Rose Gold Bypass Ring with Sapphire and Diamond

Playful – check! √
Colorful – check! √
Sparkling – checkcheck! √√

Bypass rings, like this rose gold, sapphire and diamond piece created for a client at Gallery of Jewels, are a fun way to display a duo of gemstones that have a personal meaning. Perhaps they showcase the birthstones of your two beloved children. They could symbolize you and your partner in perfect harmony. Or maybe, you’re drawn to the playful open design and have two favorite gems you’d love to display. Any way you slice it, this freeform design is sure to start a conversation.

Two Secret Rings

 

I meet lots of lovely couples in my line of work. Sarah and Robalyn are a top-notch example. Couples often come to my studio to design rings together, but for their project each party commissioned a ring unbeknownst to the other.

Sarah reached out to me in January to create a solitaire for Robalyn. She caught me just in time for my annual gem-buying trip in Tucson. With her color palette in mind I was able to sift through vendor after vendor, and parcel after parcel until I picked out just the right diamond for their needs. We set it in 14k yellow gold with a flat, hammered band.

 

 

 

Robalyn returned the favor by creating this ocean-toned band for Sarah. We selected a handful of sapphires in blues, greens, and silvers and agreed on a layout for them to be set into a 14k yellow gold band. We pulled in the same hammered texture from her solitaire ring so the finished pieces would feel related.

 

Once the cats had been let out of their respective bags, the lovely couple sent me this snap of the two rings resting together along the California Coast. Congratulations Sarah Robalyn!

 

 

 

 

Pink on Pink

This lovely sapphire ring was another of my favorite winter commissions. The pink sapphire is a natural colored stone, meaning it was not heat treated or irradiated. The setting is 18k rose gold with an all-over hammered finish.

James popped the question this February in New Orleans.

2015 Bridal Lookbook

The lookbook for my 2015 Bridal Collection is finally live! So much went into creating, painting, and styling this shoot. I’m very proud to share this labor of love.

You can view the full collection of images here.

[Stay tuned for a behind the scenes look at those massive watercolor paintings!]

Winter Roundup: Part 1

Many belated posts are headed to the blog this week highlighting the secret (and not-so-secret) projects from the final months of 2014. I had so many custom designs across my workbench during the holidays and creating them was incredible way to wrap the year. Now that the proposals and gift-givings have passed, it’s safe for me to sit down and recount all of the personalized designs that went to loving homes during the winter months.

First up… a special wedding band set!

You may recall this deep blue beauty from the engagement of Matt and Lyndsay earlier in 2014. The couple wed in November at the Ace Hotel in Palm Springs. To compliment her rose gold ring, we crafted a blue sapphire crescent band which contoured to her center sapphire. Matt opted for a comfortable, flat Tam Wedding Band with gently rounded edges and textured finish.

Shade Shifter

The color change nature of this natural sapphire is nothing short of intoxicating. In daylight she shines olive green and grey. It’s subtle and sultry. Indoors, she changes her tune to a lively lilac. For me It was love at first sight.

This stone was a no brainer for the gentleman who commissioned this ring– it was mined in his home state of Montana and seemed as unique as his bride-to-be. An 18k mounting and a halo of twinkling diamonds was all it needed to be ready for her hand. He’s very happy to report, she said ‘yes.’

Bridal Collection Reveal at Summer of Love Bridal Event

A full bridal offering has been something on my mind (and on my to-do list) for quite some time. Over the past year I have worked through prototypes, traveled to hand select diamonds and gems, carved, cast, and experimented. The culmination of this hard work and my ever-growing vision is something I am so honored to finally share with you.

Gallery of Jewels has been so gracious to offer me a slot in their Summer of Love Bridal Event to launch the new collection in style. From July 11th through 27th you can visit the entire grouping (over 50 rings and bands!) in person at their 24th Street Gallery. Best of all, they’ll be hosting a special event with me on Saturday, July 12th, where you can pick my brain about all things bridal. I hope to see you there!

Lyndsay + Matt

I had a lot of personal stock in the engagement of Matt and Lyndsay. It’s heartwarming to see old friends embark on the adventure of marriage together. I was pumped about creating their engagement ring for a number of reasons: Lyndsay’s color palette was right up my alley. She had set her heart on a dark blue sapphire in a rose gold setting. Matt, whom I befriended during art school nearly 10 years ago, has great design sense. I knew collaborating with him would result in a truly unique piece of jewelry. And finally, I was thankful to finally repay a huge personal debt to Matt. He introduced me to my husband Ryan almost 5 years ago.

Lyndsay and Matt are one of the best travelled couples I know. Because of their jet setting ways, we designed a ring that was comfortable, practical, and special enough for her to wear wherever the wind takes them. The gemstone was sourced during my yearly trip to the Tucson Gem Fair. From the road I sent photo selections of the best sapphires I could find. Back in the studio, Matt’s keen eye for detail came into play as we dug into the ring creation together. Through more sketches and photos we created a turned bezel to just the right silhouette he desired.

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The finished ring was cast in 14k rose gold with a sandblasted finish and millgrain detail on the bezel’s rim. It’s enchanting, modern, and elegant.

Pear Sapphire Wedding Set

 

Spring has arrived, which means wedding season is in full swing!

This month Ethan and Emily, a darling Bay Area couple, tie the knot with three custom rings. The first was her pear shape white sapphire engagement ring, which I created in secret with the groom-to-be last year. He wanted a look that was classic, unique, and without the use of diamonds. We found this dazzling pear-shape white sapphire to take center stage.  The polished 14k yellow gold gave a sophisticated look, and setting the stone sideways provided a touch of interesting asymmetry.

This spring I crafted the custom fit white gold wedding band. Two more twinkling white sapphires nestle right next to her engagement ring. It’s shape reminds me of a warm embrace, and it’s charm comes from the union of two equally lovely gems. I’ve named this darling the two-lovers ring.

For him, we created a timeless classic. A 14k yellow gold band polished to a high shine with a lightly domed interior for extra comfort. Perfection.

Join me in wishing these two lovers well as they begin the next chapter in life!

Palladium & Sapphire Vintage Inspired Ring

This little beauty made it across the pond this week… A deco -inspired setting which was crafted from a hand carved wax and then cast in Palladium. It features a .62ct blue sapphire center, and an outer frame of sparkling white sapphires in a scalloped edge. Milgrain borders around the edges add a delicate vintage feel. The wedding band, which we carved and cast as well, features this same milgrain detail.

C’est magnifique!