Designing My Sister’s Engagement Ring: A Journey of Love, Discovery, and Connection
A Custom Ring Reveal Filled with Joy
Today is a day I’ll never forget—it marks my sister’s ring reveal! And she loves it. Her fiancé texted me right after to share how her face lit up, saying the moment brightened her 100 times over. Shortly after, they called me, their happiness practically radiating through the phone. I had never seen my sister so happy, so expressive—not just in her voice, but even in the photos they shared. It felt like I’d won the Golden Globes of jewelry design, and for my baby sister, no less. Designing a custom ring for nature lovers and active lifestyles like hers made the experience even more rewarding.
The Journey of Designing a Meaningful Ring
Designing her custom engagement ring was a journey—a long one at a year and a half—but I wasn’t complaining. That time gave us an opportunity to become closer. Truthfully, it felt like venturing into the unknown. Growing up, my sister and I liked very different things and expressed ourselves in completely different ways. However, creativity and an appreciation for the process of creating have always been our shared language.
Balancing Client Needs and Family Bonds
From the start, she and her fiancé were adamant: they wanted me to design her ring as I would for any client, not as her sister. “Treat us like anyone else,” they said. They didn’t want to be put on the back burner just because they were family. Therefore, I made a promise to honor their trust, and I kept it.
Uncovering the Essence of Her Style
Here’s the thing—my sister has never been someone who wears, or even wants to wear, jewelry. She doesn’t even have her ears pierced, which is almost unheard of in our Honduran family. In our culture, earrings are practically a birthright, a milestone marked within days of being born. So, when she asked me to design her engagement ring, I was both thrilled and surprised. Deep down, I was jumping for joy.
Designing a Custom Ring for Nature Lovers and Adventurers
The process began with patience and curiosity, uncovering the essence of what her ring should become. My sister and her fiancé are nature lovers and adventurers to their core. Their dogs, Pineapple and Elli, are their constant companions on hikes, camping trips, and outdoor excursions. My sister, a vet tech, needed a design that wouldn’t snag or interfere with her gloves while working with animals. She also wanted something unique, subtle, and meaningful—nothing traditional or flashy like the rings she often saw at the office. Designing a custom ring for nature lovers and active lifestyles like theirs meant focusing on practicality while honoring their love for the outdoors.
Finding the Perfect Sapphire
We started by focusing on the centerpiece. She wanted a sapphire, a stone with strength, character, and the serene feeling of water. After countless conversations, photo exchanges, and intuition guiding the way, I found it: a sapphire with the perfect color, shape, and personality. Naturally, I could feel in my gut that it was the one.
From Sketch to Meaningful Design
Once the stone was chosen, the design process truly began. This part is my favorite—the quiet moments of sketching and painting the concept. For me, it’s meditative. I create space to reflect on everything shared with me: the stories, the preferences, the essence of the person. As a result, those thoughts and feelings guide my hand as my trusty yellow mechanical pencil glides across the soft beige paper. Sometimes, quick sketches in my notebook pave the way, but often it’s a flow—a feeling that guides me.
Infusing Love and Intention into Jewelry
What emerges from these moments is a “recipe card” of sorts—a sketch paired with painted intentions, notes, and ideas. This is what I use to connect with my clients, to say, This is what I’ve heard. Does this reflect your dream? For my sister, it was no different. Every line, every decision was infused with love, joy, and thoughtfulness.
Creating a Symbol of Connection and Love
In my years of designing—from art and architecture to fine jewelry—I’ve learned that when a piece is rooted in love, intention, and care, it’s felt by everyone who encounters it. Therefore, it becomes more than just an object. It becomes meaningful, symbolic, and treasured. Thoughtfulness and heart shine through, and in those moments, people feel seen. They feel loved.
The Peak of a Meaningful Design Journey
Designing this ring for my sister was one of the most meaningful projects of my life. It feels like standing at the peak of a mountain, grateful for the journey it took to get there. Her ring isn’t just a symbol of love between her and her fiancé—it’s a symbol of the connection we’ve deepened along the way.
