Before James and I got engaged, we already had several of our own concerns and opinions about the jewelry industry. Then, when it came time to search for rings to symbolize our commitment to one another, we were even more bewildered by the exorbitant prices for rings that, while were very pretty and shiny, lacked imagination. Everything looked and felt very mass produced, and didn't reflect our own views and values in the world.
By contrast, many of our peers still held onto the belief that having anything less than diamonds of a certain size would be unacceptable to wear. I initially felt some pressure to have my rings fit this ideal, but this ideal falls apart upon deeper thought. Our realization was that it was reflective of one's never-ending concern with socioeconomic status, and doesn't reflect the values that we want to hold for ourselves and our future children.
James and I are second generation Vietnamese-Canadians, and both our parents came here with huge barriers in language that affected their ability to find reliable work. And while times were tough, there was no shame, fear, or regret because of how we grew up. We've come a long way in our hurdles, and our experience has always been that there is plenty to enjoy and appreciate in the midst of hardship.
Within my small single-parent family, my brother and I had to be extra scrappy around the house by stitching our own clothes when they ripped, or doing DIY home and electronic repairs. And when toys were not affordable, I'd draw, color, and cut things into existence. Paper dolls, paper jewelry, even the occasional paper pet.
In my husbands family of musicians, his parents had to take on various side jobs to keep afloat. He and his siblings often found joy in playing instruments that his parents had around the house. Other times, they imagined various stories and worlds that the characters they drew could live in.
Looking back, creativity within our homes was what got us through hard times and nurtured life-long bonds with our siblings. The skills we learned along the way also set the precedence for the careers we would eventually have. More importantly, the practice of being imaginative and resourceful has helped re-frame our mindset from one of scarcity to one of abundance.
In my husbands family of musicians, his parents had to take on various side jobs to keep afloat. He and his siblings often found joy in playing instruments that his parents had around the house. Other times, they imagined various stories and worlds that the characters they drew could live in.
Looking back, creativity within our homes was what got us through hard times and nurtured life-long bonds with our siblings. The skills we learned along the way also set the precedence for the careers we would eventually have. More importantly, the practice of being imaginative and resourceful has helped re-frame our mindset from one of scarcity to one of abundance.
So in the end, we ditched the idea of diamonds and solitaires for our rings. We opted for a custom design by putting our heads together to imagine something new. The first product of our imagination was the Aurelia and Gatsby ring set, showcasing opal and pink tourmaline accents (my birthstones), and moissanite as the best diamond alternative we could find.
This was the ring of my dreams, and one that I was proud to wear day in and day out. To me, this ring represented the abundance mindset that had been instilled in us, and follows us with each and every one of life's endeavors. This was our version of beauty, joy, and innovation. And while I never expected to get any attention from such dainty pieces of jewelry, it was a conversation starter wherever I went. After talking to enough people outside of our circles, we realized that it was necessary to recreate this experience for other like-minded couples, even if we are few and far between. We wanted to create beautiful, meaningful rings that were uniquely designed, yet sensible. Jewelry for the creative and kind.
With love,
Tracey
