The Engagement Ring Experience
A ring made for your partner, with part of you in the making.
This is a private, two-part experience at my Providence studio. We begin by designing an engagement ring around your partner—their style, the way they live, and the details that feel distinctly like them. You then return to help shape a meaningful part of the wax model that becomes the finished ring.
Why it is different
Most engagement rings are chosen or commissioned, then revealed only when they are complete. Here, you become part of the ring’s story before the proposal.
The mark you make may be quiet—a curve in the band, a carved detail, or the texture of its surface—but it becomes part of an object your partner will wear every day. The finished ring carries a history that begins with you.
This is not a make-your-own jewelry class, and you do not need any experience. I lead the design and take responsibility for the technical work, comfort, durability, stone setting, and finish. The goal is to give you a genuine hand in the making without asking you to carry the pressure of making the entire ring.
Your part in the ring
Every design offers a different opportunity for participation. Depending on the ring, you might shape part of the band, carve a small detail, or develop its surface texture. We’ll choose a contribution that feels satisfying to make and belongs naturally within the design.
Your hand does not have to be obvious in the finished ring. It can remain a private detail: something you know is there, and a story you can share when the time feels right.
How it works
First appointment: Design
We’ll talk about your partner’s style, ring size, daily life, and the materials and proportions you’re drawn to. We’ll look at references, discuss gemstones and metal, establish a comfortable overall budget, and decide what part of the ring you’ll help shape.
Between appointments
I’ll refine the design, source stones for your approval, and prepare the wax so your contribution can be made with close guidance.
Second appointment: Carving
You’ll return to the studio to work on the wax. I’ll prepare the more technical elements in advance and guide you through shaping your part of the ring. If you’d like, we can take photographs of the process to keep or share with your partner afterward.
Completing the ring
After your appointment, I’ll refine and complete the wax, arrange casting and stone setting, and finish the ring by hand. We’ll discuss the timeline before booking, including any proposal date you have in mind.
Pricing
The experience fee is $600, separate from the cost of the ring. It covers both private appointments, preparation for your participation, and guidance throughout the experience. This fee is additional to the ring price and is not credited toward it.
The ring is quoted individually based on the design, metal, gemstones, and work required to complete it. We’ll discuss your overall budget before booking, and you’ll receive a clear ring proposal for approval before production begins.
Giving the experience as a gift
You can give the $600 experience fee without choosing the ring or its materials. The person commissioning the ring can then work with me directly to establish a separate ring budget and develop the design.
The experience can be planned for a surprise proposal or shared by a couple designing the ring together.
Prefer a custom commission?
You’re also welcome to work with me on a custom engagement ring without the carving appointments. We’ll develop the design together, and I’ll handle the making.
Begin the process
Contact Julia with a little about your plans, your hoped-for timeline, and any initial ideas or overall budget. It is completely fine if the details are still open; the first conversation is simply a place to begin.