assisting with bridal rings

Your bridal rings. The most enduring symbol of your commitment, love, and hard work.

I take that very seriously.

And that means I make it all about you, your lifestyle, your desires, your aesthetic, your dream. There is no one-size-fits-all bride or groom, so why are there so many jewelers selling one-size-fits-all jewelry?

You know what I mean: commodity jewelry. Things you’ve seen again and again; things that will be “dated” once the market over-saturates.

But do not be mistaken. I am not embracing only “over the top,” hyper-modern, or hyper-traditional jewelry. That couldn't be further from the truth.

What I do, and do darn well, is design and sell personal classics. In other words, if it’s a traditional style ring, it is the purest, truest version of that ring—not a diluted one. If it’s a more industrial-style ring, it is done with such balance that it would never look dated. Certain to always catch attention, certain to not be to everyone’s taste, but never dated. A good number of my best-selling “small production” bridal collection styles are still best sellers after 20 years of design. And the ones that were created those two decades ago are still eliciting compliments today.

The same care goes into how I choose the bridal lines I carry, to supplement what I make myself. Simply put, the designers of my “out-of-house” lines are people who have a similar approach to fine jewelry design. I consider them peers. So, when you are drawn to a ring by one of my other designers, know that you are certainly not choosing something typical.

So, how do I do all that?

By being design driven. I let the best design for you, your lifestyle, and your aesthetic taste, rise to the surface by asking all the right questions. Getting to know you. Once that basic design concept reveals itself, I am able to perfect it by staying faithful that particular design style. If I carry a designer whose work is an ideal fit for that style, I will steer you that way. If not, I make it myself.

That way, nothing’s watered down. No commodity jewelry.

Below are some various styles I design and carry, and how I approach designing and crafting them or choosing and selling them.

traditional / classic

It is such a shame that Tiffany’s original prong-set mounting has become a commodity. And in so doing (even in the industry, we refer to the prongs as “Tiffany heads”), all the subtle grace in the original Tiffany engagement ring is gone.

So, that having been said…

If you are too unsure about having a custom bridal ring made to “take that plunge,” but would like to make the proposal a surprise, that is the only time I sell a “commodity style” Tiffany engagement ring. In other words, we all agree it is for “temporary purposes only,” until you come in together to choose a more individual mounting.

But, if what you like is the simplicity of a solitaire, and would like the ring to be beautifully traditional and classic for years and years to come, let me show you some solitaire mountings that have grace and style, and a number of which are completely handcrafted to order. Something to wear with pride and joy.

“I’m rough on jewelry.”
[also known as, “I’m very active.”]

No messing around here.

No jewelry made of precious metal can be made to tolerate the ravages of rock-climbing, weight-lifting, construction work, river guiding, mountain biking, or moving a grand piano. One of the reasons why precious metal is so precious is because it can be worked, which means it is malleable and ductile. If you subject it to forces similar in power to those subjected to it during the jewelry-making process, you will bend it, scratch it, scrape it, and wear it in ways that are just plain cruel.

Anything can be ruined if you try hard enough.

So, provided a few sensible rules can be followed, I am an expert at designing bridal rings for both men and women that aren’t clunky, but still mitigate against semi-abusive behavior. From high school soccer coaches to landscapers to construction works to river guides, I have many satisfied, very active, rough-on-their-jewelry folks.

classics with a twist

This is for the couple who want a design that is classic in basic concept, but which has enough individuality as to feel special. Often a good choice when a larger center stone (whether a white diamond, a colored diamond, or a colored gem) is involved, so that the overall ring doesn’t look too overblown in terms of volume and message.

I can carefully guide to choosing a ring that has balance, taste, and luxury.

“I want options.”

Sometimes I'm more like an engineer than a jeweler. Whether you want stackables you can interchange, a three-ring set that allows for varied combinations, or a second ring to work with an existing one that every other jeweler (including the one who sold the original!) said “was impossible to design,” my technical expertise can get you out of a pickle.

“I want different.”

Basically, most of my customers come in to Alara because we’re different, and so is so much of our jewelry.

Clearly, it takes a lot more effort to fill a gallery with unusual, high-quality lines than inexpensive plain ones. And it takes confidence. And passion.

It is certainly easy for us to provide classic jewelry, because it is only through a knowledge of classic styles that you can build balanced, beautiful designs that will withstand the test of time.

But, a store that shows nothing but plain ol’, plain ol’, "been there/done that" jewelry, will most likely not have the resources to create a design that pushes the edge of the envelope a bit. Without pushing it off the edge.

Different is as different does. And I find that word means such vastly different things to different people. It is our great pleasure to find out what it means to you, and pair you up with the rings that meet your definition.

For some people, it means unusual materials or combinations of materials. For others, it means “conversation starter.” For yet others, it is personal symbolism, a texture from nature, or a hidden secret.