Education

Our Story

At Motek Jewelry, we've always been captivated by the art of jewelry. Our founder, inspired by his own family's legacy in the trade, instilled a deep appreciation for craftsmanship and design. We understand that true value lies not just in precious materials, but in the skill, dedication, and passion poured into each piece. This is the legacy we strive to uphold for our customers, past, present, and future.

✨

Continue reading to educate yourself with our wealth of knowledge & experience.

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Welcome to Palo Alto

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Welcome to Palo Alto

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Welcome to Palo Alto

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Welcome to Palo Alto

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In-stock items generally ship within 1-2 business days.
Domestic shipping can take up to 5 business days to arrive.

International shipping could take 14+ business days to arrive, depending on the country and potential customs delays.
All our products are subject to quality control.

Our warranty provides a guarantee against manufacturer defects.

The guarantee covers any manufacturing, design, or material defect. Please notify us within 24 hours of noticing any defects.

It does not cover blows, improper use, or other issues that are not attributable to a manufacturer defects.
Yes, we offer full and partial refunds.

Please enquire for more information about our Refund policy.
We use all major carriers, and local courier partners. Use the shipping estimator in the cart to check your shipping rates.
Use this text block to discuss some commonly asked questions like shipping and returns, sizing, warranties, or product and company details.

Use this text block to discuss some commonly asked questions like shipping and returns, sizing, warranties, or product and company details.
Use this text block to discuss some commonly asked questions like shipping and returns, sizing, warranties, or product and company details.
Use this text block to discuss some commonly asked questions like shipping and returns, sizing, warranties, or product and company details.
Use this text block to discuss some commonly asked questions like shipping and returns, sizing, warranties, or product and company details.
Use this text block to discuss some commonly asked questions like shipping and returns, sizing, warranties, or product and company details.

What Does A Jeweler Do?

I first experienced the allure of the jewelry and gem trade at a young age. My father opened a jewelry store and repair shop a few years before I was born, and my first job was inspecting jewelry in my father’s store to see if any pieces needed touch ups or repairs. I remember the way my eyes popped and my jaw dropped the first time I held a parcel of diamonds and then a bar of gold and was told how much it was worth. Creating a piece of jewelry is not just drawing a pretty picture and gluing “stones” to metal. I took professional courses on how to create, repair, and design jewelry.

- Bentzion

By definition, a “jeweler” is a person or company that makes or sells jewelry. In the trade though, the term “jeweler” is usually used to refer to the person who actually puts together or repairs jewelry. Besides the jeweler, there are many other specialists who may be involved in the process of creating or repairing jewelry. For example, the designer conceives the style of the piece, and the CAD designer takes the description or sketch and transforms it into a digital file that is then 3D printed and later transformed into metal by the caster. The setter then prepares the metal mounting and sets the gem into the metal. Other specialists may be involved, depending on the complexity of the job, and even within each category there are varying levels of expertise and skill. In general, you typically get a level of quality in accordance with how much you paid – the cheapest possible item will have lower quality materials and workmanship.
A diamond is essentially a crystalized chunk of carbon atoms – the actual internal structure is referred to as the “crystal lattice.” Think of it like an interconnected tower of glass Legos. Remember building structures as a kid that were rock-solid and impossible to break because of how the Lego bricks were connected? Now take that concept down to the atomic level and you will understand that diamond is one of the hardest things on the planet because of its densely linked structure. In fact, the only thing that can scratch a diamond is another diamond.
Within this crystalized structure there can be different types of what the industry calls “inclusions”: imperfections within the crystal structure that may appear black or white, in the shape of specks, feathers, or needles. The presence and quantity of these inclusions is rated as the “clarity” of the stone. Stones with the least inclusions and highest clarity are considered more desirable and thus more expensive.

We’ve helped people who get infections while wearing certain earrings determine why they were reacting to those earrings, and which metal they are allergic to – and then remedy it by replacing the posts with a more hypo-allergenic metal. The most common sensitivities we see are to nickel and to silver. We determine this by using a machine called an “XRF Scanner” which is kind of like an x-ray that detects the contents of the metal, broken down into elements and sorted from greatest to lowest presence in the piece. Just like with diamond-checking tools, the best results come from the highest quality tools (which most jewelers do not have on hand).
Just like your car needs oil changes and new filters in order to keep it running properly, your jewelry could greatly benefit from an occasional deep-clean and regular preventative maintenance. Especially so with pieces you wear daily – The electroplating rubs off and needs to be renewed every 9-15 months, metal gets micro scratches and the metal goes from polished to dull-ish, and structural components such as prongs and joints (jump rings, links, etc.) wear down over time. A monthly or bi-monthly cleaning and inspection can save you thousands of dollars over time. You can easily prevent the need to replace a missing diamond by simply re-tipping the heads of worn-down prongs.

How Is Custom Jewelry Made?

First thing's first – we must clear up the difference between “custom” and “costume” jewelry. Custom jewelry is planned out by a jewelry designer (think “jewelry architect”) and is typically made of precious gems professionally set onto and into precious metals (gold & platinum). “Costume” jewelry is made of rhinestones or semi-precious (think CZ) stones glued onto alloy metals and recreates the look of real jewelry. Custom jewelry can cost in the thousands to the hundreds of thousands whereas costume jewelry is typically a few dozen dollars, or a few hundred for the highest end pieces made with silver and CZ.

We can help you create your dream jewelry

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The best thing about custom making jewelry is that it can be so very easy when working with a competent jewelry designer. Our way here at Motek Jewelry is very simple. We start with a free consultation and discuss the basic points required to make a piece. A few questions we ask include “What kind of jewelry would you like to make - a ring, earrings, necklace, etc?” If you don’t know, that’s ok! We can help you figure out what would work best for the look you’re going for. The next questions we ask revolve around discovering your taste – do you like minimalist, lavish, chunky, dangly, long, thick, starburst, abstract, symmetrical, multicolor, illusion? What are your design goals? During this stage of the consultation, we sometimes hand-sketch design features and layouts to make the concepts more visually comprehensible. The final question we ask is probably the simplest one – what’s your budget for this item?
That’s ok! Just like any other product with many moving parts and cost components, it can be difficult to know how much is not too much and not too little. To make things super easy for our clients, we start our designs with a small digital rendering fee. The end result is a 3D digital representation of the initial design concept from at least 3 angles (usually 5 or 6 for more complex designs). We then price out the cost to manufacture the design as-is, and then consult with our client again to discuss any design tweaks to accentuate their tastes and budget.
Let’s put it this way – imagine you are presented with two options. The first option is to buy an off-the-rack piece that aligns closest to your taste, but may be above your budget. The second option is to stay within budget and potentially compromise on your taste, since there might not be something that's exactly your style but you don't want to spend above your budget on a better fit.
Enter option three: custom design. We specialize in working with you - your style, your budget, your timeline, your taste - to create the perfect jewelry piece that aligns directly with your financial and stylistic goals. We are designers and manufacturers, and are able to tweak the design here and there to make it work perfectly toward your goals.

Our goal is to present you with the very best that your money can buy, every single time.

Fortunately for our customers, we are top notch jewelers as well as designers. What that means is that we can, and often do, repair fix any fine jewelry, regardless of where it came from (whether from a different shop or from a department store).
A perk that we suggest our clients take advantage of is our close relationship with jewelry insurance companies who cover accidental loss, mysterious disappearance, theft, damage, etc. We offer our customers white glove insurance concierge services where we help you open a claim, and then handle your claim(s) for you with your adjuster. We also work hard to get you the full coverage amount each time, so you can either replace or upgrade your jewelry in the event of a loss.
We also offer comprehensive jewelry warrantees on all of our products. One year free, additional years for a fee.
That’s the same question that our founder, Bentzion, asked himself when we started offering custom design services. Bentzion was frustrated with the lack of industry quality control with many third party design services. There was a risk of components not fitting well, going in the wrong place, or just not looking good. So before launching this aspect of our company, he went to trade school to learn jewelry repair & design, diamond setting, and advanced jewelry theory and skills that would ensure Motek Jewelry’s customers got the very best with every single order. The end result was that we got to stick to our motto of “Quality First,” and have earned the reputation of the go-to destination for custom made jewelry. We love every single part of the process, and hope to instill that love in our customer’s hearts as well.
Our team consists of approximately a dozen experts in the jewelry fabrication process, and all of our pieces undergo an extensive quality control process before being shipped to our customers.

yes with yellowish stones

First we must ask - what is a "real" diamond? A true diamond is essentially just a carbon crystal. Regardless of the origin, crystallized carbon is a gemstone known as a diamond (as defined by the Federal Trade Commission). So whether earth grown or lab grown, any gem quality carbon crystal is a "real" diamond that can be worn in jewelry. Lab-grown diamonds are chemically, physically, and optically identical to earth grown diamonds - theywill not change over time, and will not become scratched, cloudy, or discolored as would some diamond alternatives such as CZ.
The lowest cost diamond alternative is Cubic Zirconium, commonly referred to as "CZ" and is similar to glass in that it is not as hard as a diamond, and becomes scratched and cloudy within years of daily wear. Another higher-end diamond alternative is "Moissanite," which exhibits a more disco-ball-like brilliance than do diamonds, and fall in between CZ and diamonds in terms of hardness. Naturally occurring Moissanites are extremely rare, so the vast majority of these silicon carbide crystals are grown in labs.
Lab grown diamonds are manufactured using conditions that recreate the natural process that creates earth grown diamonds. This means that a carbon "seed" (often a tiny piece of natural diamond or a slim "plate" of lab grown diamond) is subjected to extremely high temperature and pressure in a controlled environment, into which gasses with a high carbon content are injected. The end result is a rough diamond, which then must be cut, faceted, and polished like any other diamond in order to assume it's final gem form.
Labs use two different methods to grow diamonds—High Pressure-High Temperature (HPHT) and Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD). The former is typically available mainly in the DEF color range, whereas the latter more commonly falls into the FGH color range (although it is possible to source both type in either color range).
We use only CVD diamonds, as they are categorized as type IIa diamonds, just like earth grown. HPHT diamonds may have a higher amount of trace atomic metal content which may result in pen-test detection results of "Moissanite."

from 30% less to a fifth of the price of equivalent quality earth-grown diamonds depending on the size and quality of the stones! As a result, the $5,000 custom top-of-the line (colorless, perfect cut and nice size) lab grown diamond engagement ring could be compared to a $25,000 natural (earth grown) diamond ring. Additionally, lab grown diamonds are not subject to the same impurities that naturally occurring diamonds are exposed to in the ground, so they are to a very great extent free of trace elements that cause phenomenon such as fluorescence and high level of inclusions.
Diamond trade-in values are consistently lower than retail prices, regardless of the initial purchase price. This is due to several factors. Buyers typically won't exceed their existing supplier pricing. Trade-in valuations often treat diamonds and jewelry as scrap, shifting the burden of validation and certification to the buyer. Furthermore, retail prices encompass overhead, operational costs, and profit margins absent in trade-in scenarios, which consider only raw material value. While precious metals and some gems appreciate, standard diamonds rarely offer similar returns unless exceptionally unique in size, color, or other qualities. Therefore, resale prices rarely match original purchase prices. Critically, the initial savings realized when purchasing a high-quality Lab Grown diamond often surpasses the resale value difference between natural and Lab Grown diamonds, making Lab Diamond a financially advantageous choice.
It is also noteworthy to mention that as demand for lab grown diamonds rises, the demand for naturals drops. this has resulted in massive price drops in natural diamonds (around 30%) in the year 2024 alone.
Diamond jewelry purchases involve numerous factors, making definitive size recommendations challenging. For stones below one carat, we have no preference. Between one and three carats, we generally suggest lab-grown diamonds, as they offer significantly larger, higher-quality stones for under $10,000. Above three carats, the decision rests on individual priorities, such as use as an investment or portable asset.

The lowest cost diamond alternative is Cubic Zirconium, commonly referred to as "CZ" and is similar to glass in that it is not as hard as a diamond, and becomes scratched and cloudy within years of daily wear. Another higher-end diamond alternative is "Moissanite," which exhibits a more disco-ball-like brilliance than do diamonds, and fall in between CZ and diamonds in terms of hardness. Naturally occurring Moissanites are extremely rare, so the vast majority of these silicon carbide crystals are grown in labs.
Lab grown diamonds are manufactured using conditions that recreate the natural process that creates earth grown diamonds. This means that a carbon "seed" (often a tiny piece of natural diamond or a slim "plate" of lab grown diamond) is subjected to extremely high temperature and pressure in a controlled environment, into which gasses with a high carbon content are injected. The end result is a rough diamond, which then must be cut, faceted, and polished like any other diamond in order to assume it's final gem form.
Labs use two different methods to grow diamonds—High Pressure-High Temperature (HPHT) and Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD). The former is typically available mainly in the DEF color range, whereas the latter more commonly falls into the FGH color range (although it is possible to source both type in either color range).
We use only CVD diamonds, as they are categorized as type IIa diamonds, just like earth grown. HPHT diamonds may have a higher amount of trace atomic metal content which may result in pen-test detection results of "Moissanite."

from 30% less to a fifth of the price of equivalent quality earth-grown diamonds depending on the size and quality of the stones! As a result, the $5,000 custom top-of-the line (colorless, perfect cut and nice size) lab grown diamond engagement ring could be compared to a $25,000 natural (earth grown) diamond ring. Additionally, lab grown diamonds are not subject to the same impurities that naturally occurring diamonds are exposed to in the ground, so they are to a very great extent free of trace elements that cause phenomenon such as fluorescence and high level of inclusions.
Diamond trade-in values are consistently lower than retail prices, regardless of the initial purchase price. This is due to several factors. Buyers typically won't exceed their existing supplier pricing. Trade-in valuations often treat diamonds and jewelry as scrap, shifting the burden of validation and certification to the buyer. Furthermore, retail prices encompass overhead, operational costs, and profit margins absent in trade-in scenarios, which consider only raw material value. While precious metals and some gems appreciate, standard diamonds rarely offer similar returns unless exceptionally unique in size, color, or other qualities. Therefore, resale prices rarely match original purchase prices. Critically, the initial savings realized when purchasing a high-quality Lab Grown diamond often surpasses the resale value difference between natural and Lab Grown diamonds, making Lab Diamond a financially advantageous choice.
It is also noteworthy to mention that as demand for lab grown diamonds rises, the demand for naturals drops. this has resulted in massive price drops in natural diamonds (around 30%) in the year 2024 alone.
Diamond jewelry purchases involve numerous factors, making definitive size recommendations challenging. For stones below one carat, we have no preference. Between one and three carats, we generally suggest lab-grown diamonds, as they offer significantly larger, higher-quality stones for under $10,000. Above three carats, the decision rests on individual priorities, such as use as an investment or portable asset.

The lowest cost diamond alternative is Cubic Zirconium, commonly referred to as "CZ" and is similar to glass in that it is not as hard as a diamond, and becomes scratched and cloudy within years of daily wear. Another higher-end diamond alternative is "Moissanite," which exhibits a more disco-ball-like brilliance than do diamonds, and fall in between CZ and diamonds in terms of hardness. Naturally occurring Moissanites are extremely rare, so the vast majority of these silicon carbide crystals are grown in labs.
Lab grown diamonds are manufactured using conditions that recreate the natural process that creates earth grown diamonds. This means that a carbon "seed" (often a tiny piece of natural diamond or a slim "plate" of lab grown diamond) is subjected to extremely high temperature and pressure in a controlled environment, into which gasses with a high carbon content are injected. The end result is a rough diamond, which then must be cut, faceted, and polished like any other diamond in order to assume it's final gem form.
Labs use two different methods to grow diamonds—High Pressure-High Temperature (HPHT) and Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD). The former is typically available mainly in the DEF color range, whereas the latter more commonly falls into the FGH color range (although it is possible to source both type in either color range).
We use only CVD diamonds, as they are categorized as type IIa diamonds, just like earth grown. HPHT diamonds may have a higher amount of trace atomic metal content which may result in pen-test detection results of "Moissanite."

from 30% less to a fifth of the price of equivalent quality earth-grown diamonds depending on the size and quality of the stones! As a result, the $5,000 custom top-of-the line (colorless, perfect cut and nice size) lab grown diamond engagement ring could be compared to a $25,000 natural (earth grown) diamond ring. Additionally, lab grown diamonds are not subject to the same impurities that naturally occurring diamonds are exposed to in the ground, so they are to a very great extent free of trace elements that cause phenomenon such as fluorescence and high level of inclusions.
Diamond trade-in values are consistently lower than retail prices, regardless of the initial purchase price. This is due to several factors. Buyers typically won't exceed their existing supplier pricing. Trade-in valuations often treat diamonds and jewelry as scrap, shifting the burden of validation and certification to the buyer. Furthermore, retail prices encompass overhead, operational costs, and profit margins absent in trade-in scenarios, which consider only raw material value. While precious metals and some gems appreciate, standard diamonds rarely offer similar returns unless exceptionally unique in size, color, or other qualities. Therefore, resale prices rarely match original purchase prices. Critically, the initial savings realized when purchasing a high-quality Lab Grown diamond often surpasses the resale value difference between natural and Lab Grown diamonds, making Lab Diamond a financially advantageous choice.
It is also noteworthy to mention that as demand for lab grown diamonds rises, the demand for naturals drops. this has resulted in massive price drops in natural diamonds (around 30%) in the year 2024 alone.
Diamond jewelry purchases involve numerous factors, making definitive size recommendations challenging. For stones below one carat, we have no preference. Between one and three carats, we generally suggest lab-grown diamonds, as they offer significantly larger, higher-quality stones for under $10,000. Above three carats, the decision rests on individual priorities, such as use as an investment or portable asset.

The lowest cost diamond alternative is Cubic Zirconium, commonly referred to as "CZ" and is similar to glass in that it is not as hard as a diamond, and becomes scratched and cloudy within years of daily wear. Another higher-end diamond alternative is "Moissanite," which exhibits a more disco-ball-like brilliance than do diamonds, and fall in between CZ and diamonds in terms of hardness. Naturally occurring Moissanites are extremely rare, so the vast majority of these silicon carbide crystals are grown in labs.
Lab grown diamonds are manufactured using conditions that recreate the natural process that creates earth grown diamonds. This means that a carbon "seed" (often a tiny piece of natural diamond or a slim "plate" of lab grown diamond) is subjected to extremely high temperature and pressure in a controlled environment, into which gasses with a high carbon content are injected. The end result is a rough diamond, which then must be cut, faceted, and polished like any other diamond in order to assume it's final gem form.
Labs use two different methods to grow diamonds—High Pressure-High Temperature (HPHT) and Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD). The former is typically available mainly in the DEF color range, whereas the latter more commonly falls into the FGH color range (although it is possible to source both type in either color range).
We use only CVD diamonds, as they are categorized as type IIa diamonds, just like earth grown. HPHT diamonds may have a higher amount of trace atomic metal content which may result in pen-test detection results of "Moissanite."

from 30% less to a fifth of the price of equivalent quality earth-grown diamonds depending on the size and quality of the stones! As a result, the $5,000 custom top-of-the line (colorless, perfect cut and nice size) lab grown diamond engagement ring could be compared to a $25,000 natural (earth grown) diamond ring. Additionally, lab grown diamonds are not subject to the same impurities that naturally occurring diamonds are exposed to in the ground, so they are to a very great extent free of trace elements that cause phenomenon such as fluorescence and high level of inclusions.
Diamond trade-in values are consistently lower than retail prices, regardless of the initial purchase price. This is due to several factors. Buyers typically won't exceed their existing supplier pricing. Trade-in valuations often treat diamonds and jewelry as scrap, shifting the burden of validation and certification to the buyer. Furthermore, retail prices encompass overhead, operational costs, and profit margins absent in trade-in scenarios, which consider only raw material value. While precious metals and some gems appreciate, standard diamonds rarely offer similar returns unless exceptionally unique in size, color, or other qualities. Therefore, resale prices rarely match original purchase prices. Critically, the initial savings realized when purchasing a high-quality Lab Grown diamond often surpasses the resale value difference between natural and Lab Grown diamonds, making Lab Diamond a financially advantageous choice.
It is also noteworthy to mention that as demand for lab grown diamonds rises, the demand for naturals drops. this has resulted in massive price drops in natural diamonds (around 30%) in the year 2024 alone.
Diamond jewelry purchases involve numerous factors, making definitive size recommendations challenging. For stones below one carat, we have no preference. Between one and three carats, we generally suggest lab-grown diamonds, as they offer significantly larger, higher-quality stones for under $10,000. Above three carats, the decision rests on individual priorities, such as use as an investment or portable asset.

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Graduation Jewelry

Welcome to Palo Alto

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Welcome to Palo Alto

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Welcome to Palo Alto

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Welcome to Palo Alto

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Stuff You Should Know About Motek Jewelry

What Does A Jeweler Do?

How Is Custom Jewelry Made?

Diamond Basics - Need to enter answers

Key concepts and terms that you'll need to understand in order to buy diamonds the smart way.

Tell Me More About Diamonds (Earth + Lab Grown)

A good understanding of a product is essential in making the right choice when buying. Make sure that your choice of Earth or Lab grown diamonds aligns with your goals. here's some more info to help you make the right choice for you.

Gemstones, Earth and Lab Grown

diamonds are not the only gem quality crystals that can be grown. Read on to learn more about the wide variety of gems that can be made to your specs at a fraction of the cost.

Post Purchase Jewelry Care & Cleaning

diamonds are not the only gem quality crystals that can be grown. Read on to learn more about the wide variety of gems that can be made to your specs at a fraction of the cost.

Jewelry Insurance

diamonds are not the only gem quality crystals that can be grown. Read on to learn more about the wide variety of gems that can be made to your specs at a fraction of the cost.

Cart0 items

Fill this cart up, you deserve it!

Graduation Jewelry

Welcome to Palo Alto

This text helps you provide some more detail to the title above.

Welcome to Palo Alto

This text helps you provide some more detail to the title above.

Welcome to Palo Alto

This text helps you provide some more detail to the title above.

Welcome to Palo Alto

This text helps you provide some more detail to the title above.

Stuff You Should Know About Motek Jewelry

What Does A Jeweler Do?

How Is Custom Jewelry Made?

*Diamond Basics* - Need to enter answers

Key concepts and terms that you'll need to understand in order to buy diamonds the smart way.

Tell Me More About Diamonds (Earth + Lab Grown)

A good understanding of a product is essential in making the right choice when buying. Make sure that your choice of Earth or Lab grown diamonds aligns with your goals. here's some more info to help you make the right choice for you.

*Gemstones, Earth and Lab Grown*

diamonds are not the only gem quality crystals that can be grown. Read on to learn more about the wide variety of gems that can be made to your specs at a fraction of the cost.

*Post Purchase Jewelry Care & Cleaning*

diamonds are not the only gem quality crystals that can be grown. Read on to learn more about the wide variety of gems that can be made to your specs at a fraction of the cost.

*Jewelry Insurance*

diamonds are not the only gem quality crystals that can be grown. Read on to learn more about the wide variety of gems that can be made to your specs at a fraction of the cost.

Diamond Basics - Need to enter answers

Gemstones, Earth and Lab Grown

Post Purchase Jewelry Care & Cleaning

Jewelry Insurance