It had been several years since I last saw this client last. After the loss of his wife, his partner of many years, there was a big void where she used to be. Understandably. Life has a way of surprising you. A longtime friend, someone he and his wife had socialized with over the years, reentered his life. With shared history and common interests, one thing led to another, and a beautiful new relationship began. He came to me wanting to create something truly special for her. He brought in an assortment of loose diamonds and a chain he already owned. He described her style as classic and feminine, not flashy. A Talbots girl. The design challenge was calibrating and patterning the loose diamonds into a cohesive piece. Inspired by an Alhambra-style cluster and bead-set diamonds with bright cuts, I designed a centerpiece that could move naturally. The chain ends were capped with tubing to create a hinged connection, allowing the centerpiece to attach with a rivet. This approach prevents the stiffness and stress that can occur with soldering. To make the diamonds stand out even more, a subtle texture was added to the center element. He was patient and gracious throughout the process. What began as a holiday gift became a New Year’s gift. There were many steps involved, but I’m incredibly pleased with the final result. And thankfully, he was too.
- Materials: 14k yellow gold, natural full cut diamonds
- Client location: West Hartford, CT
