Behind the Scenes: Designing a Modern Heirloom

Have you ever wondered what actually goes into using heirloom stones to create a beautiful new jewelry design with Bario Neal? To help shed some light onto this process, we’re starting a new series, where we will be delving into how and why so many of our clients are choosing to reimagine their heirloom jewelry - along with the storied and symbolic ways their heirloom stones became so meaningful. First up, we’re sharing our client Kara’s very unique, but very BN design - two solitaire heirloom diamond rings which fit perfectly into a modern jacket band. 

Name: Kara O.

Can you tell us about the origins of your stones and where they came from? Why have you chosen to use these heirlooms in your design?

I'm using two heirloom stones for my piece. My grandmother gave me the round solitaire for my 30th birthday. My grandmother is a woman born in the Depression, who lived in poverty for years until she married my grandfather, where she moved to the country and led a simple life. She worked hard and saved her earnings, so she could treat herself when she wanted something special. One of those days, she went shopping with her sister and bought herself this ring. She only wore it on special occasions and I was honored to receive this representation of hard work and self love. She interacted with the world (before her dementia) with unapologetic tenacity and independence. I use her spirit to inspire me to take big leaps.

The emerald cut diamond was my mom's. This is a harder story to tell because the grief of her death and absence in my life is still palpable, daily. She had a ring designed with this stone and only a few months after she received it, she lost it. My dad had a duplicate made and gave it to her for Christmas. Wouldn't you guess it - she found the original ring a few weeks later. My sister and I are the only siblings and when my mom was facing the end of her life, she gave an identical ring to me and my sister. My mother was a gift to the world. She was the kindest, most gentle, sincere, and thoughtful woman I've ever met. She approached life with integrity, gratitude, and peace. I think of her every day, and having this small token of her spirit and character near my heart reminds me that I am her daughter and that a piece of her heart lives on in me.

Since my mom passed, I've met the partner I never imagined I would have in my life. He is an incredible gift and this piece signifies the joy I have in this partnership and the commitment we have to each other.

Any details you’d like to share regarding the design inspiration for this piece?

The design inspiration for this piece was driven by my love of texture, structure, and unexpected details - like an asymmetrical stone placement. 

Thank you for so generously sharing these sentiments with us, Kara. We hope your heirloom piece continues to inspire you and bring you joy!

We love being a part of your custom design process, and we also love seeing your engagement/wedding/finished product/day to day shots of our pieces so please share them with us! Check us out on Instagram, or visit our custom page or collection pages to start gathering inspiration for your custom project!