This custom diamond and sapphire ring was a true labor of love. I designed it for my client, Kirsten, using family heirloom stones — including her mother's 2.5-carat diamond, the diamond from her engagement ring and several sapphires. The piece combines meaningful materials with modern design, which is exactly what I love most about custom jewelry work.

In this post, I’ll walk you through my process — from our first conversation to the final product — so you can get a sense of what it’s like to collaborate with me on a custom jewelry design using heirloom stones.

The Inquiry

It all started in late January, when I received an email from Kirsten. She wanted to redesign some rings/earrings into something she could wear every day. A former client of mine had recommended me — which is always such an honor.

We traded a few emails while I prepared for the ACC Baltimore show, then scheduled our video consult for when I returned.

Kirsten's Vision for a Bespoke Ring

During our call, Kirsten shared that she wanted to combine her mother’s 2.5-carat diamond, a pair of half-carat diamond studs, and parts of her wedding ring into a new design. She gravitated toward bezel or channel settings for their security and durability. Most importantly, she envisioned something “creative, flowy, and twisted” — and in yellow gold. We also discussed her budget and timeline to ensure we were aligned from the start.

From Concept to Sketched Mockups

Since Kirsten lives out of state, I didn’t have the actual jewelry in hand when sketching the initial mockups, so I relied on estimated stone sizes to guide the design. She didn’t provide inspiration images, which gave me full creative freedom — exciting but also a bit daunting at first! Without reference images, it took me a little longer than usual to focus my ideas, but the result was one of my favorite designs to date.

Normally, I present clients with three designs:                                                 

1. A design based on their inspiration, reimagined in my own voice.          
2. A variation with added features (e.g., basket detailing or side stones)
3. A “wildcard” — something they haven’t considered but that I feel suits them

Because Kirsten left the direction so open, I added a fourth design. And — spoiler alert — the wildcard was the winner.

Adding Sapphires to the Design

During our follow-up video chat, Kirsten immediately loved the wildcard design. She asked if we could incorporate sapphires from a necklace, multiple sets of earrings, and side stones from her engagement ring — and the answer was yes! I updated the sketch and finalized the mockup via email. The piece was really starting to take shape.

Receiving the Heirloom Jewelry

Kirsten mailed me her heirloom diamonds and sapphires. Though there was a shipping delay (a nerve-wracking week for both of us), everything arrived safely and in one piece.

Once I had all the materials, I inventoried the jewelry and measured the stones. This step is vital for creating the CAD rendering used for casting. I sent the render to Kirsten for approval before moving the ring into production.

Bringing the Custom Ring to Life

After Kirsten approved the render, the production phase began. The ring was cast in yellow gold, stones were set, and all the finishing touches completed.

When she received the final ring, she told me how thrilled she was — which is always the best part of the job.

This ring was special not just because of the materials, but because of the trust and freedom Kirsten gave me. Designing custom jewelry with heirloom stones is incredibly meaningful — it's about honoring the past while creating something new and personal.

Thinking About Redesigning Your Jewelry?

If you have diamonds, gemstones, or other materials from family pieces and are wondering how to give them new life, I’d love to help. Whether you're looking for a custom engagement ring, a redesign of family jewelry, or a one-of-a-kind necklace or earrings, my process is collaborative, thoughtful, and centered on you.

Let's Chat!