Mike and Wendy came in knowing exactly what they wanted: a pendant for their daughter, who had just been born in December. December is one of those months with multiple birthstones — blue zircon, blue topaz, tanzanite, and turquoise — each with its own personality, color, and feel. The challenge wasn’t finding a stone; it was finding the stone that felt right for their little girl.
I pulled a selection of gems in different colors, shapes, and styles and sent them home with Mike so Wendy could look them over without any pressure. She ended up choosing one of the stones herself — the one that immediately felt right for her.
Once the stone was chosen, we worked together to create a design around it. Something timeless. Something she could wear now, and something her daughter could treasure years from now when the time comes to pass it on.
It wasn’t just about making a pendant. It was about helping two new parents create a piece of jewelry that would carry meaning from one generation to the next. And that’s the kind of work I love most.
Not every couple walks in knowing exactly what they want — and that’s perfectly normal. When Heidi and Ryan came by, they weren’t ready to design a ring yet. In fact, Ryan was mostly trying to get a feel for what styles caught her eye.
So instead of a design session, we made it simple: we looked at different shapes, settings, and metals just to see what she reacted to. No pressure, no decisions, no deadlines — just exploring.
Sometimes the first step in custom design isn’t designing at all. It’s learning what you like, what you don’t like, and what feels right.
For couples like Heidi and Ryan, this early stage is one of the most important parts of the process. It helps narrow things down, sparks ideas, and makes the eventual design feel more personal and intentional.
They may not have picked a style that day — but they left with a clearer sense of direction, and that’s exactly how the process should start.
Chlorine is one of the most common — and most surprising — causes of jewelry damage. It’s in pools, hot tubs, cleaning products, and even some tap water. Over time, chlorine can weaken the metal in your jewelry, especially gold.
When gold is exposed to chlorine, it can cause the metal to become brittle. Prongs can weaken, settings can loosen, and stones can fall out. Even white gold and platinum aren’t immune.
If you wear your jewelry every day, it’s easy to forget to take it off before getting into a pool or hot tub. But a few minutes in chlorinated water can do more damage than years of normal wear.
How to protect your jewelry:
Remove rings before swimming or using cleaning products
Rinse jewelry with clean water if it’s been exposed
Have prongs and settings checked regularly
Bring in pieces that feel loose or look dull
A little care goes a long way — and can save you from costly repairs down the road.
