If you’ve zoomed in on my photos lately, maybe you’ve noticed I’ve been wearing a new ring on my left hand. For months, Thomas and I worked with @ringconcierge to design my dream engagement ring—one that incorporated both our birth stones and would be a unique piece to represent our story. I wrote about the experience for @elleusa—and literally answered every question you could have about what it’s really like to have a custom or bespoke engagement ring made. (It’s actually more affordable than you’d think.) I knew for years that I wanted to have something different than just a solitaire to represent my journey with my person. What exactly I didn’t know until I got into it. But good pieces of jewelry often have incredible stories behind them. I’m incredibly grateful to the team at Ring Concierge, especially my jeweler Courtney, for all the guidance and partnership they gave me and Thomas throughout this. We started in July, and I had the ring on my hand by Halloween. What has touched me most when I’ve shown it to friends and loved ones is when they tell me it’s very me. While it’s far from a classic engagement ring (and certainly not everyone’s taste), I like knowing that it’s wholly mine, that my spirit and love story are so immediately visible in the design. People need only a glance to see it. I stack it with a 3/4 eternity band from @hera.fine.jewelry. Both rings are 18k rose gold, and Thomas’s wedding band is as well. I’ve been doing engagement ring explainers for ELLE for quite some time, and getting to understand the artistry behind such cherished pieces has been great fun. That background was so helpful when it was my turn. Check my links in bio to read the explainer. And as exciting as it is to have such a special engagement ring, what matters most is the partnership behind it. I feel enormously grateful for Thomas, and every beautiful thing in my life is made more resplendent by just having him with me. I hope everyone gets to know a love, romantic or not, that just amplifies all the best in you and holds you through the hard times. Nurturing it is the best work you’ll do. Swipe through for photos from throughout the ring design process. 🩵💍