Not all engagement rings begin with a new stone. Some begin with legacy.
A young couple came to me looking for bespoke white gold engagement and wedding rings, with a soft, organic aesthetic. They wanted something deeply personal. Something that honoured their love, but also acknowledged the generations who came before them.
Designing Around an Heirloom Diamond Solitaire
She had inherited her grandmother’s diamond solitaire — a beautiful diamond set in platinum on a warm yellow gold band. The setting was still strong, but the diamond itself had a small chip, the kind of imperfection that told of age, wear, and life.
When clients bring heirloom jewellery into my studio, it’s never just about aesthetics. These pieces are full of stories, worn through years of laughter, tears, and milestones. This diamond held not only sparkle, but memory — and the young bride-to-be didn’t want to lose that.
As a bespoke jewellery designer specialising in heirloom jewellery redesign, I offered two paths forward: replace the diamond entirely, or design around it to protect it and preserve its full history. They chose the latter.
That choice — to protect rather than replace — speaks volumes about the kind of love they share. It’s not about perfection. It’s about reverence, resilience, and continuing a story.
Organic Wedding Jewellery
I cut the original yellow gold band and fused it into the new white gold engagement ring, blending past and present in a very literal way. The diamond, though slightly chipped, found a new home in the gentleness of a leaf-inspired design that cradled it with quiet strength.
The wedding ring, designed to sit perfectly alongside the engagement band, features another organic leaf motif on the opposite side. When worn together, the two rings wrap around the diamond like a protective embrace. It’s a love story told in metal: nurturing, balanced, and rooted in history.
Nature is a constant source of inspiration in my work. There’s something powerful in seeing organic, nature-inspired jewellery tell such deeply human stories.
A Romantic Secret Proposal
Once we had agreed on the design direction, the bride-to-be stepped back, not because she lost interest, but because she trusted the process. All further communication moved to the fiancé.
He wanted to surprise her with the final piece — to propose with a ring that held not only their story, but her grandmother’s as well.
She didn’t see the finished ring until the moment he asked her to marry him.
I’m not sure if I was the first to find out that he had proposed.
“Tara 😊 he’s just asked me, now 😊. The ring is absolutely beautiful. I absolutely love it ❤️ ❤️. It’s beautiful.”
Moments like this remind me why I do what I do. Jewellery isn’t just decoration. It’s memory made tangible. It’s emotion you can hold.
