I’m a Jewelers’ Choice Award Finalist!

I’m thrilled to say that I’m a finalist in the 2016 JCK’s Jewelers’ Choice Awards! The engagement/anniversary ring design that I created for my own mother won second place in the Personalized Jewelry $1,000 & Over Category.

Woot!

This ring design came about when my mother’s original engagement ring needed significant repairs before my parents’ 50th anniversary.

The original. It had to be cut off her finger. Poor ring.

I said let’s not repair it — let’s make it bigger and better! Mom agreed and said I could surprise her with a design, so I came up with a spectacular ring that has one of my signature secret messages. I surrounded my mother’s 2+ carat diamond with 199 smaller diamonds, set in undulating platinum.

Click for original post.

Her two original baguettes were set on the sides.

Side view.

For the extra-special personal touch, I hid an 18K rose gold “50” inside the ring’s shank.

Surprise!

As I’ve said before, if you love this ring, you can have your own version of it. This style is available as a semi-mount, which is a ring setting that doesn’t include the center stone. You get to pick your own center stone — which could be a diamond or any other gem — and I’ll place it into this setting for you.  You also get to choose if you want special numbers or letters hidden in the ring. (You can go without a secret message, of course, but why would you want to do that?!) The retail price is $18,500, not including the center stone. To inquire about this or any other custom engagement ring, holla at me at info at wendybrandes dot com.

The Jewelers’ Choice Awards are the industry’s biggest retailer-determined design competition.  My Empress Wu dragon earrings took third place in the pearl jewelry category in 2013, so I’ve moved up a spot! A big thanks to all the retailers who voted for me again.