Some rings start with a gemstone. This one started with a handful of black sand and a lot of intention. Jake came to me with something deeply personal: black sand he had collected on his travels. He wanted the sand itself to become part of his engagement ring, integrated into the design. He had the shank made by another jeweller overseas and needed someone local to assemble it. This wasn’t a simple request, and that was exactly what made it special.
Turning Travel Memories into a Custom Ring
Before anything could be made, the sand had to be carefully sifted in order to get the finest pieces to glue into the inlay groove of the ring.
I spent time carefully sifting through every grain, separating the finest particles. Only the smallest pieces would work. Anything too coarse or irregular wouldn't fit.
This step was a little meditative. It’s also where a custom jewellery project really begins. You’re not just designing a ring, you’re learning about different materials. No two pieces of custom-made jewellery are ever the same. There doesn't exist a handbook!
Building the Ring, Grain by Grain
Once the sand was sifted, the real work began.
Over several days, I carefully epoxied the sand into the ring, building it up in layers. This isn’t a single pour or a quick fix. Each layer needs time to set, stabilize, and bond properly before the next one can be added. It also takes days to dry.
Matching the Existing Shank
One of the technical challenges of this project was matching the pre-existing shank to a whole new top-setting for the center stone. The proportions, colour balance, and overall feel had to align so the final ring felt cohesive, not like two separate ideas forced together.
I created a setting for the center stone in CAD. To make sure it was tailor-made for the unique center stone.
The Box That Sealed the Deal
As if the ring itself wasn’t ambitious enough, Jake took things a step further.
He custom-made the ring box himself. That detail alone earned him serious points. Thoughtful doesn’t even begin to cover it. When someone puts this much care into every part of the process, from the material to the presentation, it shows. This wasn’t just a ring. It was a statement of effort and thoughtfulness.
