A while back, I met a newly married couple at a community event. We exchanged stories about what we did for a living and the next thing I knew, she was asking me to help her with a special project. In her family, there is a tradition of cutting heart shaped sections out of a single piece of china and making them into necklaces that the women of the family can wear in celebration of a marriage.

A critical component of a shared design process is always finding out how my clients will wear their jewelry. Based on my experience, here are three tips for working with a designer on your next design.

Something small that makes you smile, that puts a little sparkle in your life when you need it most. Stud earrings are easy to put on, easy to wear, and they won't get caught up in your mask!

These first two rings were recently designed and presented to their new owner who had fallen in love with the play of color on both of them. I was honored to created these unique pieces. Looking back on this year's work as a whole, I'm happy to see how much my clients enjoy colored gemstones: sapphires, ametrines, tanzanites, blue topaz, aquamarines, and citrine.

Diamonds are classic and famously go with everything. When you wear diamond jewelry, whether you're in jeans, WFH wear, or a date-night ensemble, the elegance of a diamond is effortless. When I create a custom piece for you, your taste and lifestyle are my priority.

My client, an architect, saw ametrine gemstones and fell in love with their unique characteristic: amethyst on one side and citrine on the other, creating a beautiful blend of color regions ranging from purple to yellow, with a touch of orange.

Recently, a customer hired me to sell ruby and diamond rings she was no longer wearing. It just happened to be during the COVID epidemic, when none of my suppliers were open.

I always say that "Diamonds Don't Spoil." If you have diamonds in a piece of jewelry you are no longer enjoying, they are still valuable and can be recreated into jewelry that you will want to wear every day. Reach out to me with any questions.

I received a call from a man who said he was dating a dear friend of mine and wanted to make her a special necklace, and that I had come highly recommended because I could custom design it for her. He told me "I want her to love it," so she was involved in the design process.

Did you ever have a charm bracelet? One that was your own, or one your mother handed down to you? I do, and I find that most women do. These are highly sentimental pieces that tell the story of your life, or your family's life. Yet, unfortunately most of us keep them in a drawer, not to be worn for many years.

I just had the pleasure of working with a client whose favorite time of day is sunrise over the ocean, and she commissioned me to create that feeling in a ring. As a professional organizer, she needs to be able to use her hands all the time. She has a lovely diamond engagement ring that sits high on her finger, which is problematic to wear while she's working. She wanted something she could wear all day with the perfect color scheme.

I was commissioned to create a very special pendant in tribute to the life of an exceptional man who is no longer with us. My client wanted to create something she could wear close to her heart every day, with the logo of his company on one side and his thumbprint on the other.

I recently completed a design project for a young man who wanted to replace a missing treasured pendant that his fiancée no longer had. I had come highly recommended by a dear friend who was sure I’d be able to create this custom design, to specification, in a very short amount of time and at the right price.

Have you ever owned a piece of jewelry that you absolutely loved but couldn't wear? I'm thinking of those of you with family heirlooms that are precious but be heavy, too large or small, or are not comfortable to wear.

A client of mine was interested in a current trend of "rainbow" jewelry - multiple varying colored stones in one piece. In her case she was looking for a ring but couldn't find one with the shape and colors she was seeking. We sat down and discussed what might go in to the ring.

A few months ago I was honored to be asked to speak at NAPO, the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals.

As a New Yorker I wear a lot of black. I have an entire drawer in my dresser dedicated to black tops. But I have this one client who has a very different and distinctive style. She loves color more than your average New Yorker. Every time I have met with her she is wearing bold, bright colors. Her uniqueness is apparent from a block away.

One of the things I love the most about living in New York City is that there is always something to do or somewhere to go. It is impossible to be bored here. As a result, the people who live here tend to be very busy and are often pulled in many directions.

Over the course of my career, many of my clients have asked me about the process of creating a piece of custom jewelry. I often tell them there are 8 to 10 steps in the creation of any custom piece, and I thought I'd share them with you today.