This toi et moi custom dress ring is a wonderful moment of self celebration, with our client thoughtfully designing and gifting this ring to herself. Over recent years, toi et moi rings have grown in popularity, often following relatively formulaic layouts. More recently, however, the style has evolved—embracing bolder colour combinations, unexpected gemstone pairings, and less traditional compositions. This commission sat firmly within that more expressive, contemporary space.

From the outset, the intention was to focus on colour, shape, and a strong sense of visual impact. The brief was not about subtlety, but about creating a ring with real presence—something playful, joyful, and full of character. While early discussions touched on the idea of incorporating orange and blue, potentially referencing birthstones, the final approach prioritised colour first and foremost. The stones needed to command attention and deliver the sense of “wow” the ring was designed to have.
A carefully curated selection of gemstones was presented, including tourmalines, sapphires, London blue topaz, orange sapphires, and vivid “fanta” garnets. From this selection, the client chose a striking trillion-cut London Blue Topaz. Its razor-sharp faceting gives the stone exceptional depth and structure, with a saturated petrol-blue tone that feels rich and architectural. Paired alongside it is a vibrant oval “fanta” garnet, whose intense orange hue brings warmth, contrast, and energy to the composition. Although smaller in scale, it is by no means secondary—the garnet holds its own confidently within the design.

One of the most satisfying aspects of this commission is that the final orientation and setting of the stones exactly mirrors how the client instinctively placed them side-by-side on her hand during our meeting. The ring retains that spontaneous, intuitive arrangement, translated into a refined yet modernist setting. The finished design feels architectural and sculptural, with clean lines and confident proportions.

Delivered in time for Christmas, the ring made its debut at a festive gathering, with friends present to witness the reveal. Their reactions confirmed what we already knew: the process, the design, and the finished piece were an undeniable success.

As another self-commissioned piece, this ring beautifully reflects the growing movement of women creating meaningful jewellery for themselves—something we explore further in our journal article on the self-love jewellery movement.