A Family-Mined Sapphire Dress Ring

This handcrafted two-tone dress ring was created around sapphires mined by the client’s family.

Rather than using newly sourced gemstones, the design began with stones that already carried personal history. A deep blue emerald-cut sapphire became the centrepiece, with six smaller green sapphires set along the shoulders to create contrast, rhythm and connection to the original collection.

Handmade in yellow and white gold, the finished ring transforms family-mined sapphires into a bold bespoke piece designed to be worn and enjoyed.

Design Development & Brief

The client wanted to showcase a collection of sapphires mined on their family property. The design was centred around a striking deep blue emerald-cut sapphire, complemented by six smaller green sapphires selected from the same collection.

Several concepts were explored before the final two-tone design was developed, combining a yellow gold band with white gold accents. The finished piece was designed to highlight the natural variation of the sapphires while creating a bold, wearable dress ring.

Family-mined sapphires selected for a custom two-tone dress ring
Hand-drawn design sketch for a multi-sapphire two-tone dress ring

Family-mined sapphires formed the starting point for the design, with the final layout developed around the shape, colour and character of the stones.

Inside the Workshop

Rather than using a cast setting, the ring was fabricated by hand from gold stock. The yellow gold band was formed and shaped by hand before individual white gold bars were fitted across the shoulders of the ring.

A hand-fabricated bezel was constructed for the emerald-cut centre sapphire, with decorative pierced openings cut into the ends of the setting. The green sapphires were then individually set into the white gold shoulder sections before final assembly, finishing and polishing.

Heating gold stock during hand fabrication of a sapphire dress ring
White gold being made into shoulder bars for a two-tone sapphire ring
Client-supplied sapphires and handmade ring components during fabrication
Two-tone sapphire dress ring in progress with family-mined stones laid out
Green sapphires set into the white gold shoulder of a handmade dress ring

The Finished Piece

Side view of a two-tone sapphire dress ring with channel-set green sapphires

  • Metal: 9ct Yellow Gold & 9ct White Gold

  • Centre Stone: Client-supplied emerald-cut deep blue sapphire

  • Accent Stones: Six client-supplied round green sapphires

  • Setting: Hand-fabricated bezel setting with channel-set shoulder sapphires

  • Technique: Hand Fabrication & Stone Setting

  • Style: Bespoke Sapphire Dress Ring

Project Details

  • Family-mined sapphires

  • Client-supplied centre and accent stones

  • Emerald-cut sapphire centre stone

  • Six green sapphire accents

  • Two-tone yellow and white gold construction

  • Custom pierced bezel setting

  • Handmade from gold stock

At a Glance

This ring demonstrates how personally significant gemstones can be transformed into a distinctive bespoke piece.

The sapphires were mined by the client’s family, giving the project a story before the design process even began. Matthew developed the ring around the deep blue emerald-cut centre stone, using six smaller green sapphires along the shoulders to create balance, contrast and movement.

Handmade in two-tone gold, the finished piece preserves the history of the stones while giving them a new life as a wearable dress ring.