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  It's engagement season! I've been designing a number of custom engagement rings this month, so my sketchbook has been filled with ideas for halo rings, one-of-kind solitaire stunners, and vintage-inspired engraved rings. xo, Christine

The alternative title for this blog post is "My First Engagement Ring". So glad it was for my sister! On Halloween weekend in 2009, my sister Tania and her boyfriend Chris came to the city for a Halloween house party in South Philly. Tania's always been a little craftier than me, so while she helped my boyfriend whip together a last minute costume, Chris and I went out to the corner store. On that walk, Chris asked if I'd be willing to design an engagement ring for Tania using a diamond he had researched and sourced from Blue Nile. My...

Birthstone month: SeptemberFamily: CorundumColor: Sapphires are typically associated with the color blue, but actually come in almost every colorMoh's Hardness: 9 Sapphires come in red (also known as ruby!), pink, purple, yellow, green, and orange, but the color most often associated with sapphire is blue. A deep, saturated blue is the most coveted shade, though there are desirable variations such as the paler Montana sapphire. The world's most famous sapphire was worn by Princess Diana as an engagement ring. Hers was an oval sapphire, set with numerous delicate prongs and surrounded by a cluster halo of diamonds. Prince William proposed...

What's a halo? Most people think of a crown surrounding the head of a saint, prophet or angel. In the jewelry world, a halo refers to a circle of diamonds surrounding the center stone of a ring. Sometimes, a halo will be made from colored gemstones, or small metal designs like in this custom engagement ring, which has a beaded halo: You can have more than one halo in the same ring. This round brilliant diamond is surrounded by a cushion-shaped double halo. Setting styles can vary in halo rings. This halo ring has a half bezel setting for the...

What is a mood stone, anyway? Most mood stones are acrylic cabochons, typically round or oval in shape, that have a thermotropic liquid crystal coating on the base of the stone. This coating changes color in reaction to the temperature of your body as you're wearing your mood ring. Care and Cleaning Since mood stones are usually made of acrylic or glass, you'll want to treat them gently. Avoid extreme temperature swings and immersing your mood stone in water. Mood rings can be difficult to size, so double check your finger size before ordering.   Everyone has been searching for...