Grandma Diamonds, Butterflies and Champagne – Aaron and Tina’s Story

Her Three Piece Ring and Sunset on Proposal Day

Love has a Symbol and it is a Wedding Ring

Aaron calls this photo, "The Best Day of My Life." My heart melts. There's nothing this Santa Barbara Jeweler likes more than working with people in love.

It All Started With a Phone Call

Aaron called me to make up a wedding set for his girlfriend Tina.  She's a teacher at Mc Kinley Elementary School. They are such a beautiful couple and great to work with.

The Meeting

When I saw her gifted Grandma diamonds, I loved them. The older platinum setting was pretty worn. It had an interesting dark line in the back, probably from a sizing during the war when Platinum was a strategic metal and they used an inferior metal. It's cool though because it speaks to a time in history.

Tina had an idea of what she wanted. She'd downloaded my e-book, "The Language of Jewelry Design" and that helped us to more quickly come up with a great design for her.

Narrowing Down the Details

Tina's Dream Wedding Set Using Her Grandmother's Diamonds

I showed some wax models the next time we met of similar styles to what we'd discussed. The luckiest thing was finding an antique reproduction setting for the main diamond that looked amazingly like the older one on her Great Grandmother's ring. Tina loved that.

There were other smaller Grandma diamonds to incorporate into the design as well which allowed us to do a three ring set which is what Tina really wanted.

I Love Working with Artists

Aaron was great during the design process. As a graphic designer, he understood all the design details right away.

Monarch Butterflies Shelter Together.

The Proposal

Aaron took Tina to the Ellwood Monarch Preserve, near the beach, to look at the butterflies. He'd never taken her there before and didn't know it was one of her special places. She was so happy there. She said, "This is perfect." Then he proposed. Then it was more perfect.

The Happiest Day of Their Lives

He pulled a bottle of Champagne out of his day pack and they celebrated in the Eucalyptus cathedral of orange and black Monarch butterflies.

I've got happy chills.

White Gold His and Hers Wedding Rings Custom Made by Calla

No story would be

complete without a picture of their rings on their wedding day.

See the story about Aaron's custom designed ring.

Happy Wedding Jeweler,
Calla Gold