Cheska's Ring

This is my favorite piece I created in 2010, I am a bit bias because this is my wife's wedding ring. It has to be very special, truly one of a kind.

I bought her engagement ring because it was one of those really off guard moments, where I proposed in a local jewellery store in the Philippines. I just want to be all spontaneous that day to really surprised her... and it worked flawlessly. Her engagement ring is not that elaborate but very elegant, she was just trying it on and really fell in love with it. We went to 5 or 6 jewellery stores to try rings on and just she didn't even have a clue that we are buying a ring that day. We went to 3 malls in Davao City to just "to get ideas", she really thought that I would be creating her ring based on the style she wants but I had a different idea... I truly want to sweep her off her feet that day. She narrowed it down to 2 rings and fortunately both rings were in the same mall...we don't have to drive all over the place for her to decide. We called a few of her closest friends to meet us for dinner and she had no clue it would serve as her engagement celebration. They gave their opinions on the two rings and she finally decided on the one she absolutely loved, so right there and then I asked her to marry me, she was teary eyed when she said yes...so we bought the ring. She agreed to have that ring because she loves it but she did requested me to create something really different for her wedding ring. I've created really stunning pieces before for a lot of my clients, so its no easy request. I have to make it as unique as possible but considering her preferences in the styling, simple and elegant as she decribes it.

Her ring features a .41ct Canadian Round Brilliant Cut diamond, bezel set in a one of a kind Dodgie Dator design mount. This setting is casted from a wax model I personally prepared, it wasn't carved as most models are, I melted the wax and let it flow on a mandrel and made the curves more unpredictable. I later smoothen the contours and shaped it into a ring, it took a bit of filling up gaps from the flow of the melted wax. It was certainly different than sculpting it from a block of wax, it made the ring even more unique. I asked one of the very best goldsmiths in Winnipeg to cast and finish the ring, we discussed a few different surface finish to make the ring even more stunning. I wanted it to be a 2 cast piece 14kt gold, one piece in white and the other in yellow. To secure the diamond I decided to bezel set it, my goldsmith suggested to put on a "needle finish" on the surface. I wasn't that sure if it would look good since it was a new type of finish he can apply. The finish product is certainly very unique and absolutely gorgeous.

I was so excited to present it to Cheska and it was all worth the amazing journey in creating the ring, my amazing diamond supplier in finding the perfect diamond for my needs and to my superb goldsmith in casting and finishing my concept perfectly. When my wife finally had the chance to see it on our wedding day, she absolutely LOVED it and she was so happy to be wearing such a one of a kind piece.