JOURNAL
Sam's Family Heirloom Signet
Sam contacted RUUSK wanting to create a modern family heirloom that not only celebrated her 30 laps around the sun, but also honoured her immediate family. As she prepared to marry Ben and change her surname late last year, each detail conveyed meaning and love for her parents and two sisters. Making sure that Sam's meaningful signet felt right with her everyday style, it was such an honour to celebrate some of the very beautiful and significant people in her world. Tell us about your special piece and how your ring is linked to your family I received my gorgeous ring for my 30th birthday :) My husband and I got married just before my birthday and I wanted a special piece that represented my first family and my maiden name. All of my jewellery is sentimental and it was important for me to create an heirloom piece for our future family. My signet ring has my maiden name engraved on the inside of the band and five diamonds on the band. Each diamond represents the members of my family, my parents, my two older sisters and myself. On one side of the band are the two diamonds that represent my parents. They sit side by side as equals. On the other side of the band are the three diamonds that represent my sisters and I, going downwards on the band from oldest to youngest. What prompted you to create your special piece? I have been lucky enough to inherit special pieces of jewellery from my grandmother and I wanted to create something special to pass on to our future generations. I think it's really special to have a piece of jewellery that represents my first family. We are all extremely close and every time I look down at it it makes me so proud. I know that the ring means just as much to them as it does to me. It's not just a piece of jewellery, this ring represents so much more than that. How did you feel when you saw your piece for the first time? The RUUSK team knew exactly what I wanted and executed it so beautifully. Opening that box for the first time made me feel so warm and fuzzy!What is a favourite memory you have of you and your family? My family and I are very very close and I have so many favourite memories that I couldn't possibly pick one! We have had family dinner every single Sunday for as long as I can remember. These dinners are so important to us! It's one night a week that we all get together and enjoy each other's company and catch up. I can't talk about my favourite memories without mentioning Christmas! I'm a suuuper festive person and love the joy that comes from Christmas and spending time with family. I feel very blessed to have such a beautiful family and even more blessed now to have my husband's family to call my own too! Did you know? You can customise many of our pieces with your choice and number of stones. Shop and customise your Signet ring here or contact us to talk about creating your unique, handmade heirloom.
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RUUSK Couples: Anna & Warwick
Changing their original UK wedding plans, Anna & Warwick secretly said 'I do' by eloping at Villa Rustica, Byron Bay. Having met in rural North England, Anna & Warwick celebrated their love with an intimate ceremony, just the two of them. Surprising their family and friends with a post-wedding facetime to announce the news, the day was filled with magical moments full of joy and celebration. How did you meet? Warwick was working as a waiter at a restaurant in my home town, in the UK. He's an Aussie and he was over in the UK on a working holiday playing for my local rugby team. It's really random because my home town is in the middle of nowhere (north England) but he had connections with the team through some mutual friends in Aus. I also was only visiting my home town for the weekend, as I was living in Manchester (2 hours away). I caught his eye whilst he was serving us and I thought 'he's not from around here' and my mum filled me in that he's from Australia (super small town, everyone knows everyone's business) and that he was playing for the local team. I decided I had to know more about him, I had his name from his badge 'Warwick', how hard would it be?! After leaving the restaurant I internet stalked him like a mad woman. After almost giving up I decided on a last ditch attempt to search his name in my Tinder matches, it turns out we had matched 3 months ago but never messaged! I reached out and the rest is history. What are your star signs? Anna: a TRUE Scorpio Warwick: Cancer (also SUCH a cancer) Where was your first date? At a restaurant out of town because I didn't want anyone to see us from my hometown haha. Where did you get married? We got married at Villa Rustica in Byron Bay on the 29th December. What did you love most abut your wedding? We were originally meant to get married on the 29th December in the Lake District, UK (where I'm from & where we met). We were having a big wedding with all of our friends and family from Aus coming over. When Covid hit we tried to plan another wedding in Aus but with the borders being closed and my Parents not being able to get here, we started looking at other options. We decided to Elope just the 2 of us on our original wedding day. We decided to keep it a secret and not tell anyone until afterwards, as we didn't want anyone to a) talk us out of it and b) decide to turn up!! If my parents couldn't be there, then nobody else could. I LOVE that we got married just the 2 of us, the whole day was just about US and our journey, and it was so, so special. Also the actual wedding day was everything we wanted, the venue, flowers, rings etc, there was nobody else to think about other than 'what do WE want'. It was a pretty boujee elopement, but it was exactly what we wanted. We face-timed our family and friends after the ceremony and told them the news, everyone was SO happy for us and we are still celebrating now a month later! Whenever the borders open we will have another 'wedding' with all of our friends and family, only now we don't have to worry about when that will be. We can begin to move forward with the next chapter of our lives without the stress of the pandemic dictating our wedding day, which has been a HUGE relief.Warwick's matte 5mm Square band and Anna's Thin Organic ring personalised with star-set diamonds What do you love most about your rings and how did you find your experience with RUUSK? I had a really specific idea of the kind of wedding band I wanted, a chunky gold band with 'stars' (V specific!!) I looked for weeks trying to find one, I came across your instagram and I KNEW it was exactly what I'd been looking for. I reached out as soon as I found the website, which was only only a month before the wedding, and Tania was so accommodating. We came into the studio a couple of days later to choose our rings. The whole experience was amazing and I love our rings so much. What excites you most about your next chapter of life together? Looking forward to buying a house and starting our own familyLocation: Villa Rustica, Byron Bay | @villarusticabyronbay Photographer: Nina Claire | @ninaclairephotographer Wedding dress: Rue De Seine | @ruedeseinebridal Elopement: Elope | @Elope Hair & Make up: Julie Corbet Flowers: The French Petal | @thefrenchpetal Celebrant: Benjamin Carlyle | @bc_celebrant Shop wedding bands for him here and for her here.
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Jared & Leslie's 5 Year Anniversary Ring Stack
When Jared got in touch to create something very special for Leslie to commemorate their 5 year anniversary we were so excited to celebrate the occasion with a very special ring stack. Wanting to integrate the themes of coastal Australia and the Hinterlands to signify their time in Australia, their love for travel and adventure filtered through the entire design process. How did you meet? Jared and I met in Hawaii in 2012. I had been living there for 5 years and he was on vacation with a friend. We were both hiking Olomana (one of the most spectacular trails on the island) when the friend he was with and the friend I was with struck up a conversation. It turned out that they went to the same University and knew a lot of the same people. We ended up finishing the hike with them and inviting to lunch with us. I had just returned from a 3 month backpacking trip through Australia and Bali and hadn’t gone back to work yet, so I ended up playing tour guide for Jared and his friend for the remainder of their trip. We exchanged contact info before he flew back home to Seattle and ended up becoming pen pals. Fast forward a year and a lot of flights and adventures, we started dating and I eventually moved back to the mainland where we got married. You have travelled extensively around the world together, do you have any favourite spots? We definitely bonded over our shared love of travel and new experiences. Exploring and adventure has always been a high priority for us - it has brought us to some incredible countries and landscapes. It’s really hard to choose a favourite but I love: Tofino on Vancouver Island Patagonia Lake Tahoe, California South Island, NZ Whereas Jared’s favourite spots are: Italy El Chaltén, Patagonia Tofino What have you loved most about being in Australia? Living on the Surf Coast in Victoria. Our home is a 7 minute walk to the beach and there are 20+ surf breaks within 5 kilometres of us. We feel incredibly privileged to wake up and be surrounded by nature. And the community is full of inspiring, supportive and down to earth people. We’re taking any chance we get to explore more of the country (not so much luck this year) but are looking forward to doing a road trip in Western Australia and getting up into the Northern Territory when we can. Where was your first date and what did you do? Because we were friends first, we never really went on a first date. We ended up travelling a lot together before we made anything official, but I guess I consider our first date the night we had our first kiss. I had flown to Seattle to visit him and he took me to dinner at the Seattle Space Needle. It’s a bit of a tourist attraction but it’s also an iconic restaurant that’s 605’ tall and slowly spins as you eat. It gives you an epic 360-degree panoramic view of downtown and all the mountain ranges in the area. It was pretty romantic and after dinner we went outside to the viewing deck where we shared our first kiss. Leslie, what do you love most about your special ring stack and how did you find your experience with RUUSK? I literally love everything about my stack ring! It took me a while to find the right combination of rings as there are so many choices and everything Tania put together as examples looked incredible. I love that the wave ring represents my connection to the ocean and surfing, and the 5 sapphire diamonds on my organic ring represent the celebration of our 5 year wedding anniversary (plus my engagement ring is a sapphire). My pebble ring is the perfect size and the colour of the champagne diamond is perfect. Featuring Leslie's Pebble ring customised with a champagne diamond paired with a Wave band and a XS Organic Ring with 5 navy sapphires My experience with RUUSK was easy and enjoyable. Tania was generous with her time and made sure she sent images and videos of all the ring stack combos I could choose from. Her communication is prompt and she has fabulous follow up. She’s an absolute joy to work with and I’m already thinking about my next purchase. What are you looking forward to in your next 5 years together? Starting a family, getting a dog (still need to convince Jared of this!), building a garden, travelling around Australia, creating deeper connections in our community and making sweet memories along the way!
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RUUSK Couples: Harrison & Lauren
Surrounded by their celebrant, photographer, families via zoom and a passing morning walker (who fulfilled the role of second witness) Harrison & Lauren said I do at Half Moon Bay. We were honoured to create Harrison's very special wedding band and couldn't wait to share their magical day full of intimacy with you. How did you meet? Lauren: We met at University, in North Carolina. I played volleyball and Harrison played soccer. We met in the physio room, freshman year, and have been together ever since. Where was your first date? Lauren: A small frozen yogurt shop in our college town, sweets are obviously the way to my heart. Where did you get married and who was there? We got married at sunrise at Half Moon Bay, outside of Melbourne. It was just us, the celebrant and the photographer. We scooped up a second witness by asking someone who was taking a beach stroll that morning. Our families in the states attended via Zoom too. It was really intimate and special. After we said our vows we could hear our families cheering from the phone! We'll have a big party back in the states when we can all be in the same country. What did you love most about your wedding? It was just really simple and felt like us. The morning before our wedding, we stopped by the markets to grab flowers. And on the day, we picked up a coffee on the way to the beach. We had our pup running around digging in the sand while we said our vows. It was really stress-free and allowed us to be present and just enjoy the moment. Harrison's 6.5mm Round Ring Harrison, what do you love most about your ring? It's timeless but still a bit different. It reminds me of my dad's ring, which I love too. The RUUSK team were great to work with and were able to help me create exactly what I was envisioning. What excites you most about your next chapter of life together? There is a lot of change ahead with a big move to South Korea, but we're looking forward to experiencing more of the world together. We've loved the last 3 years in Melbourne and can't wait for the next adventure.Photographer: Aleksandar Jason Photography | @aleksandarjason Wedding dress: Sir the label | @sirthelabel Flowers: South Melbourne Flower Markets Celebrant: Kerry Diamond | @idowithdiamond Shop wedding bands for him here and for her here. To enquire about creating your own special bespoke piece, contact us here.
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Cait & Emma's Photoshoot Proposal
Under the guise of a baby bump photoshoot and in the middle of the South Road Sand Dunes in the Northern Territory, Cait got down on one knee and proposed to Emma (who said yes!) After seeing their very special moment, captured by their photographer, Kate McConnal, we couldn't wait to share their story with you all. How did you meet? We met through mutual friends many years ago but our romance started at a Country Throwdown party, Cowboy boots and all, when Cait forced Emma to help dry her pants after sitting on someone's glass of punch. Where was your first date? Our first date was at a small tapas bar in Glebe, The Different Drummer. We spent all night drinking Charlie Chaplin's and getting to know each other properly!Describe each other in three words Emma is strong, inspiring, loving and my absolute rock Cait is beautiful, fierce and benevolent Cait, how did you propose? Well, Emma proposed to me first on a holiday in Bali! Almost 12 months later to the day, and 3 months pregnant - I organised a baby bump photoshoot. The surprise was on Emma when in the middle of the Sand Dunes our photographer told us to stand back to back. Whilst Emma was facing the opposite direction, I got down on one knee and proposed. I was so in the moment, I actually forgot to ask the question until after Emma had the ring on her finger! Thankfully, she said yes! What did you love most about the special moment? When Emma proposed to me, it was the most magical feeling in the world. To be able to propose to Emma and let her feel that magic too, was really important to me. The location of the proposal was the South Road Sand Dunes, a stunning representation of the Northern Territory and its' beautiful landscape. We love that our photographer was able to capture the moment and when our bub is old enough, we'll be able to show them that they were with us in that very special moment. Emma, what do you love most about your ring? Cait and I spent quite a lot of time looking at different rings, before there were any proposals, and I could never find anything that I could see myself wearing. Cait chose better than I ever could, my engagement ring is perfect. The style is just....me. I love its simplicity and uniqueness.Emma's Large Diamond Signet What are you looking forward to most about life together? Our life together has been pretty amazing thus far. In the last 18 months we moved to the Northern Territory, had 2 proposals, bought our first home together and we are currently six months pregnant with our first child. We are looking forward to a life full of happiness, adventures, love, support and kicking goals side by side. As long as we have each other, this life will be everything we could ever dream of. Photographer: Kate McConnal | @katerosefolk
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Jack & Zotti's Birthday Proposal
Surrounded by their best and closest friends dressed monochromatically in rainbow colours, as a gorgeous little nod to the LGBTQAI+ culture, Zotti popped the question and Jack said yes! Having met in university but needing a little nudge from the universe to bring them together, the proposal was prompted by an application for “The Block”… How did you two meet? It is a cute story really. When I (Jack) was in my fourth year at University, Zotti was in his first and I had picked a 1st-year class as an elective. Coincidently we were in the same class, but being the fourth year, I was too cool to sit with the first years, so we never officially met. But I definitely thought he was cute. On Tuesday nights in Bathurst, the Kings hotel hosted a thing called Cheeky Tuesdays. A bar night, with great music, chilled vibes, and a huge outdoor dance floor. Each week Cheeky's gave away a small bar tab, for someone who had shared the weekly poster. This particular Tuesday, Zot had won the bar tab and I had told a friend that I thought he was hot! Mieke the matchmaker works her magic and next thing, the cute first year is buying this not-so-cool fourth year a drink. We talked, danced and shared a sneaky kiss on the dance floor. The rest, well, it's history. One year after this fateful Tuesday, Zotti and I ran Cheeky Tuesdays together, Zot on Music and Poster Art and me, well I was the Event Manager and ran the Cheeky Collective, a club of students who helped with the events. A power couple since day one. Where was your first date? I can't really remember our first date but I do remember lying in bed, side by side and staring at the ceiling, talking about life, our pasts, our futures and everything else. Those are my earliest memories. Zotti, how did you propose? It was a month before my 26th birthday when Jack and I applied for "The Block" and part of the application had a section where we needed to write about each other. Before sending it off, I was reading through his answers and the way he wrote about me, IDK, something clicked, I was like, yeah, I think I really love this guy. So I started planning. I always knew I didn't want to do a sit down or something too gimmicky and I knew Jack would want to be around his friends and family and the only event coming up was my birthday. So I worked closely with Tania to make it all happen in record timing and to be honest, from the jump I just knew she was the perfect person for the job, her energy just felt right. Flash forward to my birthday, I gathered everyone around saying I would be making a toast, I gave everyone a shout out and then said "there is one more special person I would like to shout out", I poured my heart out in a little speech, dropped down on one knee and popped the big Q, "would you marry" and I guess the rest is history. Who was at the proposal and what did you love most about the special moment? Our best and closest friends. I think the thing we loved most was that we made everyone dress monochromatically and it turned into a big rainbow, a little nod to the LGBTQAI+ culture. It was really special.Jack and Zotti's Men's Long Signet with engraving Jack, what do you love most about your ring? The rings are beautiful, timeless and so much more special because Zotti got us both one. Something more that we get to share as we continue to grow together. And engraved on the inside with "Jack & Zotti" a beautiful reminder of the amazing night he asked me to marry him. What excites you most about life together? Growing up together has been a wild ride, at times challenging, but overall pretty amazing. We have learned a lot about ourselves, each other and the world around us and we are really excited to keep doing this together. Our careers are really kicking off, we believe in what we do and are so proud to see the other succeed. We are constantly surrounded by great people like our beautiful friends at our engagement, our families and we hope to keep these positive vibes and new ones around us as we work out what next. With our main focus to be that (our life ahead) is something that makes us not only smile but is full of passion and pride with a lot of laughs along the way.
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PLATINUM vs WHITE GOLD
For those that love silver tones but want more durability, white gold and platinum are beautiful options. However, when deciding between the two it can be tricky to determine how they differ and the benefits of each. So we’ve put together this quick guide to help you decide: About white gold Because pure gold is naturally a soft metal, gold used to create jewellery needs to be mixed with other alloys. This means 9ct gold approximately contains 37.5% pure gold, 14ct - 58.3% and 18ct - 75%. In Australia, white gold is most commonly mixed with palladium and silver to make the piece of jewellery 'white' and more resistant to scratching and denting. This does means that occasionally, 18ct gold can be harder than a platinum piece of jewellery. Additionally, as an industry standard, White Gold pieces are Rhodium plated to give white gold a brighter white appearance and to improve durability. 9ct, 14ct and 18ct White gold pieces will initially all look the same if they have been rhodium plated. RUUSK white gold pieces are Rhodium plated so that they will best match other white gold jewellery you wear however, if you would prefer to leave your piece un-plated just let us know. Un-plated white Gold tends to have more of a yellow or grey hue which will tend to show as the Rhodium plating fades over time (view our metal colour chart here). To restore it's original bright white shine, White Gold jewellery can be re-plated when required. Whilst not as dense as platinum, white gold is still intrinsically strong and will give fine details more rigidity. For example, if your special piece features hand engraving or square edges, these details are often retained better by white gold over platinum. About platinum 20% denser than white gold, platinum possesses much heavier and harder properties. Known for being one of the most durable metals on earth, platinum can be used in a purer form than gold and will typically form 95% of your special piece. Being a naturally occurring white metal, there is no need to for Rhodium plating. Unlike white Gold, Platinum will retain its natural bright white colour for years to come. Platinum is also great hypoallergenic choice for anyone with sensitive skin. When it scratches, the metal moves from one area to another, this means that Platinum is better at retaining its original density over time (it's doesn't wear away as gold will) however it can soften the appearance of fine details and sharp edges. This natural wearing process, resulting in small ‘bruises’ and ‘dents’ on the surface creates its own unique finish called a patina. Many view patina as desirable because it reflects how much a particular piece of jewellery has been loved and worn and reveals the markings of your unique life story :) Platinum or White Gold In recent years, platinum used to be far more expensive than white gold however, with the cost of platinum and gold being more similar nowadays, it really comes down to personal style and preference. That said, platinum will always be a little bit more expensive than the lower cts of white gold as platinum, being a denser and therefore heavier metal, more platinum is needed to produce the same ring than in white gold. Additionally, platinum can’t be reused and remelted like white gold which usually means that any scraps and filings must be sent to a refiner. This is often an expensive process. If your piece is to feature fine details, like hand engraving then White Gold will be a better option than Platinum as it's better at retaining detail. If you had your eye on a special necklace or bracelet, White Gold would also be the best option here as we do not offer platinum chains. Another thing to bear in mind is whether you're planning on wearing your new piece with other rings, if so, the rule of thumb is to stick to the same gold ct or alloy so that when your rings rub together they wear at the same rate. For example, if you have an 18ct White Gold Engagement ring, we would suggest opting for an 18ct White Gold Wedding band for optimal wear. Hopefully this helps you to gain a better understanding of the difference between platinum and white gold. Each is beautiful option so at the end of the day, pick a metal that feels right to you and we're sure you’ll adore it! There's no wrong option. Our Platinum XS Organic Ring paired with our White Gold Thin Organic Ring (Rhodium Plated). The brighter white is the Rhodium Plated White Gold. If you need any more help, please don’t hesitate to contact us, we're always happy to help.
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Danny & Phoebe's Boulder Beach Proposal
When Danny came to RUUSK wanting to create a very special engagement ring for Phoebe, we were so excited to make such a meaningful piece for them. Planning to propose around Phoebe's birthday, Danny organised a trip away for the two of them to Lennox Heads. So we were thrilled to hear she said YES and their proposal story had us smiling from ear to ear... How did you meet? We first met when Danny was working at the film school I attended but didn’t have much to do with each other at the time. A couple of years later we worked on a film together and became friends. A mutual friend of ours tried to set us up but it took Danny another 6 months to ask me out under the guise of working together on a music video. Where was your first date? For our first proper date Danny drove us out to Lake Moogerah and we had a picnic under the stars. We ate some delicious food and watched a movie. Danny took a little time-lapse while we were there which is so cool to have of our first date. Danny, how did you propose? We had arranged to go away for a few nights at Lennox Head for Phoebes birthday and then come home to celebrate with all her family. We had talked about getting engaged for a while but I had Phoebe convinced it wasn’t going to happen this year. So I had the ring delivered to Phoebe's Dad to keep it a surprise! I was pretty keen to ask her as soon as possible so on the afternoon we arrived in Lennox I organised for us to go down to the headland at Boulder Beach and have a sunset picnic. I was behaving pretty awkwardly so I think she totally knew what was coming but once we were set up and just as the sun was setting I told her how much I loved her and then asked her to marry me and she said yes! What did you love most about your special moment? I loved that it was perfectly suited to us. We go and watch the sunset most afternoons and we both enjoy a picnic so I love that it was both of those things combined. It was also great to keep the news to ourselves for a couple of days and spend the time relaxing at the beach with just the two of us. It was so cool to come home a few days later and surprise my family - their reaction was amazing! Phoebe, what do you love most about your ring? I love everything about my ring. I’d given Danny a few hints on the sort of styles I liked and the one he chose is perfect. What I love most is that Danny loves it as well and the subtle inscription he got engraved on the inside. Featuring Phoebe's Supernova ring customised with a centre Sapphire stone What excites you most about life together? We already love our life together and appreciate it every day. We are both really excited to continue to grow a life full of adventure, family, love and plenty more sunset picnics.
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Moissanite, gemstone born from the stars
Moissanite Solitaire using our 1ct Diamond Solitaire Ring Shape In 1893, Nobel-Prize winning scientist Henri Moissan began studying fragments of a meteorite in Diablo Canyon, Arizona. In these fragments, Dr. Moissan discovered minute quantities of a shimmering new mineral, with fire and brilliance never before seen on earth. Thinking he had discovered diamonds, it wasn’t after extensive research that Dr Moissan concluded this new mineral was made of silicon carbide. This mineral is now what we call moissanite, named in Dr Moissan’s honour. Due to moissanite’s extraterrestrial origins (it is literally a gemstone born from the stars!), moissanite is thought to encourage a better connection to the rest of the universe. Known to bring luck into people’s lives, awake hidden potential and push individuals to finish their goals, moissanite captures the essence and beauty of a star from far far away. Because natural moissanite is incredibly rare, almost all moissanite on the current market has been laboratory-created. This makes them highly appealing for those seeking an eco-conscious gemstone as they require no mining, have a smaller carbon footprint and result in less environmental impact. Additionally, as a moissanite requires far less labour than a clear diamond, they are more affordable than diamonds making them an attractive and beautiful diamond alternative. This makes moissanite an excellent choice for individuals who want the look of a large diamond but are more price conscious. Moissanite scores a 9.25 on the Mohs scale, a very good score that makes it the second-hardest gemstone. Due to its sturdy and durable features, this gem is highly suitable for everyday wear. While diamonds are graded on Cut, Clarity, Colour and Carat (4 C’s), moissanites are graded solely on colour. Because they are grown in laboratories, they don’t feature any inclusions contained in nearly all diamonds. Primarily ‘colourless’ moissanites can sometimes project a yellowish or yellow-green hue in certain lights. Usually, the larger the moissanite, the more noticeable the colour. Additionally, moissanite have a heightened brilliance which will shimmer and shine under even the most dull of lights. Exhibiting fiery, rainbow flashes in the sun, moissanite is preferred by many because of their brilliance. And have no fear, a moissanite won’t lose their shine - you can wear it all the time and it won’t change its appearance at all. Moissanite Fine Solitaire using our 0.75ct Diamond Solitaire Ring Shape and XS Organic with our Two by Two stone pattern Moissanite Mini Solitaire, XS Organic with our Two by Two stone pattern and Low Wide Organic Did you know? You can personalise many of our pieces with your choice of stone, including moissanite! Contact us to talk about incorporating moissanite into your unique, handmade heirloom.
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