Grey Diamond Engagement Ring

To begin telling the story of my own Engagement Ring, I have to start with a little history about my partner and I. He used to work in the diamond cutting industry. So he had a fair bit of knowledge on diamonds. And I have worked for some fine jewellery houses in my career. We have had discussions about how we both don’t necessarily value the concept of a flawless white diamond. He had once told me this story about a grey diamond they use in the cutting of other diamonds, and how this diamond, with this function, intrigued him more than the ones they were cutting. I loved this story. And when he proposed, it was with a beautiful Grey Diamond.

When my partner proposed on Christmas Eve 2015, I was blown away by this special gesture and symbol of our history and future. We were about to embark on my first ever trip to Australia on Boxing day, two days after he proposed. As a jeweller I was sad that my diamond was going to live in his shirt pocket for the entire four weeks we were going to be on holiday in Australia.

As we were on my grandparents’ farm in Mbombela, and my cousin is also a jeweller and has a home studio on the farm, I was able to make myself a little silver Engagement Ring on Christmas day, just to house the diamond on our holiday. See the video below of me making my own engagement ring in 40 degree Mpumalanga heat.