the mokada process

The perfect ring has many important steps before it finds the perfect person. Yes, there may be times when "the ring" captures your eye with the elation you were hoping for but what happens when you can't find a piece that evokes those emotions? More than half (59%) of proposals in 2011 had custom aspects in the engagement ring. There are many steps in the custom design process but mokada has conception  it to four steps.

The Concept Stage

We explore pictures, drawings, descriptions, likes/dislikes with you to narrow down to a general design concept. 

The Design Stage

Working with you, we come up with a design for what you have envisioned. With a 3D image of your jewelry, you'll be confident that you are getting exactly what you want. Once the final design has been approved we create a wax model of that is optional for viewing before the piece is sent to cast.

We Work For You

mokada believes that your jewelry should be a perfect fit; including the budget. Pricing for any piece has many different variables; choice of metal, size and quality of set stones, intricacy of design, and weight. mokada can cast your heirloom in 18k gold, 14k gold, 10k gold, platinum, and sterling silver. Quality of stones, especially diamonds, play a large part of preference and budget. Once the Design Stage is complete mokada works for you in determining which variables are the perfect fit.





Today's Heirloom

It feels different when you wear a piece of custom-designed jewelry. Many thoughts and emotions come to play when going through the design process of creating tomorrow's family heirloom. It will fill you with pride to know that you had a hand in creating a beautiful family heirloom. Nothing brings us more excitement when seeing your concept come to realization.

To start your custom design process today contacts us at www.mokada.ca 

Will you be my Valentine?

When did it all start?

There are a few theories on the origin of Valentine's Day, but the most popular dates back to the time of the Roman Empire during the reign of Claudius II, 270 A.D. Claudius didn't want men to marry during wartime because he believed single men made better soldiers. Bishop Valentine went against his wishes and performed secret wedding ceremonies. For this, Valentine was jailed and then executed by order of the Emperor on Feb. 14. While in jail, he wrote a love note to the jailor's daughter, signing it, "From your Valentine." 

History & Fun Facts

• The ancient Romans celebrated the Feast of Lupercalia on Feb. 14 in honor of Juno, the queen of the Roman gods and goddesses. Juno was also the goddess of women and marriage.
• Many believe the X symbol became synonymous with the kiss in medieval times. People who couldn't write their names signed in front of a witness with an X. The X was then kissed to show their sincerity.
• Girls of medieval times ate bizarre foods on St. Valentine's Day to make them dream of their future spouse.
• In the Middle Ages, young men and women drew names from a bowl to see who would be their Valentine. They would wear this name pinned onto their sleeves for one week for everyone to see. This was the origin of the expression "to wear your heart on your sleeve."
• In 1537, England's King Henry VII officially declared Feb. 14 the holiday of St. Valentine's Day.
• Alexander Graham Bell applied for his patent on the telephone, an "Improvement in Telegraphy", on Valentine's Day, 1876.
• Richard Cadbury produced the first box of chocolates for Valentine's Day in the late 1800s.
• More than 35 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolate will be sold for Valentine's Day.
• Over $1 billion worth of chocolate is purchased for Valentine's Day in the U.S.
• 73 percent of people who buy flowers for Valentine's Day are men, while only 27 percent are women.
• 15 percent of U.S. women send themselves flowers on Valentine's Day.
• On average, men shell out $130 each on candy, cards, jewelry, flowers and dates. That’s more than double what women commit to spending.
• The most fantastic gift of love is the Taj Mahal in India. It was built by Mughal Emperor Shahjahan as a memorial to his wife.
• In the 1800s doctors commonly advised their heartbroken patients to eat chocolate, claiming it would sooth their pain. To this day, many women find comfort in a box of chocolates when dealing with heartbreak.
•  220,000 is the average number of wedding proposals on Valentine's Day each year.
• More at-home pregnancy tests are taken in the month of March then any other month of the year.

History of a Diamond

Diamonds are a girl's best friend, so how well do you know your bestie? Here's a quick cheat sheet on our most adorned jewel.

Jewelry Trends 2013

Jewelry trends typically are forecasted from the three R's: Red Carpet, Runway & Real Life. Here is a quick list of trends the Mokada ladies think you should be looking for in 2013.

Shine bright like an emerald. Pantone just named emerald the colour of the year and we've already seen stars hit the red carpet fashioning this brilliant gem. International mining firm Gemfields is aiming to do what De Beers has done for diamonds; making the emerald a standard household item. Emeralds and rubies are the second hardest gemstone next to a diamond and make ultra unique engagement rings for those looking to break the mould.

Snakes and social ladders.  Love it or hate it, we're going to snakes trickle down from the red carpet. Rachel Weisz shines in Bulgari's Serpenti Collection this runway season. She's often the face of classic beauty and we love how she's showing off her edgy side in jewel adorned serpents. Watches, arm bands, bracelets and even clutches have taken shape to our slithery friend... And we love it.

Stacking, stacking, stacking. The "stackables" ring trend has been around for the past few years but this year we are seeing it more than ever. One of my favourite new trends for this year is the knuckle ring. Stacking a mixture of gold, fashion and thin rings and topping the look off with a few tiny rings on the your first knuckle is a perfect hipster-chic combination.  We'll also see the colour blocking trend move to your arm candy.

Blue Topaz - December's Birthstone

Although the colours red and green come to mind when we think of December, it's true colours are shades of blue. December has three birthstones; turquoise, tanzanite and it's most popular blue topaz. Topaz becomes blue when it is heated, a process that can happen naturally or artificially, and results in three shades of blue that varies in its intensity. The more intense and deep the color is, the more valuable the blue topaz is, although the most deep shade, London Blue, never occurs in nature. Slight changes in the mineral composition can create hues of green, yellow or pink. 

 Although topaz is a very hard gemstone, an 8 on the Mohs scale of hardness, it can be split with a single blow and should be protected from harsh wear. 

During the Middle Ages topaz was thought to heal both physical and mental disorders and prevent death. The Greeks believed it had power to increase strength and to make its wearer invisible while the Romans believed it had power to improve eyesight. The Egyptians wore it as an amulet to protect them from injury.

 

Citrine - November's Birthstone

Citrine is the traditional birthstone for November, and is the traditional given gift for the 13^th  and 17^th wedding anniversaries. Citrine is known as the "healing quartz". This golden gemstone is said to support vitality and health while encouraging and guiding hope, energy and warmth within the wearer. Citrine is associated with the values of hope, cheerfulness, youth, health, and fidelity.

Citrine is any quartz crystal or cluster that is yellow or orange in colour. Although it is a common gemstone, citrine is actually somewhat rare in nature. Most citrines on the market have been heat treated. Citrines whose colours have been produced by artificial means tend to have much more of an orange or reddish cast than those found in nature, which are usually a pale yellow. Much of the natural citrine may have started out as amethyst but change to citrine by natural heat.

Opal - October's Birthstone

"October's child is born for woe, 

And life's vicissitudes must know,

But lay on opal on her breast, 

And hope will lull those woes to rest."

The word opal is derived from the latin word "opalus" which means "a stone". The gemstone presents a unique play of colours and delicate tints. Opal also means "to see an change in colour". The opal occurs in several types of colours. The white opal is often associated with the pastel glints of the colours in a rainbow. The black opal has a blue, tray or black attributes. Fire and the crystal (also known as water) opal is colourless and almost transparent with sudden bright flashes of colour.

The October's birthstones traditional traits are said to be associated with hope, innocence, happiness, faithfulness, loyalty and confidence. The opal is reputed to have benefits related to health problems relating to the eye's vision and eye infections. Opals were used to enhance visualization, imagination, dreams as well as healing.