Continuing our celebration of Stuller’s Year of the Wedding™, we are highlighting stunning engagement rings and the Stuller associates who wear them.
You can find a piece of every bride in her ring as it reflects her style, personality, and beauty. For Stuller’s director of diamonds, Heather Fontenot, this statement rings true with the simple yet elegant solitaire ring her now-husband surprised her with.
This is Heather and Cody’s ring story.
“Very simple, very easy.”
From picking out the perfect diamond and mounting to crafting a unique wedding band solution, the experts at Stuller were happy to help and be a part of Heather and Cody’s journey to happily ever after.
When the time came for Cody to pop the question, he enlisted the help of Stanley Zale – Stuller’s vice president of diamond and gemstone procurement. While Heather did connect Cody and Stanley, she gave no directions to Cody as to what she wanted.
“I didn’t tell Cody anything, but I told Stanley that I like a high color. I didn’t care what shape, the mounting, the design – I wanted to be surprised.”
Stanley coordinated with Cody for him to visit the Stuller building during Bench Jeweler Workshop, when Heather would be preoccupied and not notice he was around. Stanley and another coworker assisted Cody in picking the diamond and ring without Heather being aware he was in the building.
Heather trusted Cody to know her and her tastes. She said, “I feel like he has always understood what I wanted.” In the end, he truly did.
Heather’s ring is a six-prong die-struck platinum solitaire with a 2.14-carat oval lab-grown diamond (VS1, F). Strong, simple, and classic – exactly what Heather wanted!
Custom Wedding Band Solution
While Heather’s engagement ring is simple and classic, her wedding bands required a unique solution to make it perfect. Heather’s vision was to have two wedding bands – one on each side of the ring – that rest flush against the ring without a contour around the ring. She found it difficult to find a wedding band that fit just right. With the six-prong setting, there was always either a gap between the bands or a contour around the ring.
She enlisted the help of Stuller’s CAD/CAM Services to assist her in creating a custom solution. In the end, Stuller’s designers were able to take two simple shanks and create a notch in each that allows the rings to fit flat on either side of the engagement ring. This unique solution allows Heather to stack any ring on her finger with these bands without them having to have a matching contour, letting her enjoy the simplicity of wearing just her bands with their one-of-a-kind features.
A Personal Touch from Heather
Cody’s wedding band was also made by the team at Stuller. Simple in style and made of platinum, it is the perfect complement to Heather’s custom rings.
But Cody’s ring has something unique and special about it as well: on the inside, Heather had a short note inscribed in her handwriting. It reads “Forever Yours” along with their wedding date, the perfect reminder that Cody has found his perfect match.
The Proposal
With all the planning done, it was finally time for Cody to ask Heather the ultimate question. He told her that they were going meet up with their friends for his birthday at their favorite restaurant – Tsunami in downtown Baton Rouge, Louisiana. They arrived early and enjoyed a glass of wine overlooking a picturesque Mississippi River sunset on the terrace.
He turned to Heather and said, “Do you remember how I said I got everything I wanted for my birthday? Well, there is just one more thing.” He got on one knee, and the rest is history. The excuse of meeting up with friends was a ruse. They enjoyed a dinner alone together before telling their families and the world the good news.
Make Dreams a Reality
There are stories like Heather and Cody’s every day. While you carry rings that will bring tears to a bride’s face, others will need your help designing a ring that exceeds their greatest dreams.
We are here to make you the hero and help you provide the happy ending that Heather and Cody received. Starting with one of our 3C designs, you can guide your customer through the process of customizing their ring. You also have the option to work with our CAD/CAM team or create your own design using CounterSketch® or MatrixGold®.
We have solutions to meet all your needs. Visit Stuller.com today and let us help you make your customers’ dreams come true.
Learn more about Stuller’s Year of the Wedding™ on our recent blog post!
