Round brilliant cut diamonds are the most popular, but the criteria used to evaluate them can feel overwhelming. We all know the ‘4C’s,’ that familiar line up of characteristics that lets us know how ‘good’ a specific diamond may be:  Carat, Color, Clarity, and Cut. Traditionally, it’s in that order because most of us first want to know how […]

Birthstones have a long and storied past that has evolved over many cultures. If you’re a historian at heart, and passionate about gems, birthstones are a treasure trove of records to explore! In Eastern cultures, Navaratna, a Sanskrit word for nine gems, is connected to astrology and mythology and is also tied to Hindu, Jainism, […]

    Gems from Africa   By now you’ve no doubt noticed the great deal of attention that’s paid to the materials entering the workshop: Locally sourced Montana sapphires, Fairmined certified gold, diamonds on a global blockchain — and sapphires from artisanal miners in Nigeria. For the past couple of decades there’s been a sort […]

    This year Green Lake is proud to announce that every ring cast in 14K, 18K and 22K yellow gold will now come from Fairmined certified mines. This means that the gold Green Lake uses within its studios will empower small-scale mining organizations to meet world-leading standards for responsible practices — making your wedding ring […]

  Green Lake Jewelry Works is now able to offer ethically sourced, single-origin diamonds with complete transparency using blockchain technology. By partnering with Everledger, an emerging technology enterprise that tracks the provenance of high-value assets on a global digital ledger, designers and gemologists at Green Lake can tell you everything about your diamond.     […]

  As we approach the 2-year anniversary since the US Supreme Court at last ruled that same-sex marriage is a legal right for everyone in this country, more and more rings crafted in our workshop are delivered to LGBTQ clients nationwide. Same-sex wedding rings at Green Lake, however, are nothing new; we’ve designed thousands over […]

Diamonds are of course the most popular choice of center stone for engagement rings, but in recent years the industry has seen a shift to alternative stones such as moissanite and sapphire. While choosing the center stone for your engagement ring comes down to personal preference, it’s important to consider each gemstone’s strengths and weaknesses. […]

Right now, Green Lake is one of only a few places in the world where you can design your own engagement ring or wedding band and have it cast in Fairmined certified gold; Fairmined is an assurance label that certifies gold from empowered small-scale miners who meet world leading standards for responsible practices (It’s much […]

Despite being considered ‘white,’ diamonds actually come in a range of color. Most fine jewelers offer diamonds from a ‘D’ grade (perfectly colorless) to typically a ‘K’ (some hint of yellow to brown), with ‘H’ and ‘I’ graded diamonds in the middle accounting for a majority of engagement ring purchases. Though color grades are evident on a […]

  FROM the SOURCE To spend a day sifting through rocks with Montana miner Drew Barns, you might come to believe sapphires are anything but rare. On his sprawling property along a bend in the Yellowstone River stands a hard-worn sluice, the go-to machine for a placer miner like Drew, who loads the hopper with […]