Alani contacted us at the beginning of November with a reset project in mind:

Hi Denise, Leslie, Brian and friends! Hope you are all well and nice and busy leading up to Christmas. I am currently researching the idea of resetting my engagement ring (1ct, in a simple solitaire setting) as I recently broke my wedding band and I'm not too sure if I want to stay with the traditional e ring / w band. I'm pretty hard on my rings and everything that I am drawn to with a lot of bling (pave, halos) isn’t really right for my lifestyle.  Anyway, I was thinking of resetting into a 3 stone, but then I'm not sure if that will be enough bling so I'm looking at a Graduated 5 stone using my current 1ct stone as the center.

Denise worked with Alani to come up with the best combination of diamond sizes to get the flowing, graduated look she was after and also worked on several different ideas for the setting. The final diamond specs were as follows:

• Center stone 1.05ct F SI1 is a GIA XXX round diamond.
• 2 x 0.423ct F SI1 Brian Gavin Signature Hearts and Arrows diamonds.
• 2  x 0.20ct F VS Brian Gavin Signature diamond melee.

Alani decided not to ship her center stone to us and searched to find a qualified local Australian jeweler to set it. We had all the measurements of the stone and were able to create the CAD with that information. We tweaked the center prongs to make sure that only the prongs showed from the top view, and that the trellis wires were not visible from the top. We sent the updated CAD, received approval and proceeded to caste the ring in platinum and then set the 4 side stones. We e-mailed Glamor Shots of the almost finished ring and then shipped it:

I picked up the package and the ring is beautiful! I can't wait until I get the center stone set…

A few days later we received this e-mail:

Hello Denise, Lesley, Brian and the team at BGD! I am please to let you know that the ring has been completed with the center stone being set today!! I am in love with the ring and it is exactly what I imagined it to be. It's amazing how you guys can take a drawing and bring it to life! The ring is just one ball of sparkle at the moment. It is really unbelievable! I find myself laughing every time I catch a glimpse of it because it is just so unreal. Thanks again, Alani.

Feast your eyes on the picture gallery below!!

© 2012, Brian Gavin. All rights reserved. Including all photographs, written word and video, but not limited to unless noted.

Ian contacted us by e-mail in mid November interested in having us create a custom setting for him. He was away from home when he wrote in and described it verbally: I wanted to see if you could line up 2 hearts that would twist head to head. Within each heart the .25 carat diamond would sit and right in the middle where the hearts meet, the larger diamond would sit. Also I would like to put some small diamonds into the band.

When he got back to his PC he sent us a rough free-hand sketch of what he had in mind. Jamie discussed the details with Brian Gavin and then e-mailed Ian a quote. He approved the quote and then Jamie worked with him to select a beautiful one carat K VS2 Brian Gavin Signature “Blue”.

We e-mailed him the first rendition of the CAD and he requested that the head be integrated into the shank. We fine tuned it and sent him the second and final rendition which he approved. We cast, set the and shipped his beautiful ring. He e-mailed us, thrilled with the result:

Jamie! This is even better than I thought it was going to be! I can't express how great of job you and everyone else did on my journey to get this ring made. Thanks for all your hard work. You guys truly have a gift of not only designing but bringing stories of love to life! Although it was a lengthy process it was very much worth it. Please express my gratitude to everyone else who played an important role in this wonderful ring. I look forward to working with you in the future and I know alot of people will also too! If I have any more questions I will contact you. Thanks a bunch again! I'll keep you posted. Take care! Ian

Customer's sketch, CADs and Glamor Shots:

© 2012, Brian Gavin. All rights reserved. Including all photographs, written word and video, but not limited to unless noted.

VIDEO

A Gallery of Some of Brian Gavin's Jewelry Highlights…

© 2012, Brian Gavin. All rights reserved. Including all photographs, written word and video, but not limited to unless noted.

Gwyneth contacted us at the end of August after she had seen her aunt’s beautiful 5 stone trellis band.

 “Hi Lesley!!! I recently visited with my dear Aunt Lynn and saw her new Brian Gavin 5 stone .33 diamond ring w/trellis setting and WOW!  Any chance of getting a quote of the SAME ring but in size 8.5? Platinum setting – same type of stones??

 Denise worked with her to select 5 magnificent 0.40 – 0.44 ct Brian Gavin Signature Hearts and Arrows diamonds to set into the Platinum 5 Stone Trellis II setting.

 I'm going on to a conference Sept. 21 – it would be cool to make my friends swoon! But if that's not doable – don't wanna rush ya! I can create jealousy at another venue!

 We shipped the ring in time and received the following e-mail a few days ago:

Denise, Sorry haven't written sooner but my ability to compose a coherent sentence has been hampered by the distraction this ring is making in my life! Even now I glance down at its sparkly goodness and stop typing amazed at the fire, the sparkle, the evident hearts & arrows of these brilliantly cut rocks sitting pretty on my hand! I could not be more pleased by a ring…it's everything I dreamed of and more! Here's a pic on my hand! Thank you again for such an easy and lovely buying experience for a lifetime of sparkly blingtastic fun! You're a doll! ~Gwyneth

© 2011, Brian Gavin. All rights reserved. Including all photographs, written word and video, but not limited to unless noted.

Towards the end of January, Matt contacted us inquiring about having us create a custom platinum engagement ring influenced by the Tiffany Legacy design for his girlfriend, Shauna. We had worked with Shauna on two projects already and she insisted that Matt work with us for this important purchase. Matt is a Doctoral Candidate in Fine Art and was very clear and explicit about what they wanted in the ring.

They purchased a vintage cushion cut and had it shipped to us to set into the ring. We  then created the CAD image and e-mailed it out to Matt and after some slight adjustments we got the green light to proceed.

I sincerely thank you for your time and commitment. Both Shauna and I have great respect for your artistry and look forward with great anticipation to the finished ring!

Details were a Platinum Custom Setting, Ring Size 4.75 set w/ approx. 1.18 ctw F/G VS Brian Gavin Signature diamond melees and a 1.43 vintage cushion cut center stone. The result was spectacular! We shipped the ring out in March and upon receiving it Matt e-mailed in the following:

Dear Brian, Lesley, and Denise, On behalf of Shauna and myself, I would like to extend our deepest appreciation and gratitude. The ring is utterly stunning and has set a new standard for both class and beauty. Yet, I feel that the ring's aesthetic is matched only by your professionalism and passion, and I thank you for your artistic ideas as well as for your embrace of my own. Through your efforts, mere metal and stone have been merged into a truly priceless symbol and heirloom. I guarantee that I will be working with BGD again in the future, and I will encourage my friends and family to do the same.

Shauna has yet to see any images of the ring, nor will she until sometime in the future. She is obviously aware of its creation, but has no idea about its final aesthetic. I imagined the piece with her tastes considered but much of it was my own artistic input. I intend to make a formal proposal thereby "unveiling" the ring and leaving as much to imagination and surprise as possible. I will ask Shauna to write with her response to the ring, though I can assure you that she will be enthusiastically ecstatic. Again, I thank you all. Cordially yours, Matt

Fast forward several months and we received the following e-mail a few days ago from Shauna after Matt had proposed mid-August:

Dear Lesley, I understand you've been awaiting news of my engagement to Matthew, and I just want to thank you for helping the man of my dreams create the ring of my dreams! It is more beautiful than I ever hoped or imagined, and it means so much having been given to me by the most wonderful, thoughtful, talented, loving and handsome man. He proposed at home, just the two of us in the apartment we share, in a sweetly intimate and heartfelt moment. I know you worked closely with Matt to ensure everything turned out  perfectly, and I can honestly say I've never seen a prettier engagement ring in my life. And I can hardly believe *I* get to wear  it! I couldn't be happier or more excited. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! Some pictures of the happy couple and ring follow (though my pictures  do no justice to the delicacy and beauty of the ring in person). We  look forward to working with you again soon to design our wedding bands! Best regards, Shauna

© 2011, Brian Gavin. All rights reserved. Including all photographs, written word and video, but not limited to unless noted.

RJ first contacted us back in January via Live Chat with a multitude of questions about our Brian Gavin Signature Hearts and Arrows diamonds and our policies in general. He is in marketing and found our company via a focused Google search. We continued to chat over the next couple of months and finally he decided to move forward with his purchase of a beautiful Brian Gavin Signature Hearts & Arrows diamond. We shipped it out to him for his approval and when he was ready to order the setting, he shipped it back. We created a custom platinum and diamond setting with our famous Truth head and F/G VS Brian Gavin Signature melee. We finished it off with 2 "surprise" blue sapphires set inside the shank and engraving. Needless to say his fiancée, Sarah Frances, was thrilled with her beautiful new ring. We received the following incredible testimonial and beautiful proposal pictures below….Enjoy!!!

Lesley, Brian and Team,

I wanted to thank you again for your help designing my fiancé’s engagement ring. Sarah Frances was so pleased and we are looking forward to a June 2012 wedding.

For the engagement, we flew from our hometown in Indianapolis, IN to New York City. I wanted to do something very special for her and Sarah had always wanted to go to NYC, but had not yet been there. So, I scheduled the trip to NYC and brought a camera tripod. I told her that we were going to capture some nice pics of us in front of the Bethesda Fountain in Central Park. During an early morning walk and with a remote in hand, I got down on one knee and asked her to marry me while trying my best to also capture some good pictures. I also took some more pictures of the beautiful ring and attached them here for you to see.

When I first started this process I came to Brian Gavin Diamonds (BGD) through an intense Internet search. I may note that so many people come to you for jewelry design and not enough people take advantage of your super ideal diamond selection as well. This is a mistake in my opinion. In fact, my initial intention was to buy the best diamond online and work locally with a designer. I found that the super ideal Hearts & Arrows style diamonds were indeed rare and that Brian Gavin presented a research paper outlining the measurements to judge a super ideal diamond. Many appraisers across the U.S. use these findings to judge super ideal diamonds. I'm glad I selected BGD for the diamond as it truly sparkles beyond any I have seen since. Too many people rush to buy a diamond without enough research. The cut is the key and super ideal diamonds are cut so well that they flash more brilliance and offer more light return causing the diamonds to look larger and more amazing. No diamond seems to measure up to the one I purchased. I also received a much better price than I could find locally or elsewhere on the Internet. Better quality and better price!

As you know, after securing the diamond, I decided it was time to create the custom ring and I found my way back to BGD and the beautiful Truth Head. I have pretty exacting standards that often lead me to be a very particular and perhaps difficult client. The BGD team was patient and creative. You helped me focus my vision for an engagement ring and then bring it to fruition. From the recommendations on what would and wouldn't work structurally to how everything would come together, you really helped me through the journey. As you can see, the completed ring is gorgeous and fiancée and I couldn't be happier!

Thanks for making our day even more special.

Best regards, RJ Moore

© 2011, Brian Gavin. All rights reserved. Including all photographs, written word and video, but not limited to unless noted.

After having had us create her beautiful Josette custom platinum and diamond setting in the first half of 2009, Deborah contacted us in October 2009 to begin discussions for a setting for her oval shaped 3.21 carat red spinel.  She wanted something very different in two tone yellow gold and platinum, featuring some Brian Gavin Signature diamond melee.  Brian and the team put their heads together and e-mailed off a first rendering, stating that it was just a starting point or that she should feel free to throw it out if it was not to her taste.

“I love it! I was totally stunned when I opened the CADS since it was such a different concept than what I was thinking but it's the perfect design for “Big Red”. The only catch is that I don't want it made until late winter/early spring.”

We saved the CADs and waited to hear from Deborah, all the while keeping “Big Red” safely locked up.

Almost a year passed and Deborah e-mailed in that she would be ready for us to create the ring in the spring of 2011. At the end of May she gave us the green light and we finalized the details.

“I like the two tone equally as well as all gold so I want Brian to make the final decision and it'll be a surprise for me — I'll be ecstatically happy either way.”  We decided to make it two tone to enhance the dramatic effect of the design.

Deborah was coming in to town and arranged to meet with Brian to pick up her ring. She was absolutely thrilled. When she returned to her computer she e-mailed in the following:

Lesley, I believe I was rather quiet about the ring when I picked it up because then, as now, I find there are no words adequate enough to describe it. Perfection, work of art, feast for the eyes…neither individually nor together is quite enough. The ring is above and beyond my expectations for a setting to showcase the center stone. The design is exquisite; its execution is sublime, and the quality is superb. I am thrilled that I had the chance to work with you and Brian again. It just blows my mind when I talk to Brian about a project and say “Well I sorta kinda want something like…but not really like that…oh, just put your creative genius to work and magic happens.Brian makes magic happen.” Please send my regards and thanks to the rest of the crew. Deborah

© 2011, Brian Gavin. All rights reserved. Including all photographs, written word and video, but not limited to unless noted.

In our February 16, 2011 Blog Post we featured a video of a magnificent Brian Gavin “Blue” Signature diamond prepared by Brian Gallardo. He then sent back the diamond to be set into a magnificent Platinum "Kim" Micropave Setting.

Brian and Lesley, The ring is beyond beautiful! WOW! Everyone who has seen my Fiancee's ring comments on how beautiful it is. My Fiancee could not be happier. She has been on cloud 9 for three weeks! I have heard the "My ring is so beautiful" comment about a million times.  I want to thank both of you so much for your outstanding customer service. You have gained a customer for life! Brian

The New Couple and Sophie's Beautiful Ring

© 2011, Brian Gavin. All rights reserved. Including all photographs, written word and video, but not limited to unless noted.

A former customer called us a little over 3 weeks before her mother’s birthday to find out if we were able to create a diamond pendant setting for the 30 carat emerald cut aquamarine her father, Richard, had purchased. We knew it was going to be a tight squeeze, but Brian was excited about working on such a different and creative project. The setting was created in 18K White Gold with a diamond bail using approximately 1.80 ctw F/G VS Brian Gavin Signature melee and marquise diamonds.

Lesley, please pass my thanks along to your entire team. It is a beautiful piece and I am certain that my wife will love it. I look forward to working with you again. Richard

The intricate process is illustrated in the pictures and video below….

© 2011, Brian Gavin. All rights reserved. Including all photographs, written word and video, but not limited to unless noted.

Ronda contacted us at the end of November. She had worked with us at our previous company where we had helped her with her diamond earring purchase. She was interested in sending her cushion cut diamond in to have it reset it into one of our solitaire settings.

I would really like to give you guys a try as I have seen nothing but Rave reviews on PS.  We have a whole Facebook group of gals that just love you guys!   I am a fan on FB of your website.

Ronda loved a similar setting we had made for a previous customer and wanted us to create a similar one for her 1.24 ct cushion cut diamond . The setting was a sleek cathedral style setting with a magnificent 4 prong head featuring a row of F/G VS Brian Gavin Signature Melee around the basket just under the girdle of the diamond. She had several discussions with Brian to ensure that we got the setting just right and she named it Eternal Grace. The result was breathtaking!

Thanks so much Lesley for all that you and Brian have done.   You have been very patient with me and I really appreciate it!  I will be back.   BTW, my husband took me to the hub, opened the box for me, and placed the ring on my finger.  He loves it too!  This is my first solitaire!

The story in pictures….

© 2011, Brian Gavin. All rights reserved. Including all photographs, written word and video, but not limited to unless noted.