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Thirty and thriving is a real thing. While it felt weird (conceptually) to step out of my 20s and into my 30s, I’ve found that there are a lot of perks. I went from graduating college during the recession and working low-paid internships, to working as a server and saving money for grad school, to studying abroad and getting my M.A., to moving to Baltimore, getting married, and starting my first salaried job. Now I’m full-on adulting, I’ve worked hard to build my career and my blog, and I’ve invested time in cultivating a network of people who I admire and who inspire me creatively.
It feels pretty darn good to look back on the past decade and see how far I’ve come. The hustle is real, and I wanted to celebrate that, so last month I sat down with the design team at Zachary’s Jewelers for a consultation to create a statement ring. Women don’t often get fine jewelry for themselves, but why not?! I wanted to celebrate all my work accomplishments in a unique and significant way that marks this time in my life.
At Topside in the Hotel Revival rocking my custom ring with a Forevermark diamond from Zachary’s Jewelers.
Zachary’s Jewelers is a local, family-owned jewelry store with locations in downtown Annapolis and Severna Park. In addition to carrying designer jewelry brands like Marco Bicego and Roberto Coin, Zachary’s Jewelers has a dedicated team of designers and an on-site workshop with the ability to make a piece of jewelry in-house from start to finish.
When I went in for my design consultation, the design team greeted me with a luxurious afternoon tea set complete with macarons and little cakes, and a series of initial design sketches based on photos I’d sent them and my social media (which they checked out in advance). They really did their research!
Screenshots from the video recap of my design experience.
Hair and makeup by Rachel Weaver for Studio 921 Salon and Spa.
One of the designs Erica sketched for me based on my specifications.
While I poured myself a cup of fragrant black tea, their designer Erica walked me through the concepts. I had said that I wanted a ring for my right hand – something elegant, minimal, wearable day-to-day, yet unique and statement-making. Erica had painstakingly gone through my Instagram to get a sense for my style, and along with the inspirational photos I sent over, came up with three initial ring sketches. She definitely nailed it! All three perfectly fit what I had conceptualized. After discussing the sketches, Erica promised me two more design concepts by the following week, to refine the ideas. It was so exciting to see my vision start to come to life!
But perhaps the most exciting part was yet to come… I was nibbling on a macaron when Brittany, another in-house designer, brought out the box that housed the Forevermark Black Label diamond that would be the focal point of the ring. I couldn’t wait to meet my stone! Less than 1% of the world’s diamonds qualify to become a Forevermark diamond based on a stringent scale that includes being responsibly sourced as well as having impeccable cut and quality. Even fewer become Forevermark Black Label diamonds – distinguished by their peerless symmetry that results in maximum sparkle. I looked at my diamond up close and I instantly fell in love.
Looking at my Forevermark Black Label diamond through the magnification viewer.
Full of tea and cakes and giddy at the thought of my new ring, I drove home envisioning the diamond glittering on my right hand. A week later, Erica emailed me the final two design concepts. I chose between the five (if you follow me on Instagram you likely cast a vote on them!) and held my breath for another two weeks until the wax cast of the final design was ready. It was so exciting to go into the store and try it on – it made the design tangible and allowed me to really visualize what I was having created.
Finally, I went in for the big reveal – my ring was finished! It was amazing to see the design completely come to life. I love its smooth abstract curves that are feminine and modern, the openness of the sides, and of course – the glitter of the diamond. The ring complements and balances my wedding set while also being completely different from it. While the first represents my marriage, my relationship with my amazing husband and the life we’ve built together, the latter represents my strength as an individual, my work, and my creativity.
I can’t wait to wear my ring out and about! Look for it on my finger the next time you see me – though for a limited time, Zachary’s Jewelers is going to display it in their Severna Park store as an example of their full-service design and custom jewelry craftsmanship.
You can treat yourself to your own design consultation with no obligation to make a purchase, complete with the “Vanessa experience” English high tea. Go on and treat yourself to something meaningful – a piece of jewelry that can be passed through the generations as a symbol of everything you’ve achieved.
You can enjoy The Vanessa Experience for yourself – call the Zachary’s Jewelers design team to schedule an appointment at (410) 544-4005 or book one online now.
My finished ring in 14k yellow gold, with a half carat Forevermark Black Label Diamond. Photo by Wendy Hickok Photography.
What would you have made – a ring, earrings, a necklace? Let me know in the comments! Plus follow me on Instagram @theprimpysheep for more reviews and style inspiration – and if you enjoyed this post, you might also like:
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