"The bridal space can feel a bit stuffy at times. I like to think that we bring fresh designs and concepts into the bridal realm."
When I look down at my wedding bands waiting patiently to be worn, I still can't believe they were created especially for me — and all without an in-person consultation. All I can really do (until my upcoming wedding next year), is admire them, try them on, and reminisce about the process of dreaming them up with bespoke jeweler Jillian Sassone of Marrow Fine [1]. Sassone came up with the idea of customization for her clients when she received compliments at the nail salon on her grandmother's opal [2]. She had reworked it with a headdress of black diamonds and a pop of turquoise. Repurposing family heirloom stones is nothing new, but Sassone has a really good eye and incredible imagination for incorporating surprising elements into her pieces to infuse them with personality. Those around her take note. "I left the salon with two customers that day, and the rest is history," she told me of getting her start in the industry.
Personally, I wanted in as soon as I discovered the brand because I was a bride-to-be with a teeny, tiny problem: my engagement ring [3] is silver, and frankly, I frickin' love gold [4]. Should I have thought about that before DMing my future husband all the platinum inspiration I could find on Instagram ahead of our engagement? Probably. But for some reason I was hung up on the theory that diamonds and sapphires look better set in silver [5] — a theory I now find to be completely untrue. I do love my engagement ring and I never want to change it, but I was hoping to incorporate gold somehow with the addition of a wedding band (who says you can't mix metals in your ring stack?).
After scoping out Sassone's past creations, I knew I wanted to work with her for a couple reasons. 1) She has options for brides on a budget [6]! "If a giant diamond isn't feasible right now, who cares? There are so many other ways to elevate your bridal stack without breaking the bank. There are a lot of alternative gemstones that are not as expensive as white diamonds," she said. 2) Sassone can work virtually with anyone via video chat and has been for years, for those who aren't close to the shop's Southern California locations [7]. Her team is dedicated and thorough about firming up inspiration, design details, timeline, and budget, and there's even a strategic approach to sizing Marrow takes by shipping wax models, which I've outlined ahead.
Ultimately, I ended up with a bridal stack so meaningful to me because of Sassone's attention to my taste for eccentricity. And even if your style doesn't match up to mine, she can still catch the vibes you're sending out. "The bridal space can feel a bit stuffy at times. I like to think that we bring fresh designs and concepts into the bridal realm, without feeling too exclusive or 'hipster' to the brides out there who love classic and simple looks. We have a little something sparkly for everyone, regardless of what type of bride you are," she said. When it came to helping me fine-tune my own aesthetic, she was certainly spot on. Scroll to learn more about her method.
Trying on Rings
After meeting with Jillian and her team via Zoom and sharing photos of my engagement ring from every angle (along with my ring size), I was sent a selection of bands in all different shapes the Marrow team had worked with before. I tried them on and found I was really excited about the idea of creating negative space [9] with my stack. "We typically ask our custom clients to share any of our previous designs that stand out to them. We never duplicate a custom design, but it's important to understand precisely what the client loves (and doesn't love) so that we can work within those parameters for their project," Jillian said.
Inspiration
Next, I created a mood board. This isn't crucial, but it does help, according to Jillian. "Another important step in the process is to make sure we're all on the same design page, so that when the bride sees her design package, she feels like we really nailed the custom design and turned her dream into a reality. We are asking clients to trust us with their design. We are proud of our pieces and stand behind our work, so having the client feel like we have a good grasp on their project while they wait to see the finished piece is so important," she said.
Wax Model Sizing
Jillian sent me wax models of the rings so I could try them on with my engagement ring. That was when I discovered I'd rather have a simple, straight band at the bottom instead of something curved. All the other details would stay the same.
The Finished Pieces
It takes an estimated eight to 10 weeks after a client's initial deposit to be presented with the finished product, and Marrow offers one complimentary round of edits and revisions to your design.
How to Wear Them
Jillian knew I wanted to mix and match my bands. I'll probably never wear them both at the same time, but I can rotate them depending on my mood or my outfit — or I can wear them alone without my engagement ring. "Bespoke jewellery, in my opinion, is jewellery that isn't designed to be flashy or over-the-top — it's jewellery designed with the wearer in mind," Jillian said, yet again, hitting the nail on the head.