JEWELRY REDESIGN STORY #90: A STARBURST MADE FROM TWO RINGS SHE LOVED
THE REDESIGN CHALLENGE:
Susan came to us with two rings that held enormous meaning — one that belonged to her late father, and one that belonged to his wife. She didn't want them sitting separately in a drawer anymore. She wanted their gold and diamonds combined into a single ring she could actually wear, carrying both of them with her at once.
Susan came in with an idea already forming: a wide band, set with starburst diamonds. My role was to help shape that idea into something wearable, proportioned, and entirely her own.
THE REDESIGN CONCEPT:
Sketches
We sketched the starburst concept across several different band widths, since "wide" can mean very different things depending on how it actually sits on the hand. Susan was clear that she didn't want anything overwhelming — she wanted the ring to feel substantial, not heavy. She ultimately chose a 6-7mm band set with 10 diamonds in a starburst pattern, in 14k yellow gold, reusing the gold and diamonds from her father's ring and his wife's ring.
THE REDESIGN PROCESS:
Rhino modeling
I built the design in Rhino CAD, modeling it from four different views to check the proportions from every angle. The real challenge was scale: a starburst setting can easily overpower a narrower band, so I kept the pattern sized carefully to the width Susan had chosen, discrete and balanced rather than sprawling.
Casting
The casting came back in 14k yellow gold, and the starburst pattern translated exactly as I'd hoped — proportioned, clean, sitting comfortably within the band. From there, the casting, her diamonds, and the technical drawing all went to my master jeweler to bring it together. Susan had one more request for the finish: satin, not shiny — a softer, quieter glow that suited the piece.
THE REDESIGN REVEAL:
Redesign images
When Susan received the finished ring, she was thrilled. She wrote to me afterward:
"I am really loving my ring! Thank you so much for your good work and collaboration in making it all come together. You are a pleasure to work with. I will keep you top of mind for any future projects."
Moments like this are exactly why I love making custom, special-order jewelry. It's never just about the metal or the stones — it's about the connection made along the way, and knowing a piece now carries two people Susan loved, every time she wears it.
Materials:
14k yellow gold, satin finish, 6-7mm band width, 10 diamonds in a starburst setting (reused from client's own rings).
Manufacturing Level: Medium
Design Level: Easy-Medium
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