My partner proposed to me with a plastic Halloween spider ring, which felt completely appropriate for a number of reasons—not the least of which was that I didn’t actually know what I wanted my real ring to look like. I knew I wanted 14k yellow gold and an elongated hexagon salt & pepper diamond, but that was about as far as I had ever thought.

In hindsight, I really value having had that experience, because it put me in the same headspace many of our clients arrive in—facing option paralysis with only a vague sense of what they want in a ring.

It took time and a lot of drawings before I found my inspiration: Gothic cathedrals! I’ve loved the architecture—the long windows, sharp spires, and muted tones—for as long as I can remember. I was especially inspired by Týn Church in Prague and Cologne Cathedral in Germany.

I wanted shine, but not bling. Salt & pepper diamonds and white baguettes felt perfect for that balance. I’ve always loved the radiance of baguette diamonds; they remind me of cathedral windows and organ pipes. Salt & pepper diamonds, with their unique inclusions and imperfections, create character and depth—something that feels very fitting for this life.

A knife-edge band and claw prongs work to emphasize long lines and sharp details. Diamond and milgrain details were added to both the front and back of the ring, along with a window on the underside—because I firmly believe there should be drama from every angle. In the end, we we did everything we could to create a tiny cathedral I could wear on my finger every day.

I could not be happier with how the ring turned out. It feels more like me than I ever could have imagined, and it carries the time, care, and love of some of the most important people in my life. I’m not sure what could be more special than that.

Do you want to create your own, one-of-a-kind piece of deeply personal wearable art? Could it possibly be in the form of an alternative stone engagement ring? Contact us and together we can make something so specifically you!