• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Wendy Brandes Jewelry Blog

Never Is the Next New Thing

  • HOME
  • SHOP
  • ABOUT
  • FAQ
  • CONTACT

Mom’s Engagement Ring Redesign: Before Photo

March 18, 2015 by WendyB

I love redesigning old jewelry, especially engagement rings. A lot of my female customers didn’t have any input into their original rings. Others — like me — felt pressured to go with a style that was more traditional than what they truly wanted. Redesigning the old rings gives those wimmins a chance to express their personal aesthetic through the jewelry they wear most often.

The mother of all redesigning opportunities literally landed in my hands last week. My own gorgeous mother, BarbaraB, had to have her engagement ring cut off her finger when it couldn’t be budged ahead of a minor medical procedure. (All is fine, health-wise.)

momsringbefore

The ring, post-cutting. Photo from my Instagram account.

When I visited my parents in Florida last week, BarbaraB gave me her ring to “fix,” but I said I could do better than that. I’ve been envisioning a particular new engagement-ring design for the past several months. I wasn’t going to create it for my inventory though. My bridal-jewelry customers want everything customized, from the stones they choose to the overall design. Their needs are so personal that I don’t keep any rings in stock. I wait until I get an order to add a new look to my gallery, at which point one ring often inspires another one. For example, the Siobhan perma-stacked stacking ring from my regular collection …

siobhan

Click to see on my website.

… inspired Susan’s engagement ring design …

Susan_M__63275_std

Click to read about this redesign.

… which, in turn, inspired Heather’s engagement ring.

heatherring1-1024x926

Heather’s side stones were original stud earrings that she never wore!

As you can see, all three rings share the stacking-ring look (though, really, the various bands within each ring are attached in back). There’s even one band design that appears in all three rings. But each ring is unique.

I asked BarbaraB if she’d be up for a whole new look and she said yes, as long as it is ready for my parents’ 50th anniversary in December. I’m going to start on this ring next month and you can expect to see it on this blog later this year. All I can say for now is that BarbaraB’s new engagement ring will make as big a statement as my own ring does.

ringstogether

My engagement ring on the left. Mom’s broken ring on the right.

If you’re thinking about becoming engaged sometime soon, prepare to be inspired!

You might also like
Creepy, Kooky, Mysterious, Spooky
It's All About Me
Throwback Thursday: My Original Engagement Ring

Filed Under: diamonds, engagement rings, gorgeous family, redesigns

« What Wendy Wore: Striped Wedges by — Uh-Oh!
Job Opportunity … With Me! »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Patti says

    March 18, 2015 at 2:00 pm

    I can’t wait to see it! Lucky your mom has you : >

    • WendyB says

      March 18, 2015 at 3:28 pm

      I’m very excited to do this!

  2. Barbara Brandes says

    March 18, 2015 at 4:05 pm

    Exciting. After 50 years, I’m up for a new look.

    • WendyB says

      March 18, 2015 at 4:05 pm

      It’s going to be a great one!

  3. Stacy says

    March 18, 2015 at 11:23 pm

    Oooh, excited to see the new ring!!

Primary Sidebar

MEET WENDY BRANDES

Award-winning designer of fine jewelry inspired by women's history and pop culture. A former journalist who writes about jewelry, fashion, medieval history, news, feminism, dogs, cats and whatever else is on her mind. Blogging since 2007.
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

ARCHIVES

CATEGORIES

About Wendy awards shows blogs and bloggers Celebrities designers Dogs dresses earrings Fashion feminism gorgeous family gorgeous friends holidays insanity In the News jewel of the month Jewelry movies music my designs necklaces obits outfit post pictures of me politics prada Press rings shoes shopping suggestions Throwback Thursday travel TV video vintage vintage designers vintage WendyB photos week in review What Wendy Wore zang toi

POPULAR TOPICS

NEWSLETTER

Subscribe for Email updates.
* indicates required

Original jewelry designs, photos and text are © Wendy Brandes 2007-2016. All rights reserved.

© 2016 · FOODIE PRO THEME COPYRIGHT BY · SHAY BOCKS GENESIS FRAMEWORK · BUILT ON THE WORDPRESS