By Katie McMath

When history plays out as tumultuously as it has this year, a little perspective can soothe our unease. Many of us are still shaken by what feels like tectonic plates shifting beneath us. Yet as health, safety, and security are challenged, we continue to celebrate the positives. Couples are still getting engaged and married. There are birthdays, anniversaries, and graduations. If anything, loved ones should be held a little closer. When Family is able to reunite, what marks their milestones? Sentimental, personalized jewelry.

At Eve’s we have had the pleasure of creating many special pieces for such occasions this year. Many recently engaged couples have come to Eve looking for their perfect rings. One such couple decided to each get a special engagement Ring, both for the man and the woman. For the woman, we placed her fiancé’s exquisite pale blue Paraiba tourmaline in an elaborate setting. Small stones glistened around the sides of the band, and the raised bezel which held the tourmaline aloft in a highly decorated seat like a royal jewel.

Her fiancé chose for his own ring a unique, smooth chrysoberyl with a gleaming cat’s eye effect. When tilted from side to side a beam of light flashes across the stone’s surface. This gem we set between two canary yellow tourmalines, echoing the tourmaline for his bride-to-be. The ring’s medieval style, green gold band gives off a confident, masculine look. Finally in the back of each of these exquisite rings, a small blue sapphire is set as a hidden treasure for the bride and groom.

In August an equally unique couple selected their wedding rings from Eve’s gallery. One bride wore an organic vine ring, modeled after the twisting branches of a tree. Its white gold arms cradled a pear-shaped diamond, and seven smaller diamonds sprinkled throughout. The fluid lines of Eve’s vine rings offer something for nature lovers and those with less traditional tastes.

 Her wife-to-be wore a more structured band with intricate swirling openwork, mimicking the vine ring’s curves, contained within the band’s borders. Also set in white gold, this band held four deep blue sapphires and five diamonds, for much needed sparkle. Each ring is one-of-a-kind, yet they are harmonious together.

The couple’s beautiful backyard ceremony brought family and friends together. Even the couple’s dogs were part of the wedding party!

For another summer wedding, the mother of the bride trusted Eve to transform a family heirloom. Using their onyx stones, Eve created a new band for the bride’s watch, in white gold. Segments of dark, polished onyx were cut and carefully bezel set, side by side in geometric links. Between each stone, diamonds punctuated the bracelet, complementing an elegant watch face. Before embarking on this project Eve sketched up a blueprint, which touched the family as a precious memento. They are having a copy of Eve’s sketch framed, to forever capture this glimpse in time.

Another popular item lately has been gifts for babies. Little additions to the family are always a cause for celebration, no matter what is going on in the larger world around them. One customer recently came to the gallery, shopping for something to honor her friend’s new baby. She purchased a pink tourmaline and freshwater pearl bracelet, small enough for a newborn wrist. Eve has created many varieties of these tiny bracelets with different gemstones stones giving pops of color. For an October baby, the tourmaline was a perfect choice!

For another newborn, Eve crafted a detailed spoon cast in sterling silver. Carved on one side were the baby’s initials, in elegant abstracted script, echoing the twisting vines of a tree. On the other side Eve carved a joyful illustration of a rabbit, and set a small pink sapphire (the baby’s birthstone.) The spoon was a charming labor of love which now shares a special place in the family’s trove of memories.

Suffice it to say, custom jewelry design plays a crucial role in honoring important occasions and expressing love. Even amidst sickness, war, and chaos, loved ones gather to celebrate the positive moments and enjoy what they find beautiful. Our staff has been surprised to see how much pleasure people take from the process of designing one-of-a-kind pieces to fit harmoniously into their lives and last long into the future, whatever the future may bring.