An Alternative Engagement Ring + Custom Top Notch Faceting Sapphire

Back in July of last year I alerted my readers to my search for an alternative, more “user-friendly” engagement ring for everyday wear. I also penned a “Rules of Engagement” blog post which generated a lot of feedback and I enjoyed hearing everyone’s take on something that is often not talked about. If you haven’t read the blog post–I totally encourage you!

Well since then, I’ve been on the hunt for a genuine sapphire to replace the synthetic one that was in this antique cluster ring from Maejean Vintage. Sometimes when hunting for jewelry, you have to keep in mind that if the piece is not exactly “perfect” to you, there’s always ways of changing out gemstones, or re-enameling a piece that has heavy enamel damage, or resetting the design to make it more appealing. You have to train your eye to envision a piece of jewelry reimagined. 

Finding a sapphire was tougher than I thought! Browsing online proved tough because I knew I had to be able to see the gemstone in person to judge if it was the right color blue that I wanted. I realized the best place to find something would most likely be in Tucson at the annual gem shows. I was ready to make it one of my projects while in Tucson a few months ago. At that point I realized I was going to have to buy a stone and get it recut so it would properly fit. I kept finding sapphires I really loved the colors of but hated to think of spending so much money on a larger stone that would just need cutting down. I figured my best bet would be to buy a more affordable price per carat sapphire, and hopefully once recut, it would look better than the lower price point that it truly is/was. 

That goal was sort of lofty but I knew Jean-Noel of Top Notch Faceting could turn my ordinary stone into something magical. After some Top Notch Faceting, the once dark blue sapphire opened up and now has a brighter, more brilliant shine and sparkle. The blue lightened up a bit, but still has its velvety color which is what I wanted from the very beginning. I love that the stone is not a cookie-cutter cut–it has its own unique shape and style that Jean-Noel is known for and makes the stone and now ring that much more special. 

I’m so happy with how this ring came out and it is truly a testament to having patience and making sure every step of the creation process is exactly what you want. Settling for something less than what you are envisioning just because it would be quicker is not always the answer. I’m also loving the fact that this ring will become important in my jewelry wardrobe and it is from some of my favorite people in the jewelry industry–Maejean Vintage & Top Notch Faceting. 

Let me know your thoughts on the ring! Would love to hear!

WANT MORE? Check out what else is in my jewel box!