Designing my first men’s engagement ring
Hi friends, I hope you’ve had a gentle start to 2026. It feels like Spring is finally on it’s way. I’m happily welcoming these lighter days and the scattering of colour from the crocuses and daffodils.
Recently, with my jewellery work, I’ve found myself drawn to bolder shapes and richer colours, which feels like a contrast to the delicate pieces I’ve been known for. When I was asked to make a men’s engagement ring, it felt like the timing couldn’t be more perfect.
The ring was to feature a verdant green sapphire, and birch leaves, a nod to his partner’s Finnish heritage. In Finland, the revered silver birch is a symbol of purity, protection, and of the summer- a beautiful emblem of love and commitment.
Capturing the shape of the Finnish birch leaves took some refining to look natural, with their round form and tapered tip. I really enjoy this drawing stage of the process, it helps both me and my clients visualise the design before I start making in three dimensions.
Initial sketches and the finalised design drawing.
Once the design was finalised, I started making the ring in jeweller’s wax. There are several stages to this making process. Firstly, forming the base of the ring and the setting, before using sharp tools to carve away the smaller shapes and details in relief. It’s a bit like illustrating in three dimensions. I really like the quality of wax, which allows for creating flowing organic forms and fine details.
Mapping and carving the outline of the birch leaves.
The finished wax model, complete with the little details on the leaves.
Cast in rich yellow gold, the ring has a substantial weight to it, and feels so comfortable to wear. The warmth of the gold compliments the depth of the green sapphire beautifully.
The finished engagement ring.
My clients very kindly allowed me to share a couple of their engagement photos. Seeing them standing within the hollow of the ancient tree, under golden light, felt beautifully aligned to the symbolism woven into their ring. I feel very lucky to play a small part in bringing people’s ideas to life, and jewellery is such a timeless art form, not just for the longevity of the materials, but because of the stories and love carried within each piece.
This ring marks a shift in my style of work, a bold design rooted in nature and symbolism. I’m looking forward to exploring more pieces in this direction.