For the previous 20 years, I’ve been an enormous fan of Bario Neal and their beautiful jewellery. The Philadelphia-based studio was based by two finest associates — Anna Bario and Web page Neal — and each piece they create is made with ethically sourced stones and environmentally aware practices. So, this 12 months, once I determined to design a hoop to rejoice this new life chapter, I turned to them…
This ring, above, was my engagement ring. It’s lovely, however since my marriage ended a pair years in the past, I’m not sporting it anymore. And now that I’m settling into this subsequent section — filled with friendship and new love — I hoped to revamp the ring to really feel private and heartfelt and trendy.
I used to be thrilled to speak with co-founder Web page Neal (left), who was so heat and beautiful. Have you ever created customized jewellery earlier than? I used to be excited however intimidated — I imply, what did I do know? — however Bario Neal makes each step enjoyable and simple. To make a chunk from scratch, you begin with a brief customized design questionnaire. You share your most popular metallic, minimize, gems, and value vary, after which work with designers on subsequent steps. (If you wish to put your personal contact on a chunk, however don’t need to begin from scratch, you should utilize Bario Neal’s on-line customization platform.)
Subsequent, Web page requested me to create a moodboard of basic images and vibes I favored (listed here are some, above)…
…and to inform her which rings I used to be drawn to on the web site. The task was a lot enjoyable, and I discovered myself gravitating towards blues, uneven clusters, and trendy curves.
After taking a look at my moodboard, Web page despatched a bunch of various designs for me to weigh in on. How cool are these two?
Then I visited Bario Neal’s Brooklyn studio to see their jewellery in particular person. The man who helped me appeared as excited as I used to be, and we each ended up attempting on rings collectively! I needed to remain and hang around all day. I fell for his or her radial cluster diamond ring, which we determined to customise with sapphires and some private tweaks.
Just a few gems had been going be left over from my ring, so we had been in a position to design earrings, too. Web page had shared design concepts, and within the retailer, we may really transfer the tiny gems round to determine the sample we favored most. It was wonderful to see the design come collectively in entrance of my eyes.
Now we had been off to the races! I actually cherished working with Web page and her workforce. These course of images of the earrings and ring blow my thoughts. Bario Neal’s mission — to create a jewellery firm dedicated to respecting human rights and environmental sustainability — shines by in every little thing they do. All of the metals and gems have a completely traceable provide chain, and are responsibly sourced from miners who meet moral, social, and ecological requirements.
For my ring, the diamond was a sustainably licensed carbon-neutral lab-grown diamond, the aquamarines had been sustainably sourced from Brazil, and the champagne diamond was recycled. How wonderful is that?
So! Need to see the ultimate ring?
Isn’t it beautiful?! I like it so, a lot — it feels trendy but timeless, and filled with the thoughtfulness and expertise of ladies. Bario Neal’s jewellery is made out of their Philadelphia studio, and you may really feel the love in all they do.
The entire Bario Neal workforce made the expertise so significant, and I extremely suggest them to anybody searching for particular jewellery.
Thanks a lot, Bario Neal. This was such a pleasure. xoxo
Nice information for Cup of Jo readers: Get a whopping 20% off your build-your-own jewellery expertise with code CUPOFJO20, good by December thirty first. See all of the Bario Neal build-your-own kinds right here, in the event you’d like. Thanks a lot.
(This submit is sponsored by Bario Neal, an organization we’ve cherished for many years. Thanks for supporting the manufacturers that assist Cup of Jo. Closing images by Veronica Olson for Cup of Jo.)