Luis and I wandered into An's store by chance one afternoon, and it was perhaps the most fortuitous casual encounter we have ever had. Having no idea what we wanted for my engagement ring at that point, we were captivated by the unique and beautiful jewelry displayed in the cases and were quickly drawn in by An's incredible depth of knowledge regarding not only gemology, but also the politics and ethics surrounding the precious stone trade. An patiently and enthusiastically worked with us to figure out the type, size, quality, and cut of the diamond, and very graciously put up with my lengthy google doc of ideas for everything from the band design to the prong shape. Once we had finally settled on the details, within days he had identified several options for the stone and had the diamond we chose on his desk within the week; soon after, we collaborated to tweak the design until I was completely satisfied. An ensured that we were part of the process from start to finish, and was unfailing in his transparency surrounding everything from pricing to how the different design ideas we had would hold up over time.

Luis proposed at my favorite place in the world, Sunset Beach, North Carolina, after working with my siblings to arrange an elaborate scavenger hunt based on my favorite movies that in the end led me to him, waiting under a gorgeous structure they built at the end of the island in a secluded nature sanctuary.

The ring is flawless, timeless, and classic; yet utterly unique and unlike anything I have ever seen. It is a ring that Luis is proud of, that I am delighted to have the honor to wear for the rest of my life, and a perfect representation of our love. We are in the midst of designing our wedding bands with An and cannot wait to see what we come up with as a team next – we have found in him not only a friend, but the person we will trust for any and all jewelry needs for the rest of our lives. The style, quality, uniquity, and elegance of everything he makes is unparalleled and he has our absolute highest recommendation and our deepest gratitude.

- Alexa and Luis, Chapel Hill, NC

Alexa & Luis