After 36 years of marriage, Stephen thought it was about time he bought Nuala an engagement ring to go with her 22k wedding band! Nuala had a fairly clear idea of what she wanted. She requested a fairly large square reddish stone set simply and elegantly in 22k gold. Since she would be wearing her ring everyday, the stone had to be fairly hardwearing. I suggested a Spinel. Spinel is a beautiful and unusual stone which has a wonderful sparkle and is durable enough for everyday wear. The "Black Princes Ruby", the centerpiece of the British Imperial State Crown is actually a spinel. To read more about this under appreciated gem click here. I engraved the inside of the ring shank with a message from Stephen in his own handwriting. |