It was a gift from the gem dealer Vlad Yavorskyy. He gave them to me (without discussing it at all) five or six years ago. When I stopped by his booth at the GJX show in Tucson.
I had met Vlad (over the phone) in 2011. I interviewed him for a New York Times article titled “Restoring the Luster to a Once-Loved Gem.” It was my first extensive introduction to spinel. A majestic stone loved by connoisseurs but still largely unknown to the public. After writing the story, I fell in love with spinel. In the article, I even noted that the gemstone came in a shade of “metallic grey”.
Vlad's spontaneous gift seemed premeditated to me. But it took last January to figure out what to do with my matching stones. That's when I spoke with Jillian Sassone, founder of Marrow Fine Jewelry. For a Robb Report story about jewelers who specialize in repurposing family heirlooms.
I thought about my 50th birthday, coming up at the end of June, as well as those of my twin sister, Julia.
We are fraternal twins, but in a strange way, we don't share a birthday or even a birth month. I was born 10 minutes before midnight on June 30 and Jul was born 10 minutes after midnight on July 1.
I also thought about my father, Leonard, who passed away in April 2022 at the age of 76. His eyes were a steely shade of blue-gray. As Jillian and I were talking, I suddenly realized what I wanted to do with the stones.
For the first time in my 23-year career as a jewellery editor, I commissioned a bespoke piece. I asked Marrow to make two identical 18-karat yellow gold rings for me and Jul with spinels in modern, minimalist bezel-set designs.
To make the rings stand out, I asked Jillian to add our birthstones to the inside of the stems: a tiny moonstone for my ring and a tiny ruby for Jul's ring.
From the moment I contacted Jillian in April, the process was smooth, simple and clear. Sophia Lococo, Marrow Fine's marketing coordinator, sent me a FedEx label and I shipped the stones. At the same time, I emailed Jillian a picture of a ring style I liked. Within a month, she sent me a few CAD designs to choose from. I was nervous about the project, but Jillian's kind, helpful and encouraging words, not to mention the responsiveness and professionalism of her entire team, dispelled my fears.
In mid-June, before I could even ask when to expect the rings, a package arrived at my house containing two beautifully wrapped boxes, with their own gift bags and note cards. I couldn't believe this was it. It all seemed so easy.
I quickly tore open my box and tested the ring for size. Not only did it fit me perfectly, but it fit my vision of what I hoped it would be. Contemporary yet timeless, the ring has a warm matte gold finish that contrasts beautifully with the metallic grey spinel. When I hold the ring in the sunlight, the gemstone flashes purple and lavender. I find myself staring at it, mesmerized by its captivating multicolored glow.
Finally, the time has come for the big reveal. Jul and I spent our 50th birthday weekend with friends at Skyview in the wine-producing town of Los Alamos, about two hours north of Los Angeles, just off the 101 freeway. It's a former roadside motel that was converted a few years ago into a luxury boutique hotel with great hillside views and a wonderful bar/restaurant called the Norman.
On the morning of July 1, I knocked on the door of Jul's room with her gift box in hand. I had put my own ring on my little finger to show her the matching details. When she opened the box and saw her ring, she cried.
“The grey sparkles reminded me of Dad's eyes,” I explained.
Jul nodded in understanding. There was so much to say, but I had no words. The rings said it all.
Source: jckonline.com
