Turning an Heirloom into A significant gift

Some of my favorite projects come through word-of-mouth recommendations. Recently, I was contacted by a new client whose networking group colleague had known me for years and spoke highly of my work.

She had a diamond from an old engagement ring, and wanted to repurpose the diamond into a custom piece for her daughter—exactly what her mother had done many times before. That was exactly up my alley.

After she reviewed my website and saw my custom work, we connected immediately. I arranged to visit her and her husband at their home, where I learned their daughter would be graduating from college at the end of the year. They wanted to create something truly significant to mark the milestone.

Together, we designed an "L-shaped" pendant featuring her mother's diamond at the top, and a faceted blue sapphire at the bottom.

One of the skills I've honed over the years is reading proportions instinctively; I knew exactly the size the "L" should be to complement the diamond perfectly.

Once we decided on the size of the “L”, I was able to have my model maker create the perfect size. We casted the “L” in yellow gold and attached a beautiful cable chain to the pendant. In addition, we made sure she could wear the pendant at different lengths depending on the neckline of her clothing.

When I delivered the finished necklace, the mother opened the box and exclaimed that it was even more beautiful than she'd imagined. Her father was equally thrilled. Moments like these remind me of why I do this work.

My greatest pleasure is creating meaningful pieces that bring beauty into the world—jewelry that will be treasured for generations to come.

Tip: When making a custom piece of jewelry, consider the old setting or half-pair of earrings you are no longer wearing. This can offset the price of the final design. With the price of gold at an all time high, this really makes a difference.