engagement rings – DiamondIdeals.com

Custom Designing your Diamond Ring

Laurent — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 23:04:37 +0000

Over the past few years, we have turned more and more toward customizing the majority of the rings we create. At first our customers feel a little daunted by the task but when they learn about the process and start thinking about the benefits, they become eager and excited about the project. Most of the time we start with a nebulous concept, a quick sketch or a picture from a magazine. Using sample rings on our site and in our showroom we start talking about the different possibilities, proportions and options. We take copious notes and come up with an cost. After the initial meeting, we discuss our customer’s wishes with our design team and everything gets put into a CAD image. We review the initial CAD and make necessary adjustments until we are very close to what our customer envisioned. The wedding band, in its’ original incarnation had a huge swerve which made it impossible to wear on its’ own. In the design process, we softened that cure to the point that it is barely noticeable.

We then present the CAD to our customer and upon approval move forward with the manufacturing process. In the case of the attached pictures, we used stones from our customer’s original wedding band along with sapphires from an heirloom ring. We were fortunate that they were nearly the same diameter. In the design process we were able to adjust the heights of both rings such that they would look good next to each other despite the difference in the size of the stones in the shanks.

Once the design is approved, creating the ring takes about a week to 10 days. The end result is personal, unique and worthy of being yours.

Custom Channel-Set Princess-Cut Wedding Band

Laurent — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 21:10:22 +0000

A few years ago, a long time friend and customer came to me with a special request. He wanted to purchase three stone ring with three different stones in it. Each stone has special meaning and I was happy to oblige. He was the first to own our Three Stone Monaco setting, I don’t believe it even had a name yet, and we set it with a diamond in the center and a sapphire and a garnet on the sides. He recently came to me looking for a band that would go with it but could not find anything on the website. We discussed the various options, sizes, and budget and decided to create a channel set band with princess cuts that would be hand engraved to complement the first ring. Here is a composite image of the original ring that I had in my files and the new band.

Cushion and Graduated Trapazoid Engament Ring

Laurent — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 21:45:22 +0000

Every ring we design is an adventure in interpretation and communication. The clients who wanted this ring came into our showroom with the idea that she wanted a 5 carat stone with big baguettes coming down the side and split prongs. Well, needless to say, the budget he had in mind was going to be stretched, but we started the process anyway. The central piece of any engagement ring is the center stone and our first job was to pick one she liked. Much to his relief, the 5 carat stones all looked too big on her and so we aimed a little smaller. The winning candidate was a 3.5 ct cushion cut. We build out from there, quickly realizing that baguettes, or more appropriately tapered baguettes were not what she had visualized. They were too skinny and the look they were after was more substantial. A little trial and error brought us to graduated brilliant-cut trapezoids.

We sketched the ring while they were here and lo and behold, with the side stones, the total weight was 5 carats! They left with a copy of our sketch, anticipating the finished ring.

About 10 days later, he returned to pick up the ring.

We have now received 4 phone calls over the last couple of months thanking us and telling us how much they love the ring.

Custom East West Oval Engagement Ring

Laurent — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 21:12:13 +0000

A little while ago, I sat down with a client who knew she wanted an oval as an engagement ring stone and wanted it set East-West instead of the more traditional North-South direction. Over a period of a few weeks we went back and forth with potential designs, always keeping in mind that her finger was a size 4.5. We finally hit the proverbial nail on the head and she decided to flank the oval with two trapezoids. The result was stunning. The center stone weighs 1.5 carats and the traps weigh a total of approximately 0.4 carats.

Three Stone Princess-cut Engagement Ring with Custom Engraving

Laurent — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 17:55:40 +0000

Recently a customer contacted us with what he thought was a bit of a puzzle. He really liked our HENR6009 but felt the lines were too modern. He loved the three princess cuts and the rows of princess cut melée stones going down the shank but he really liked some of the more vintage styles like Monaco collection or some of the more intricate engraved models we show. This was not a puzzle at all. We offered to hand engrave the style he liked to transform it into something he loved. The center stone is a 1 ct Princess cut diamond. It has 0.2 cts on either side and 14 little Princess cuts in the shank weighing a total of approximately 0.3 carats.

Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux Engagement Ring can be affordable.

Laurent — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 14:02:54 +0000

Congratulations to Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux on their engagement! Justin reportedly gave Jennifer a whopping 8 carat emerald cut set between tapered baguettes. I admire him for not trying to reinvent the wheel and giving her one of the most classic engagement ring styles of all times. It might be big but it is such a beautiful design that it is the perfect symbol of enduring love. You don’t have to take out a mortgage or a home equity loan to afford this same style. We can create the same ring with slightly more down to earth proportions. Here is such an engagement ring with a 2.5 carat center stone and o.4 ctTW baguettes on the side, set in platinum. This was a customized version of our classic style which you can find at by clicking here.

Channel-Set Engagement Ring with Millgrain

Laurent — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 17:47:05 +0000

This custom engagement ring was specifically designed to offer a flush fit to just about any wedding band. The center stone weighs 2.25cts and there are a total of 0.6cts of mêlée diamonds on the combined set. Notice how the under-gallery of the diamond curves back under itself in order to make room for the wedding band.

Round Center with Pear-Shaped Side Stone Engagement Ring

Laurent — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 20:24:40 +0000

Who said you had to reinvent the wheel? This classic engagement ring has a 1.75 carat center stone flanked by two pear-shaped diamonds weighing 0.65 carats TW. The diamonds are set in platinum and this ring is absolutely spectacular.

Engagement ring with tapered baguettes.

Laurent — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:50:22 +0000

We recently completed this stunning custom engagement ring. The center stone weighed 1.25 carats and the side stones and tapered baguettes weighed a total of approximately 0.3 carats. This was a customized version of one of our more popular rings (HENS1100A)

This is the first of a series of postings I will be making of rings we have designed here in the shop with the input of our customers.

Tips For A Successful Marriage Proposal

Mara — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 14:56:27 +0000

Are you ready to pop the question? This is one of the biggest moments of your life and a stepping stone to your future. We have some tips to making it a success.

1) Plan

Figure out how you want to propose, where and what you want to say. Go ahead and practice your words since it is easy to get nervous. If you flub, don’t stress too much. Once she sees the ring, she will get the idea and you will have plenty of future moments to verbalize how you feel.

2) Make It Personal

This ties into planning. Cater your proposal to something special in your history or around something you know she likes and is meaningful to her. Think about special moments and where you were. Go for something private if she is this sort of person, or go public if she likes lots of fanfare. You may think its very cool to propose via the big screen at a ball game, but this won’t work if she isn’t a sports fan. Push what you want aside and make it all about her.

3) Ask The Parents

There are plenty of traditions you can buck when it comes to marriage. Women are wedding in red dresses, serving cupcakes instead of cake, and opting out of having a bridal party. However, asking the parents for permission is something that should be kept. They are your future family and it’s a sign of respect.

4) Research the Ring & Know What She Wants

The ring is a sign of your love and something that your bride-to-be will wear and treasure for the rest of her life. Take a look at her clothing and current jewelry choices to get a gauge on her style. If you are unsure, enlist the help of those close to her like a friend or even her mother. Make sure you research diamonds and your jeweler thoroughly. Some women are very particular about what they want in a ring and will want to choose their own setting, while others want to be surprised. Make sure you find out in advance. Loose diamonds can be given and many jewelers can create custom designs.

5) Share The Good News the Old Fashion Way

There is a recent trend of the newly engaged to post the news on Facebook or announce on Twitter. This can anger friends and family who wanted to find out in a more personal way. This is a huge moment and should be shared by phone or in person. Social networks are good for plenty of things like sharing a photo or what you had for lunch, but not for bigger moments like this.