When Cody proposed to me in January 2018, he picked a really sweet and petite opal in rose gold ring from an awesome designer on the east coast. It was sub $400, and exactly what we needed to start the rest of our lives together :)
But once I started making rings in 2021, I quickly started to wear all my new designs instead. Partially because I needed to wear test everything to know how they felt on my hand and how they held up to wear. And partially because I needed to decide which style I would one day make for myself.
Thus began the ongoing question - what would become my "official" wedding ring?
I spent two years considering this. And while I've loved every ring I've made, there was one design I kept going back to...
The Bezel Solitaire.
While I love a multi-stone design, I found that my personal favorites were always the ones in my solitaire collections. I love the simplicity and wearability of the bezel. And I especially love how they showcase a one-of-a-kind gem. The setting is a perfect pedestal to show off the natural beauty.
So I knew what kind of design I wanted, but still had to find my stone.
When working with clients on custom rings, I always ask what their favorite color is. Because if we're incorporating colored stones into the design, I want it to be a color palette that they will always love. Not something that feels trending or temporal, but something that will bring them joy through all seasons of life.
For me, that color has always been light blue. It just makes me happy and brings me peace. (And is complimentary to my skin tone).
And so I began the hunt for the perfect light blue stone. Here's what I was looking for:
- Gem type: Sapphire. I wanted a sapphire because their durability is akin to diamonds, but more affordable for my budget.
- Cut: Oval. I'd found that to be the most flattering shape on my hand.
- Size: 1-2ct. The shade of blue was more important that the size, so I was fine to search in a range.
- Color: Light Blue. Anything baby blue, light periwinkle, aqua, etc. Not too bright or saturated.
Since this would be a ring for me, it wasn't something I was actively looking for (because clients come first). But about a year after making up my mind about what kind of forever ring I wanted - I found my gem. It wasn't in the jewelry district or in Tucson where I typically source gems, but at a small gem show the Pasadena Gem & Mineral society was hosting.
But there it was, on the table amidst a bunch or turquoise - the most beautiful light blue oval sapphire I'd ever seen. And 2.11ct! Bigger than I'd hoped to find.
So I brought it home and kept it in my safe for six months, trying to decide if I was really going to keep this stone for myself. Every stone is an investment, and it felt frivolous to keep it for myself. But eventually I decided that I was worth it, lol, and that it would indeed become my forever ring.
In February of this year I sketched out a few designs for it. Some included additional stones, but I kept going back to the idea of the bezel solitaire. So I carved it, perfecting every contour.
I decided to cast in 18k yellow gold, because I really liked the color contrast of the warm yellow with the pale blue. I've also found that I love the luster and extra weight of 18k gold.
And since this would now be my wedding ring, I wanted to add details that called back to our wedding day. So we engraved "I Belong To You" on the inside of the band (which is the Brandi Carlile song I walked down the aisle to), and our anniversary in roman numerals.
And it's just perfect.
This ring feels so me. I stare at it all the time. The shade and sparkle of the sapphire literally makes me smile.
And one of the reasons I wanted a solitaire was because I love that I can change up the vibe with different stacking bands. So if I want it to feel more romantic and princessy, I stack it with the Sacré and Flourish bands from my Paris collection. If I want to feel artsy and then I stack with the diamond Eternity band. The solitaire style is so versatile, and I love that I can continually refresh the look.
So that's what a designer makes for herself!
Feel free to reach out if you're ready to make something that feels so "you."
xo,
Christine
