And this at Melissa Joy Manning. My own personal favorite. Hmm. Maybe I don't want to tell you:). Nah. Here you go. http://bit.ly/zpsEsY The square chunk has stolen my heart.
Also in the East Bay: Shibumi Gallery in Berkeley. I searched high and low for a non-diamond and instantly fell in love with my ring there: a small pale green sapphire solitaire (<$1K). Shibumi has wonderful jewelry from a handful of local artists. Highly recommend them, and they're close to 4th street in Berkeley which has more shops you can browse for great jewelry, including Rabat and Erica Tanov. http://www.shibumigallery.com/gallery-comrings-01.htm
I'll also throw in another vote for Esqueleto in Oakland. I was sent there by my boyfriend to try on potential engagement rings in person and the staff were so super nice to me. I think I tried on every ring in the place!
They have some beautiful (Satomi Kawakita, Mociun, Blanca Monros Gomez) rings that are reasonably priced & non-diamond.
OR just get that coral ring 'cause it is totally amazing!!!
I highly recommend The Gem Gallery in Berkeley, as well as M. Lowe and Company, Lang's Antiques in San Francisco, Lirielle in Oakland (piedmont ave) and of course Velvet DaVinci in SF.
Oh my god, ESB! I'm the writer of this post and I just wrote to you AND saw this ring IN THE SAME DAY and not only do I want this ring like a madwoman but then YOU recommended to me and seeing my post on your blog TOTALLY MAKES ME FEEL LIKE A ROCKSTAR. Hence the run-on sentence and loss of grammar ability. EEEEEEEEEEE!!!
Thanks everyone for offering their help and advice. TOTALLY in love with that coral ring but I have to admit I don't think we can splurge that much. I feel like such a princess that you even RECOMMENDED it to me. Geez!
Can ya'll tell I'm on that cloud nine I'm-about-to-be-engaged-to-the-love-of-my-life hormones, or what?
:) I went and I did try it on, and it IS beautiful, but it doesn't fit. My fingers are really teensy and since this piece has a big wide top full of gems, it can't really be resized. Someone had tried at some point to make it smaller so it's already pretty oblong - you can see that in their pictures on their website.
BUT it was a wonderful experience, the staff (Lindsay) was incredibly sweet and took my name and all my info to work with their estate-hunting people to be on the hunt for an antique piece for me. Can't say enough nice things about the experience. I actually came away relieved to have just tried things on with my man because I feel like we just took our first big step in this process, it was really nice.
Also, I totally raved about ESB and how I knew Metier is a new sponsor and how ESB is totally how we found them. Let them know what a great decision they made ;)
Thanks again to everyone for all your help, it's so awesome to have all your advice and best wishes! I will let you know if/when I find "the ring."
(Oh and LASTLY, yes ESB we are indeed burrito loving fools, been living in SF 18months and I probably don't go a week without one. It may kill me to ever move out of CA.)
Aw, bummer! But at least you got to try it on so now you don't have to wonder. I had the same problem with vintage rings--I wanted one of those engraved bands from the 30s for my wedding band. They are fairly common but I could not find my size anywhere and most pros I talked to advised me not to resize because the design would be ruined. I finally had someone local make a reproduction. Good luck with your search!
I second Anonymous 2:12's recommendation of Shibumi Gallery in Berkeley. Even though you aren't looking for a diamonds, I got my raw diamond ring set from the woman who owns it, April Higashi. She is WONDERFUL and her jewelry is incredibly pretty. If you go in and say you want something under 1K, she also does custom work.
Wow, ladies, this is the most awesome conversation ever- seriously perfect timing! We're SO excited to be a sponsor for ESB and we're even more excited that Anon came in and told us that she heard of us from here! We've been working with non-traditional brides (and traditional ones!) for 20+ years, so come and see us any time. We're working on putting up some new antiques this week....watch out!
Ok this is an old thread but my engagement ring came from Fiat Lux at Church and 15th. Local artists, conflict free. And you can also by awesome vintage Cazal shades and clothes there, too.
Also Escueleto in Temescal, if you're willing to trek to the East Bay. It is amazing and well-curated.
ReplyDeleteAnd this at Melissa Joy Manning. My own personal favorite. Hmm. Maybe I don't want to tell you:). Nah. Here you go. http://bit.ly/zpsEsY The square chunk has stolen my heart.
ReplyDeleteAlso in the East Bay: Shibumi Gallery in Berkeley. I searched high and low for a non-diamond and instantly fell in love with my ring there: a small pale green sapphire solitaire (<$1K). Shibumi has wonderful jewelry from a handful of local artists. Highly recommend them, and they're close to 4th street in Berkeley which has more shops you can browse for great jewelry, including Rabat and Erica Tanov.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.shibumigallery.com/gallery-comrings-01.htm
That coral ring is so beautiful! It makes me want to break up with my husband, just so I can marry him all over again. GAH!
ReplyDeleteI second Melissa Joy Manning. I did not get one of her rings but this was almost mine.
ReplyDeleteI'll also throw in another vote for Esqueleto in Oakland. I was sent there by my boyfriend to try on potential engagement rings in person and the staff were so super nice to me. I think I tried on every ring in the place!
ReplyDeleteThey have some beautiful (Satomi Kawakita, Mociun, Blanca Monros Gomez) rings that are reasonably priced & non-diamond.
OR just get that coral ring 'cause it is totally amazing!!!
I highly recommend The Gem Gallery in Berkeley, as well as M. Lowe and Company, Lang's Antiques in San Francisco, Lirielle in Oakland (piedmont ave) and of course Velvet DaVinci in SF.
ReplyDeletei want everything on the metier site.
ReplyDeletealso, big ups temescal.
Brilliant Earth in SF!! They use all fair trade and ethically sourced metals and stones.
ReplyDeleteBest!
UGH I love that coral ring!
ReplyDeleteOh my god, ESB! I'm the writer of this post and I just wrote to you AND saw this ring IN THE SAME DAY and not only do I want this ring like a madwoman but then YOU recommended to me and seeing my post on your blog TOTALLY MAKES ME FEEL LIKE A ROCKSTAR. Hence the run-on sentence and loss of grammar ability. EEEEEEEEEEE!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone for offering their help and advice. TOTALLY in love with that coral ring but I have to admit I don't think we can splurge that much. I feel like such a princess that you even RECOMMENDED it to me. Geez!
Can ya'll tell I'm on that cloud nine I'm-about-to-be-engaged-to-the-love-of-my-life hormones, or what?
@Anon 4:24 buy the ring RIGHT THIS INSTANT and eat burritos while you're in SF.
ReplyDeleteI know I know I should I should it's even MY EXACT SIZE jesus it's going to be gone before I get there, AHHHHHHHHHHHHH
ReplyDelete@Anon 4:24/4:34 SF is the burrito capital of the world, you know.
ReplyDeletethe coral one is just gorgeous. you'll have this forever, woman. just splurge.
ReplyDeleteAnon, did you get it???
ReplyDelete:) I went and I did try it on, and it IS beautiful, but it doesn't fit. My fingers are really teensy and since this piece has a big wide top full of gems, it can't really be resized. Someone had tried at some point to make it smaller so it's already pretty oblong - you can see that in their pictures on their website.
ReplyDeleteBUT it was a wonderful experience, the staff (Lindsay) was incredibly sweet and took my name and all my info to work with their estate-hunting people to be on the hunt for an antique piece for me. Can't say enough nice things about the experience. I actually came away relieved to have just tried things on with my man because I feel like we just took our first big step in this process, it was really nice.
Also, I totally raved about ESB and how I knew Metier is a new sponsor and how ESB is totally how we found them. Let them know what a great decision they made ;)
Thanks again to everyone for all your help, it's so awesome to have all your advice and best wishes! I will let you know if/when I find "the ring."
(Oh and LASTLY, yes ESB we are indeed burrito loving fools, been living in SF 18months and I probably don't go a week without one. It may kill me to ever move out of CA.)
Aw, bummer! But at least you got to try it on so now you don't have to wonder. I had the same problem with vintage rings--I wanted one of those engraved bands from the 30s for my wedding band. They are fairly common but I could not find my size anywhere and most pros I talked to advised me not to resize because the design would be ruined. I finally had someone local make a reproduction. Good luck with your search!
ReplyDeleteCheck out Elle-Meme in Nob Hill ... so much pretty. http://elle-meme.com/
ReplyDeleteI second Anonymous 2:12's recommendation of Shibumi Gallery in Berkeley. Even though you aren't looking for a diamonds, I got my raw diamond ring set from the woman who owns it, April Higashi. She is WONDERFUL and her jewelry is incredibly pretty. If you go in and say you want something under 1K, she also does custom work.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.shibumigallery.com/ah_jewelry.htm
Wow, ladies, this is the most awesome conversation ever- seriously perfect timing! We're SO excited to be a sponsor for ESB and we're even more excited that Anon came in and told us that she heard of us from here! We've been working with non-traditional brides (and traditional ones!) for 20+ years, so come and see us any time. We're working on putting up some new antiques this week....watch out!
ReplyDeleteOk this is an old thread but my engagement ring came from Fiat Lux at Church and 15th. Local artists, conflict free. And you can also by awesome vintage Cazal shades and clothes there, too.
ReplyDelete