JEWELRY REDESIGN STORY #91: A NEW STONE FOR HER 40TH
THE REDESIGN CHALLENGE:
Ryan came to us with a milestone in mind: his wife's 40th birthday. He wanted to take her original engagement ring and transform it into something new — a piece that would mark this chapter the way the original had marked another. Rather than replacing her diamond, he wanted to build something new around it.
THE REDESIGN CONCEPT:
Oval Blue Sapphire
Ryan decided to pair her cushion-cut diamond with something entirely new: a hand-selected sapphire. We reviewed several oval blue sapphire options together, and he chose a stunning 0.996ct natural Ceylon (Sri Lanka) sapphire — among the finest origins for blue sapphire, prized for its depth of color.
Sketches
From there, we sketched a range of ways to bring the two stones together side by side, refining the balance between them until the design felt right.
THE REDESIGN PROCESS:
Rhino modeling
I built the final design in Rhino CAD, then sent the file to my caster with instructions to 3D print it in wax and cast directly from that. This time, Ryan requested 14k yellow gold — a shift from the ring's original white metal, giving the piece a warmer feel for its new chapter.
Casting
Process
Once the casting came back, it went to my master jeweler along with the diamond, the sapphire, and detailed setting instructions. Seeing his process shots before the final polish is always a reminder of the sheer artistry in his hands — every piece he touches becomes something one-of-a-kind.
THE REDESIGN REVEAL:
Redesign images
When the ring was finished, the new sapphire complemented her cushion diamond beautifully — two stones, distinct in color and cut, sitting together in real balance. Ryan's reaction said it all: "It looks amazing! Great work!"
There's something special about a redesign like this one — not born from marking something that already happened, but created ahead of time, chosen with intention, for a moment still being lived. I love being trusted with a project like that.
Materials:
14k yellow gold. Client's original cushion-cut diamond, reused from her engagement ring. (1) 0.996ct oval natural Ceylon (Sri Lanka) blue sapphire, newly sourced.
Manufacturing Level: Medium
Design Level: Easy-Medium
Looking to mark a milestone with a redesign of your own? Let's get started here.
