Engagement Ring Stories: Garnet & Hannah

Engagement Ring Stories, From Vancouver to the Toronto Islands

For our first edition of this new feature, we would like to introduce you to Garnet and Hannah, who designed a lovely art deco-inspired engagement ring, featuring a lilac Sri Lankan oval sapphire. They have graciously shared their story and photos with us.

How did you two meet - and when did you know they were “the one”?

Hannah lived in BC, Garnet in Ontario - thankfully the magic of the internet exists! We met in person for the first time 3 months later. We found ourselves at the Vancouver Science World, being goofy and playing the games in the exhibits, and at one point Garnet looked back to see Hannah standing, staring, frozen in a deep blush. Garnet asked "What's that look for?", but both of us knew the answer.



Tell us about the proposal (where, when, the little details!).

Since we'd started dating, Garnet tried to convince Hannah that Lake Ontario would be a good enough replacement for the Pacific Ocean she grew up with (unsuccessfully, of course). He'd talked about showing her around the Toronto Islands, knowing she'd love it. So on a foggy summer Saturday afternoon, we took the ferry over, planned a big picnic, and found a spot beneath a willow tree to sit and watch the water. Unbeknownst to her, Garnet had recruited his Dad to sneak up and take pictures of the moment - and he had arrived on the island a whole FIVE hours earlier just to "make sure he didn't miss it", and was perfectly hidden among the crowd - not even Garnet could find him before they made their way to the Centre Island pier, where Garnet had scoped out just the right spot.

Leaning on the railing facing south to the uncooperatively foggy, but still picturesque view of the lake, Garnet pulled out a scrapbook with blue and purple flowers on the cover - our favourite colours. He read to her an explanation for the 99 little cards he'd hidden around the apartment the past few weeks - proof she could always re-read of all the little ways she is perfect. Hannah is very perceptive, and picked up on Garnet's nervousness at least an hour ago, but knowing what was coming didn't stop her from crying and beaming with joy as Garnet went down on one knee and produced the showstopper. And of course, Dad was there to take pictures of the tip of his finger - and the couple. (But he still got some great shots of the proposal after cropping!). Apparently at some point Hannah said "Of course I will" to the proposal, but Garnet had to ask what she said after the embrace - he blames the glare from the shining of the ring. She reiterated it was indeed an enthusiastic "Yes", so he flipped to the scrapbook's second page - containing the 100th card little reason for why she is perfect:

She said yes.

Was the ring/proposal a surprise, or did you design/plan it together?

She knew it was coming - we'd known we wanted to get married ever since she moved from Vancouver to Toronto, and we wanted to get a move-on. But she didn't know when it would come, except for small signs like Garnet taking her "window-shopping", saying he was "beginning to think about it" (even though he had already met with Kimberfire's ring designer and was arranging the finishing touches). He did thorough research through her friends and sister to ensure he made the right choices in the design, from the shade of the sapphire, to the intricate gold leaves on the band. The one diversion from her stated preferences: she said she liked white gold or silver; with this sapphire and design, he knew the yellow gold was the right call in the end.

What was most important to you when choosing an engagement ring?

Getting it right. I knew I wanted something unique, something that screamed "Hannah": capturing and reflecting her quirkiness, her love of nature and connection, and her stunning beauty.

What do you love most about your ring? Any special details (shape, setting, metal, engraving, hidden gems)?

It's a tie between the 3-stone setting and how the colours play off each other, and the gold leaves in the band that hold them. I found a reference that had elements of both that really inspired the design.

What inspired your choice of diamond/centre stone (natural vs. lab-grown, coloured gem stone vs diamond, size, look, etc.)? 

Hannah is a whimsical artist who finds and appreciates meaning and intentions associated with gems and colours. Garnet is a rock-science nerd. She likes purple and lilacs, and he knew Sri Lankan sapphires don't come in JUST the traditional blue, so he wanted to push the envelope with the centre stone. Then, he flanked the sapphire with lab-grown trilliant diamonds to anchor the design in a gentle touch of traditional brilliant white. In Hannah's words: "It SHINY!" "You did good." 

Why did you choose Kimberfire, and how was your experience working with us?

I was recommended by my friend, who had a great experience with Kimberfire as well. I liked how responsive everyone in the process was - there was some natural back-and-forth with the artist that had to be addressed, but Kimberfire was extremely accommodating for all the design edits and made effective suggestions to bring down costs. They also delivered the ring in the nick of time for such a delicate piece - just 6 weeks from confirmation to delivery. Perfect timing to announce our engagement at a big family gathering the next weekend!

What surprised you about the process, and what did you learn along the way?

How much he likes designing non-traditional rings! Garnet can't wait to save up enough to do another for her. 

For Hannah: How attached she got to the ring; immediately. We both miss it anytime she had to part with it for more than 10 minutes.

Do you have any advice for other couples shopping for an engagement ring?

Window shop and dream throughout the process. There are lots of intricate details, and beautiful materials and gems out there with unique geological stories - there's more to ring crafting than a rock on a band.

Also: even if you're not good at art and design, just try it anyway. I found - despite never being an artist - that by practicing my ideal designs, I was able to get a picture I could communicate to the artist better than explaining with reference images (though they help of course too!).

Lastly: don't fall for impractical details from google searches. Take elements of them that you like, but research common design mistakes to make sure you avoid pitfalls. Kimberfire helped advise on what kinds of things were workable or not; make sure to ask that question frequently!

A favourite reaction from friends or family after you got engaged?

The night of the proposal, Garnet's baseball team had scheduled a karaoke night, and Hannah joined too - she was brazenly displaying the new ring the whole night, but somehow, no once noticed. So Garnet got fed up, put on "Beyond the Sea" by Bobby Darin, and announced as the music came on: "This one goes out to my fiancée". Half the room stared from him to her and back; the other half screamed "WHAT? WHEN?"

Describe your ring in three words.

Natural. Gentle. Magical.

Your song / your spot in the city / your ideal date night.

I Get It Now - Sammy Rae and the Friends / Hana Don donburi (duh!) / Aquariums, Museums, and other nerd spots.

One word to describe your proposal day.

Perfect.

Any photographer to credit?

Yes - proposal day credits to Paul McGrath (Dad), engagement photo credits to GEM. The rest were taken by us.

That's a Wrap!

We hope you enjoyed the first edition of Engagement Ring Stories. Thank you again to Garnet and Hannah for sharing their story and photos with us!

If you're at the point in your journey where it makes sense to purchase an engagement ring, then don't hesitate to reach out to our team. If you're not yet ready to speak to someone, you can start your search by learning more about our custom engagement ring process. We'd be so thrilled to be a part of your engagement ring story too!