He Picks The Bling/She Picks The Ring

It’s a daunting task for a man to buy an engagement ring.

Weighty on the wallet and scarier still when it comes to choosing a design that best fits his fiancée’s personal style.

While I’ve heard many a complaint about not-so-subtle photographic hints left in wallets by hopeful girlfriends, most men I know would gladly take a little creative input from their ladies.

But, much like asking for driving directions, would he ever just ask her for some ring designing help? Nooooo….

Understandably, in doing so men fear they’ll lose the opportunity to shield themselves from both letting her know how much he’s spending and surprising her for the proposal.

The perfect solution: He picks the bling/She picks the ring!

Step 1: Gent buys centre stone and puts the rock in a temporary setting. Money spent issue solved, as this is by far the most expensive part of the engagement ring purchase. See A Picasso in a Plastic Frame.

From this Cushion Cut Solitaire...

Step 2: The happily protected groom-to-be then delights his lady with a proposal; ring in hand. Element of surprise issue solved.

Step 3: Gent scores extra points for being über-romantic as they work together as an engaged couple to design the perfect bespoke setting!

To this Cushion Cut Micro-Pavé Halo

You’re welcome.

Stack It To Me!

COLOUR x TEXTURE x SHAPE = INFINITE POSSIBILITIES!

Recently I worked with a client hoping to give a very customized birthday gift to his lady and here’s what we came up with. Three distinctively different rings, each crafted with personalized symbols and engravings. Sorry, a private jeweler NEVER reveals her private clients’ private messages!

The ability to play with variables like colour, texture, shape & width really makes these stackables super fresh.  And the combinations and permutations are endless. 

Imagine gold in colours like black, brown or even green! 

While wide and thin rings make for interesting variations, why not incorporate shaped rings too?

Texture always inspires me. Mixing finishes and effects creates an added layer of intricacy to stackables. 

 So let your imaginations go wild. Or put me to the test..my creativity knows no bounds!

Oval and Oval Again

I have an oval-shaped face.  Long hair and bangs suit me well. Then again, my oval-shaped face also allowed me to get a short bob a few years ago. Lucky me. My oval shaped face is versatile.

So are Oval Shaped Diamonds!

Suitable for ladies with long, thin fingers and those with small hands alike, the Oval can also take on several ring styles. What could be better?

From a very feminine design like an Oval Centre Stone matched with Pear-Shaped Side Stones…

To a classic Three-Stone Oval ring….

To a modern take on an Eternity Band by switching Round diamonds for Ovals...

Very few diamond shapes complement a lady’s hand quite the way an Oval can by being at once sophisticated and fresh.

I Heart Ovals!

Nouvelle Époque

It never fails to be true: What’s Old is New Again!

Designed to mix old pieces with new silhouettes, please welcome NOUVELLE ÉPOQUE.

Inspiration struck when I decided to revamp antique jewelry into bold modern pieces to suit today’s fashion penchant toward chunkier, bolder jewelry lines. Above is my original ring; made from my own grandmother’s engagement ring plus panels from her antique watch! The goal was to breathe new life into my estate jewelry pieces which were so beautifully crafted but too delicate for my contemporary tastes.

 plus...

 or... 

My favourite angle on these pieces is that they remain in line with my goal to create unique jewelry for my clients. Though the modern silhouettes I use to make these rings, bracelets and pendants can be repeated  or modified (more photos of them coming in future posts!) each antique insert is one-of-a-kind. I love nothing more than to call on my estate jewelry vendors to see their latest stock and to create something special for a client using a Victorian era watch or a pair of Edwardian earrings.

The result is literally a “nouvelle époque” or “new era” for these special period jewels.

A Picasso in a Plastic Frame

An engagement setting is more than just a vessel for your diamond. It is the perfect tie on a suit. The perfect wine with dinner. And likewise, your setting should be the perfect complement to your stone.

But what to spend? Obviously, The Rock is the main event. And let’s face it…after choking up the big bucks on the diamond itself it’s hard to conceive of spending more on accouterments.

Alas, diamonds don’t just magically float on fingers so onward and upward to choosing a setting.

As a general rule, I say: Spend 80% of your budget on your diamond and make sure you’ve left 20% for a setting. It’s all about balance. Would you take your priceless Picasso down to the corner store for a $15 plastic frame? Methinks, not. Think of your diamond in the same way and you’ll end up with a setting that befits the stone.

From Bold & Full of Bling to Delicate & Demure your engagement setting should be an exquisite accessory; reflecting the bride’s style and acting as the flawless backdrop for the precious diamond it is holding.