check. Under magnification, prongs on a well-made ring should be evenly shaped and smoothly tipped, each stone should sit level with its neighbors, and the underside should be finished with the same care as the top.
Our bench jewelers pair old-world techniques with microscopes, laser welders, and other modern tools to set and secure each stone with a precision few workshops can match. Speed is never the goal; our jewelers would rather take extra time than cut a corner on a setting meant to last a lifetime.
Fine Jewelry Metals Chosen for Integrity, Not Convenience
To many people, precious metals are the least exciting part of a design, little more than a backdrop for the stones, yet they play a major role in how a piece looks, both the day it is first worn and after years of daily wear.
Many white gold pieces rely on rhodium plating for their bright finish, and that plating wears away over time. Coffin and Trout casts its 14k and 18k white gold from a naturally whiter alloy, earning a Grade 1 rating on the White Gold Task Force’s Yellowness Index, so it keeps its color without plating. Working with leading metal casters, we also developed a rose gold free of the brittleness and porosity that trouble many rose gold alloys. In luxury jewelry, choices like these separate a piece that stays beautiful for decades from one that needs constant upkeep.
Comfort Belongs in Any Definition of Luxury Jewelry
A ring that spins on the finger hides its center stone and soon gets left in the jewelry box. Our rings are therefore made in a signature paragon shape, flat across the bottom with a defined top that keeps the gemstones facing up. Because the band follows the natural shape of the finger, it rests comfortably against the fingers on either side, and it can be twisted gently over a larger knuckle. The result is a ring sized for a secure, comfortable fit, not one made loose enough to slip on.
Custom Jewelry Design, Made Entirely In-House
Because every Coffin and Trout piece is designed and manufactured in-house, you can combine elements from different collections or start an entirely new design. Whichever path you choose, your design moves from sketch to CAD/CAM model to final finishing in our own workshop, and you’ll see a detailed rendering before production begins. With no outside workshop involved, the same team answers for every detail from first sketch to final polish, so the piece you approved is exactly the piece you receive.
Choosing Fine Jewelry in Chandler, AZ
As an American Gem Society store and Accredited Gem Laboratory, with a sales team averaging 26 years of experience, Coffin and Trout stands behind every piece that leaves our store. When you are ready to see the quality for yourself, visit our Chandler showroom and let our team show you the difference that thoughtful craftsmanship makes.
Fine Jewelry FAQs
What makes jewelry “fine jewelry”?
Fine jewelry is made from precious metals such as platinum and gold and set with genuine diamonds, gemstones or pearls. Just as important is how it is made: secure settings, careful finishing and a design meant to be worn for decades.
How can I tell if fine jewelry is well made?
Look closely at the details. Prongs should be even and smooth, stones should sit level, pavé should run in neat rows, and the underside should be as carefully finished as the top. A well-made ring should also feel comfortable and stay in place on the finger.
Is a grading report enough to judge a diamond?
A report is a helpful starting point, but it can’t show how a diamond actually looks. Cut has the biggest influence on sparkle, and two stones with identical grades can differ noticeably in person, so it’s worth comparing diamonds side by side.
