Meet the Jewel Princess
November 18th is National Princess Day! So what better way to celebrate than to share the story of the Jewel Princess’ custom engagement ring? Tammy Dominik, GIA Graduate Gemologist is a 4th generation jeweler who started her own company — The Jewel Princess — after over ten years of industry experience.
“Jewelry is the intersection of science and unrestricted artistic expression, where every piece of jewelry represents an author’s unique creativity and requires a relentless commitment to excellence in the materials selection, design, and creation processes.” – Tammy Dominik
Here’s the Jewel Princess’ custom engagement story:
From custom invites to personalized gifts, most brides-to-be have their hands on every aspect of the journey. The only thing they can’t control? The ring. Well, that narrative doesn’t exactly work for The Jewel Princess herself, Tammy, who tied the knot last July.
How does a man propose to the go-to girl for helping others find the rings of their dreams and live up to her expectations? Well, he plans a private dinner on the beach, produces a beautiful, hand-engraved wedding band alongside tickets to the Tucson Gem Show – the mecca for gemologists! *Swoon*
Needless to say, he exceeded all expectations and was more than ready to be supportive of what was going to be an exciting journey! Take a peek into the mind of The Jewel Princess lead designer as she created the ring that will represent their love for a lifetime and longer:
What Was Your Design Inspiration?
I wanted it to be a ring that was fit for a princess! I initially thought that my design was going to be a solitaire, but it evolved as I kept drawing out, and erasing my design. I wanted it to be regal, but not too chunky. So, I designed it with a shank that tapered. I love curvy feminine designs, but also the fierceness of princess diamonds and solid corners. So, I included both in my design.
What Metal Did You Choose?
I have always wanted a yellow gold engagement ring, but in the end, I picked platinum, which is another of my favorite metals to use. The design, my lavender sapphires and my accent stones looked better with platinum’s color than yellow gold. So, that made my choice easy.
I am not hard on my hands like some clients – who I often tell to choose white gold – so platinum’s softness is never going to be a problem for me. I really love platinum and the fact that I will never have to rhodium plate it, unlike white gold. Depending on the client, I will recommend white gold over platinum any day.
Why Sapphire?
I do love my diamonds. But for a gemologist, there is nothing like the beauty found in a colored stone. I have known for a very long time that I wanted my engagement ring to be color. What color I wanted, I couldn’t have told you. My choice of color evolved rapidly and often before finally settling on lavender (pictured below), my longtime favorite color.
When it came down to it, I was deciding between a lavender sapphire and a lavender spinel. Ultimately, it came down to the hardness (sapphire wins) and the cut because the two had equally beautiful colors with sparkles of reds, blues, and purples.
How Did You Pick Your Stone Shape?
To begin, I had no idea what shape I wanted. I have short fingers. And the only thing I did know is that I wanted a shape that would complement my hands and elongate my fingers, if possible. The longer shapes, like pears, ovals, and emerald cuts, really did that for me.
Which Accent Stones Did You Choose?
I adorned my design with the highest quality diamonds and four pear-shaped Paraiba tourmalines, which have the most mesmerizing color. I’ve always loved the color combination of purple and teal. I wasn’t sure if I would want to see that color combination all day, every day. So, I designed those accent colors to be in inconspicuous places, under the gallery and on the sides of the ring!
Loved the Jewel Princess’ custom engagement story? Follow @thejewelprincess on Instagram and check out her website here! Then, stay tuned; Tammy The Jewel Princess will be back to give an exclusive engagement trend report.
