When it’s time to take your commitment to the next level, you’ll want to ensure you get it right with a special ring and a heartfelt proposal.
Living by her own design, Kim Dyason, the owner of Studio 39 Jewellery Design in Kloof, cuts through the myths surrounding how much to spend on an engagement ring and what to consider when selecting the best ring for your partner and your budget.
Benefits of buying a custom-made engagement ring
Kim says, the benefits include budget control, convenience, material selection flexibility, exceptional quality and the ability to add deep meaning to the ring.
- Budget control: Creating a custom engagement ring allows you to avoid overspending. Collaborating with a jeweller ensures the cost stays within your specified price range.
- Convenience: With Kim’s passion and experience, custom designing a ring is a streamlined process compared to traditional ring shopping, which can be time-consuming. Working with one jeweller to create every part of your ring saves time and reduces stress.
- Material selection: Custom rings offer the freedom to explore modern alternatives, like coloured gemstones, or choose from a range of materials beyond traditional options like diamonds, to create a unique design.
- Exceptional quality: Custom jewellery tends to be of higher quality due to meticulous attention to detail during the design and crafting process.
- A deeper meaning: Designing your own engagement ring allows you to infuse it with personal meaning. Custom elements reflect your care and thoughtfulness in creating a unique symbol of your relationship.
The sustainability of heirloom jewellery
“Heirloom jewellery embodies sustainability through its environmental, cultural, artisanal, financial and emotional dimensions. Embracing heirlooms as part of one’s collection not only promotes responsible consumption but also celebrates heritage and craftsmanship while minimizing the environmental impact associated with mass jewellery production methods,” says Kim, explaining these factors further:
- Environmental impact: By utilising existing jewellery to create new pieces, as shown in the pictures above, individuals contribute to reducing over-consumption within the industry. This practice helps conserve resources and minimise waste generated from mining and factories that create laboratory grown materials.
- Resource conservation: The process of reviving heirloom jewellery promotes resource conservation by extending the life cycle of precious metals like gold and natural gemstones such as diamonds. This approach aligns with the principles of sustainability by reducing the need for newly mined and laboratory grown materials.
- Cultural preservation: Heirloom jewellery holds sentimental value and reflects personal histories, cultural traditions and family legacies. Passing down these pieces from one generation to another fosters a sense of connection and continuity while preserving heritage.
- Artisanal craftsmanship: Reviving heirloom jewellery involves skilled artisans who specialise in refurbishing and redesigning these pieces. Supporting these craftsmen contributes to maintaining traditional craftsmanship and supporting small businesses. Kim believes small businesses should stand together, combining skills and experience to uplift the communities around them.
- Financial investment: Antique and vintage jewellery hold their value over time, making them a sustainable investment compared to fast fashion or disposable luxury items. The durability and quality of fine handcrafted jewellery ensure that it can be enjoyed for generations.
- Emotional value: Heirloom jewellery carries emotional significance, representing relationships, memories and experiences across generations. By cherishing and passing down these pieces, individuals engage in a sustainable consumption that transcends trends and fosters lasting connections.
Kim relates, “An engagement ring is often the most sentimental heirloom piece passed down through generations and deserves the extra time and thought needed to invest in something that will stand the test of time. It is the most romantic purchase and representation of love in your entire relationship. The proposal is discussed at family gatherings and events through generations to come.”
So gents, or ladies if you are the one popping the question, do not mess this up! Navigating this minefield (pun intended) of choices can be daunting and costly if you do not know where to look or have someone you can trust guiding you. Now that you’ve been made even more nervous, let’s put your mind at ease.
Kim has been designing and making engagement rings for over three decades. It is her passion. With her proven track record, she does not believe in simply selling you an engagement ring.
“As your personal family jeweller, I want to help you through this process, deliver on our promise to create a future heirloom, and be there for all of your future celebrations, milestones and memorable moments.”
Working from Fields Hill Shopping Centre in Kloof suits Studio 39’s open view workshop. Here, you can view and interact with the goldsmiths who share Kim’s ethos and passion.
Details: Kim Dyason 061 303 3939 | Shop 16, Fields Centre, Kloof
