Engagement Rings, Wedding Rings, Earrings, Jewelry Santa Barbara, Custom Jewelers in Santa Barbara

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Oval Blue Sapphire Mounted In A Platinum Engagement Ring

The blue sapphire is one of the fine gemstones that couples choose for their engagement ring. Sapphires are often heated to bring out their best color and the blue one is sought after as a reminder of our skies and our waters. When looked at, the color blue also has a very soothing effect on the emotions. Sapphires in particular have a depth of color and a lustrous reflection.

Oval blue sapphire set into a platinum and diamond ring

Our customer found us on the Web, a real accomplishment because in a way gregoreandjennifer.com is a hidden jewel. We tinker away from the public eye absorbed in the latest innovative tools and techniques. We privately design to express our passion for the fine art of jewelry and for the joy of expressing the artist each of us is becoming.

Side of the ring showing the clean lines and low profile for the active person

Our customer came to us very sure they wanted a sapphire, but it was only after they saw preliminary hand drawings that the oval faceted shape was settled upon. Visual aids are a necessary part of designing an engagement ring. Fortunately for the development of CAD we are able to finalize a design from a near photographic image. Customer’s understand realism. With this customer and many others taking the next steps involved handling a real, life size example. CAD is misleading because it can be enlarged on our mobile devices to such a large degree that it shows details that are not visible in the completed ring.

We strive to move the process along quickly by getting designs to the customer as soon as we find a gemstone they like.

Once we knew we were on track with the design we ventured into CAD which is a more time consuming process.

three options of the distance the small round diamonds traveled down the finger

Our customer was not sure how many diamonds they wanted to see on their finger. With CAD we made variations fairly easily and the photographic image really helped them to make the decision. It was heart warming and helpful how the couple worked together admiring the process and chiming in with their preferences.

The chosen ring was the top one with three diamonds on either side of the sapphire.

We found the need for the customer to actually try on a mockup of the design which we did by cutting waxes off the CAD with the CNC. We painted the wax with a color similar to that of the metal platinum and inserted real diamonds into the shoulders. They tried on each ring with the sapphire in place to help them see and feel which one suited them best.

two slightly different models of the ring in wax painted silver color like platinum and with real diamonds on the shoulders

When a customer is very handy, artistic and therefore not inclined to wear rings often they really need to try on the new engagement ring, even if just a wax, to see how it feels. We discovered during this stage that our customer needed a narrower band for comfort. The advantage of a wax also helped them see that the edges were softer than how blocky they appear in CAD. Even when a ring is completed we may need to resize it too because the weight of it really affects how it stays on the finger. Our rings are thicker by choice. We want your engagement rings to last more than a lifetime.

We really enjoyed creating this ring because we all worked together to come up with a design they both loved and that was perfectly comfortable. As a reminder always take your ring back to your jewelry designer at least yearly to make sure all the stones remain secure and the ring is fully intact. Everyone uses their hands in a different way and some never take off their rings, so it is prudent to be attentive to your heirlooms. Thanks for reading this!

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