Jewelry Engagement Rings

Crafted a custom 1-carat lab-grown pear-shaped fancy blue diamond ring for a client 💙

Just wrapped up a custom order and I'm too excited not to share it!

This ring features a 1-carat lab-grown fancy blue diamond in a pear shape, and I have to say, the cut really brings the color to life. One of the things I love most about pear-shaped stones is how they seem to showcase color differently depending on the angle and lighting. The blue flashes from this stone were absolutely mesmerizing throughout the design process.

The client wanted something elegant and distinctive without feeling overly flashy, and I think the combination of the pear shape and the vivid blue hue strikes that balance beautifully. It's unique enough to stand out, but still timeless enough to be worn and loved for years to come.

Colored diamonds are always such a fun challenge because every design decision—from the setting to the metal color—can completely change how the stone presents itself. Watching this piece come together from concept to finished ring was incredibly rewarding.

I'd love to hear what everyone thinks! Are you a fan of colored diamonds, or do you prefer traditional colorless stones? And if you were choosing a fancy-colored diamond for yourself, what color would you pick and why?

My ring! Thoughts?

I've officially reached the point where I've looked at my ring so much that I can't tell what's normal anymore. 😂

The center stone is 1.6 carats, and I wear a size 4.5 ring. I absolutely love it, but every now and then I catch myself wondering whether the proportions are right for my hand.

Some days it feels perfectly balanced and elegant. Other days I wonder if it looks larger than I originally imagined, especially since my fingers are on the smaller side. I know finger size can make a huge difference in how a stone faces up, and what looks modest on one hand can look dramatically different on another.

The funny thing is that I genuinely wouldn't change it. I'm completely attached to it already and love how much sparkle it has. I think I'm just curious what other people see when they look at it because I'm definitely not objective at this point.

So I'd love some honest opinions!

Does the 1.6-carat size look proportional on a size 4.5 finger, or does it come across as too large? When you first saw it, did your eye go to the stone size, or did the overall ring feel balanced?

What style for wedding band?

I absolutely adore my engagement ring ❤️ but I'm starting to realize that choosing a wedding band might actually be harder than choosing the engagement ring was!

Because of the shape and profile of my ring, I'm having a difficult time figuring out what style of band would look best alongside it. My goal is to keep the overall look as classic and timeless as possible. I've always been drawn to simple yellow gold bands and don't really see myself wanting anything overly ornate or trendy.

The problem is that I'm not sure whether I should be looking at a straight band, a curved band, a contour band, a notched band, or something else entirely. I love the idea of a clean, elegant stack, but I also want it to fit comfortably and look intentional.

Part of me thinks a small gap between the rings wouldn't bother me, while another part of me wonders if I'd regret not having a flush fit. I've spent so much time looking at photos online that I feel like I've completely lost perspective!

I'd love some advice from people who have rings with a similar shape. What style of wedding band did you end up choosing? Did you prioritize a flush fit, or did you embrace a gap?

Provence Setting

I wanted to share this project because I'm honestly thrilled with how it turned out.

A while back, I purchased an emerald-cut stone and held onto it for quite some time while trying to decide what kind of setting would suit it best. I knew I wanted something classic that would let the stone be the focal point, but I also wanted to stay within a reasonable budget.

I ended up working with Jane at Provence to create the setting, and once it arrived, I took everything to a local jewelry repair shop to have the stone set. They charged me just $50 for the setting work, which felt like a great deal.

I don't remember exactly what I paid for the emerald-cut stone itself, but I know it wasn't particularly expensive. The setting is 10k gold, and when I add everything together—the stone, custom setting, and local setting fee—I believe my total investment was somewhere between $900 and $1,000.

One of my favorite things about this project is that it reminded me you don't necessarily have to spend a fortune to end up with something you genuinely love. I spent a lot of time researching, sourcing pieces separately, and figuring out the best route, but for me it was absolutely worth it.

I'm really happy with how it came together, and I think the setting ended up complementing the emerald cut beautifully.

10 Year Anniversary Upgrade! ✨

Hey everyone! I just had to share because I'm still completely obsessed with this ring and honestly can't stop staring at it. ☺️

My husband and I recently celebrated our 10-year anniversary, and he surprised me with this beauty. After all these years together, I wasn't expecting anything this special, which made it even more emotional when he gave it to me.

What I love most is that it feels like more than just a piece of jewelry. It represents a decade of growing together, building a life, getting through the hard seasons, and creating so many memories along the way. Every time I look down at it, I'm reminded of how far we've come since those early years.

I've caught myself admiring it in every type of lighting possible and turning my hand at ridiculous angles just to watch it sparkle. Please tell me I'm not the only one who does that! 😂

I know upgrades can sometimes be a touchy subject, but for me this doesn't replace the sentimental value of my original ring at all. That ring will always represent the beginning of our story. This one just feels like a celebration of the chapter we're in now.

I'd love to hear from others who have received an anniversary upgrade. Did you keep wearing your original ring too? And if you've been married 10+ years, what was the most meaningful way you celebrated a milestone anniversary?

Still smiling over here and feeling incredibly lucky. ❤️

Inherited diamonds

My grandmother passed away recently, and as part of her estate, each of her grandchildren received either artwork or jewelry. I was fortunate enough to inherit these diamonds, and I've been fascinated by them ever since.

Unfortunately, there isn't much family history attached to them. My mother and aunts weren't particularly close with their mother. They were sent to boarding school at a young age and only saw her once or twice a year. My grandparents divorced early, and my grandmother remarried several times throughout her life, so many of the stories behind her jewelry seem to have been lost along the way.

That's what makes this inheritance feel a little bittersweet. I'm incredibly grateful to have these pieces, but I also wish I knew where they came from, when she acquired them, or whether they marked a special moment in her life.

I'm very new to the diamond world myself. Most of the jewelry I've owned has been branded pieces, so loose diamonds are completely outside my comfort zone. I sent them to a trusted friend who is also a jeweler, and their recommendation was to have them GIA certified so I can better understand exactly what I have.

From the initial measurements, they appear to be around 3 carats each, which honestly surprised me.

While I wait to learn more, I thought I'd share them here. Part of me is curious about the diamonds themselves, but an even bigger part is wondering about the life they lived before they ended up with me.

This complements me!

After a lot of looking, second-guessing, and trying on styles that were beautiful but never quite felt like me, I think I've finally found the one.

One thing I've learned through this process is that there's a big difference between a ring I admire and a ring that actually complements me. I've fallen in love with plenty of designs online, but when I see them on my own hand, sometimes the proportions, shape, or overall vibe just don't feel right.

This ring feels different. Instead of feeling like the ring is wearing me, it feels like it works with my hand and my personal style. The proportions feel balanced, it's comfortable to wear, and when I look at it, my eye goes to the whole picture rather than just the stone itself.

Of course, I've also stared at it so much that I may have completely lost my ability to judge it objectively. 😂

I'd love some honest opinions. Do you think this style complements my hand and overall look? Is there anything about the proportions, setting, or design that stands out to you?

Need input on an anniversary ring!

The people in my life are absolutely terrible at giving jewelry opinions, so I'm turning to the internet. 😂

I'm looking for a ring to celebrate a 20+ year anniversary, and I've been going back and forth between a few designs. My biggest challenge is that I've never felt like I have particularly "girly" hands, and finding rings that feel feminine and flattering on me has always been surprisingly difficult.

Most of the rings I currently wear are bezel-set because I love how practical and secure they are, but for this piece I was hoping to go in a slightly different direction. I'd like something that feels a little softer, more delicate, and maybe a bit more romantic than what I usually choose.

The rings in these photos are currently at the top of my list. If I move forward, I'd likely have one made in yellow gold with an aqua blue or teal sapphire center stone. Both designs feature oval center stones, although the light pink stone is rose cut, which gives it a very different look and personality.

The problem is that I've stared at these photos for so long that I can't tell whether they're beautifully detailed or just... busy.

A few things I'd especially love opinions on:

* Do the details feel elegant and vintage-inspired, or is there too much going on?
* Is the milgrain charming, or does it make the design look overly ornate?
* For those of you who don't have especially delicate hands, have you found that certain styles are more flattering than others?
* Which design feels more timeless for an anniversary ring that I hopefully wear for decades?

Part of me loves that these rings feel special and different from my everyday jewelry. Another part of me worries that I should simplify things and let the sapphire be the focus.

I'd really appreciate any honest feedback. If you've chosen an anniversary ring after many years of marriage, did you go with something completely different from your engagement ring, or did you try to stay within the same style family?

Does this look like an engagement ring to you?

I recently got engaged, and this is the ring we chose together. I absolutely love it, but now that I've been wearing it for a little while, I've found myself overthinking something I never expected to.

Does it actually look like an engagement ring?

I know engagement rings come in all styles these days, and there really aren't any rules anymore, but for some reason I keep wondering whether the size and overall look read as an engagement ring or if people would assume it's just a beautiful everyday ring.

Maybe it's because I've spent too much time looking at giant solitaires online, but sometimes I worry that mine is too modest. Other times I think it's elegant, practical, and perfectly suited to my style. The more I stare at it, the less objective I become!

At the end of the day, I chose it because I loved it, and I wouldn't want something that didn't feel like me. Still, I'm curious what people's honest first impression is.

If you saw this ring on someone's left hand, would you assume it was an engagement ring? Or would you think it was an anniversary ring, right-hand ring, or simply a piece of jewelry?

Had some people asking about my ring on another thread, so I figured I'd share the details here!

I wasn't able to respond before the original thread got locked, but I saw quite a few questions about my ring and honestly I'm always happy to talk about it because I love it so much.

It's a custom ring from Stag & Finch featuring a blue-green moissanite center stone with white moissanite side stones. One of the coolest parts of the whole experience is that they apparently liked the design enough that it ended up becoming one of their regular offerings, which still feels a little surreal to me!

When I was designing it, I knew I wanted something a little different from a traditional colorless stone. I kept coming back to blue-green shades because they seem to change personality depending on the lighting—sometimes leaning more blue, sometimes more green, and occasionally showing a bit of both. That's probably my favorite thing about it. I never get tired of looking at it because it always seems slightly different throughout the day.

I also love that moissanite allowed me to prioritize a unique color and design without feeling like I had to stick to conventional expectations. It feels very "me," which ended up being more important than choosing something traditional.

I'd love to know what others think! Do you prefer classic colorless stones, or would you choose something with color if you were designing your dream ring? And for anyone who has a blue-green gemstone or moissanite, have you found yourself as obsessed with the color shifts as I am?