"As soon as I discovered black pearls, I was interested in what I thought could potentially be an engagement ring. My fiancé had been my best friend for a very long time, so once we fell in love, it was easy for me to share with him my big plans for the ring early on. I was set on a black pearl surrounded by diamonds until I started following brands like Canturi and Stephanie Gottlieb on Instagram. These jewelers introduced me to the possibility of floating diamonds, mix-and-match shapes, and gemstones bursting with colour. I loved Stephanie Gottlieb's band and a half, but Joey wanted to add his own personal touches. (He also had plans for a setting that he considered to be "sturdy," because he knows I'm a klutz and can be a little aggressive in my everyday movements. Sorry, OK?!) He worked with the same jeweler who crafted his mother and aunt's rings to customise a pearl elevated by a hidden halo and added sapphires because he knew they reminded me of the ocean, my favourite place to be."