Fashion
Ethical Plus Size Engagement Rings: Custom Rings with Chouette Designs | LGBT-Owned Jewelry Brand
Jun
OMG! At present on TCF, I’m so excited to speak every part moral plus measurement engagement rings with Ashley Catharine, co-founder of Chouette Designs.
Ashley is SO SO obsessed with creating lovely engagement rings in plus sizes. “Most jewellery manufacturers really don’t transcend a measurement 8, actually lower than 1% go as much as a 12 should you can consider it!” shared Ashley throughout our interview.
At present, I’m sharing an IN-DEPTH interview with Ashley, supplying you with a entrance row seat to EXACTLY what Chouette Designs is all about and the way the customized engagement ring course of works.
Additionally, as a member of the LGBTQ+ group, I needed to be sure you add in tremendous useful data on how Ashley Catharine and Marine Schmitt (co-founders and wives!), and the staff at Chouette Designs is affirming of all genders and pronouns, actually offering an exquisite engagement ring course of for members of the LGBT group.
You prepared? Let’s dive in!!
Designing *Your* Dream Plus Measurement Engagement Ring
Okay, first issues first! I do know from following (okay, hardcore fangirling) over Chouette Designs on-line that they’ve a beautiful assortment of demi-fine RTW jewellery that make nice items (bridesmaids items and marriage ceremony social gathering items, anybody?)!
Whereas speaking with Ashley Catharine, she was very excited to share the precise step-by-step course of for designing your customized plus measurement engagement ring.
“Buyer training is so vital to me,” she shared, “there’s plenty of misinformation on the market when persons are on the lookout for an engagement ring. We’re honored to assist our shoppers design the ring of their desires, and the design/customization course of is basically designed to assist our shoppers take advantage of knowledgeable (and enjoyable!) choices.”
How a lot time does a customized engagement ring take?
Earlier than leaping into the step-by-step information, it’s useful to understand how lengthy the method takes for customized engagement rings. “Longer is all the time higher,” explains engagement ring knowledgeable, Ashley Catharine, “simply in case we have to seek for the right distinctive stone that isn’t as widespread as others. Total, it takes 2-3 months to create a customized engagement ring, from begin to end.”
What does a customized engagement ring normally value?
One thing I’ve observed as a vogue author and blogger is that individuals typically pre-emptively value themselves out of a customized piece, as a result of they suppose it is going to be costlier than an enormous field retailer choice.
Not the case!
Explains Ashley: “At Chouette Designs, a customized engagement ring is round $3,000, and the typical American ring buy $6,000.”
Now that’s the typical value, after all, so you possibly can go greater or decrease! “I’ve carried out rings that had been proper at $1,000,” she shares, “and rings that bought as much as $10,000. It actually will depend on what number of stones you need in your ring, the dimensions, the metallic you wish to use, and many others.”
Step #1 Customized Engagement Ring Course of: Analysis!
“The very first thing that you just’ll wish to be sure you do when designing your dream customized engagement ring,” explains Ashley, “is to go on our web site and take a look at our customs creation web page. We’re all the time updating it. Check out the types we’ve carried out, and fill out the survey. We’ll ask you about your finances (to be respectful of it!), type you’re considering of, and many others.”
Step #2 Customized Engagement Ring Course of: Session
“After you attain out through our web site, we’ll have a session. We will meet in San Diego, California, the place we’re primarily based, or over Zoom! A lot of our shoppers are positioned everywhere in the USA.”
Via the session course of, Ashley will sketch designs together with her shopper(s), serving to to deliver their dream customized engagement ring design to life.
Ashley famous that some folks know EXACTLY what they need their customized engagement ring to seem like, whereas others aren’t certain. “I’m completely comfortable to offer design concepts that incorporate a shopper’s way of life and aesthetic within the design,” shares Ashley. “Some folks aren’t 100% certain what they need, and that’s okay!“
From there, Ashley expenses a small deposit (round $75, relying on the design) that’s utilized to your buy. Ashley additionally has shoppers signal a contract, to ensure everyone seems to be in-the-know on processes, timelines, and many others.
Step 3: CAD Rendering
Now it’s time to go DIGITAL! After your customized plus measurement engagement ring design is finalized, Ashley creates a CAD (digital) rendering for manufacturing.
Step #4: Let’s Get This Engagement Ring IRL!
From there, it’s time to get your new engagement ring IRL!
As a part of the model’s moral practices, Chouette Designs works with a maker in San Diego and Los Angeles (relying on numerous design parts and particulars), to make the customized engagement rings within the USA.
Throughout our interview, Ashley Catharine needed to be sure you embrace that the demi-fine items (the ready-to-ship choices from Chouette Designs) are made in a manufacturing unit in India, which Ashley Catharine has vetted by shut business contacts.
We love transparency!!
Step #5: You’ve Acquired Your Ring!
You’re nearly completed! When your customized plus measurement engagement ring comes again from the maker, Ashley provides ending touches and packaging. From there, your ring is prepared for the large second!
Ought to designing a customized engagement ring be a 100% shock?
Whereas speaking with Ashley Catharine concerning the customized plus measurement engagement ring course of at Chouette Designs, I had a burning query:
Does the proposing companion*** preserve the ring design course of 100% secret? Or is everybody concerned within the course of?
Whereas I’m a gal who LOVES a shock, I feel I’d wish to be in-the-know about my customized engagement ring, lol. However I do know some folks wish to be shocked!
Ashley Catharine took that query in stride with a smile, saying, “It’s completely regular to have each or all companions concerned within the design course of,” she shared. “We’re comfortable to make it a 100% shock as properly. Typically, a pair will meet with me collectively to design the customized engagement ring, getting a majority carried out. Then, the proposing companion and I’ll end the design, to ensure the ultimate ring design is a little bit of a shock.“
I like that!
And, the proposing companion is usually a bit sneaky and shock their love with an “further” to go together with the customized marriage ceremony engagement ring. “We will design coordinating earrings, a stacking band to the engagement ring, and many others. We’ve got methods!” shares Ashley with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.
We love surprises!
LGBTQ+ Customized Marriage ceremony Engagement Rings
One thing that I LOVE about Chouette Designs is that the jewellery firm is lesbian-owned. As an LGBT blogger myself, I knew it will be SO useful for members of our group to dive in deeper with Ashley on how she works together with her LGBTQ+ shoppers.
Under, Ashley shares how the model incorporates inclusion into every part they do:
- Pronouns & Gender Id Assist: “The marriage business might be very gendered,” shared Ashley. “We’re proactive about utilizing the precise pronouns and language to have fun our shoppers.”
- Ring Measurement: “We’ve got had some shoppers be informed that they’re ‘mendacity’ about their fiancé’s ring measurement” [at other retailers]
- Language: “A few of our shopper’s are excited to be a “bride” or ‘groom,’” she shares, “so we use that language. Others choose completely different phrases, which we’re 100% on board with.”
Throughout our interview, Ashley additionally gave The Curvy Fashionista an unique insider sneak peek, saying, “We’re additionally excited to offer customizable masculine marriage ceremony bands or engagement rings,” she shared. “There are extra choices than a big stone or plain band! So keep tuned on that entrance!”
Moral Customized Plus Measurement Engagement Rings
Okay, now that we’ve talked about finances, course of, and LGBT-inclusion — let’s discuss ETHICS.
Many individuals in 2023 don’t wish to use conflict-diamonds, and there are just a few methods to get your customized dream engagement ring, in a extra moral method.
You able to find out how?! Let’s go!
“I’m very proud to say that we use each pure and lab-created stones. What’s actually vital to me in stone origin and being assured on the place that stone comes from,” explains Ashley.
Typically for a specific stone, it’s not an choice to supply it ethically. However Ashley and the staff at Chouette Designs are to not be deterred!
“If there’s no origin data for that stone, I go for lab-grown at that time. If a shopper desires a specific form, coloration or measurement, and I can’t discover it naturally with origin data, then we go for lab-grown.”
Attention-grabbing Inclusions
An rising pattern for 2023 is the intentional use of stones that aren’t 100% excellent. Explains Ashley, “Within the jewellery world, the main target has all the time been on a flawless white diamond. If we’re about being moral and extra conscious, I as a designer can use a stone with attention-grabbing inclusions, like a salt and pepper diamond. This enables a shopper to have a diamond, however use a singular stone that the jewellery business would discard or take into account scrap.”
What stones shouldn’t be used for a customized engagement ring?
After Ashley educated me on what a “salt and pepper diamond” is (a diamond that has inclusions or darker specks that form of seem like pepper), I requested Ashley, “What stones aren’t an excellent match for an engagement ring?”
Ashley immediately had a solution, saying, “The largest points are opal and moonstone,” she shared with a sigh. “It breaks my coronary heart just a little to interrupt my shopper’s hearts, when I’ve to speak them down. Or allow them to know ‘You probably have your coronary heart set on an opal or moonstone, be ready to interchange it!’”
I like that Ashley and Chouette Designs are all about educating their shoppers, and likewise encouraging them to search out their most enjoyable customized engagement ring.
Swap Out & Improve Your Engagement or Marriage ceremony Ring
Talking of changing rings or stones, Ashley made an important level throughout our interview about “swapping out’ your ring. It may be irritating to attempt to design a hoop you’ll love endlessly — and also you don’t should!
“Everybody thinks we’re supposed to like our engagement rings our complete lives,” shares Ashley. “As an alternative, possibly you possibly can plan for in 10 years we’ll improve it to do one thing completely different. That’s okay, too!”
She provides with a smile, “It’s plenty of stress to behave such as you’ll love the ring you bought at 30 or 40 or 20!”
Whereas I’m not married, my mother has positively upgraded and altered up her marriage ceremony ring over time (love ya, Mother!), so I actually love this concept!
What’s Subsequent for Chouette Designs?
Ashley and the staff at Chouette Designs have a LOT deliberate for the remainder of 2023. “One thing we’re very enthusiastic about is releasing our first anklet! We’re beginning with a S, M, L, (8 inch, 10 inch, 12 inch). As we develop and get suggestions, I wish to make certain we have now the precise sizes for anybody who wants them, and do customized items.”
Store the most recent in moral plus measurement engagement rings at ChouetteDesigns.com!
I personally love the Chouette Designs TikTok — it’s so enjoyable!
You probably have questions on the ring course of, or you recognize EXACTLY what you need your customized engagement rings to seem like, pontificate within the feedback!
*** Word on language: You’ll have observed that we deliberately didn’t use phrases like “bride” or “groom” on this piece! It is because not everybody likes to make use of these phrases, and typically a bride might suggest to her groom! As a lesbian-owned firm with many consumers within the LGBTQ+ group, Ashley needed to be as inclusive with language as attainable — which I used to be completely on board with, after all! 🙂
