Published on by Olivier Maupas-Sehikyan · Rings
In my workshop in Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire, near Nantes, I never make the same piece of jewellery twice. Every creation begins with a person and a story. The one I am sharing today is a bespoke Art Deco ring in Nantes, designed for a client's birthday. She entrusted me with sapphires, diamonds and gold. My task was to bring them together in an elegant jewel, made to last.
A bespoke Art Deco ring made from stones rich in emotion
When my client came to see me, she had not brought a catalogue of ideas, but several sapphires and several diamonds. These stones meant a great deal to her, and one could sense it from the very first words. She wanted to turn them into a ring for her birthday: an Art Deco ring, structured and refined.
I did not begin by drawing. I began by looking at the stones, for a long time. I always work this way: the colour, cut and clarity of each one are examined closely, with the eye of a gemmologist. This analysis tells me what each stone can offer, and where it will sit best.
In a project like this, the existing materials guide the design. A ring made with your own stones is not simply manufactured: it is built around a story that is already there. My role is to listen to it before drawing a single line.
From sketch to approved design
The Art Deco spirit calls for clean lines, symmetry and well-balanced volumes. I therefore proposed several sketches to my client. We discussed them, the project evolved little by little, and the design eventually took a form she recognised as her own. Some stones were repositioned within the composition so that their brilliance could be shown to full advantage.
Transforming gold jewellery: melting and mount
The gold also came from my client. In my workshop, transforming gold jewellery is a speciality, and it is one I love for this very reason: nothing is lost, everything is reworked. The gold supplied was melted down, then reworked to receive an entirely new mount, designed to measure. Remelting gives the material a second life, without erasing what it represented.
Here is the path a piece like this follows in the workshop:
- Analysis and sorting of the gemstones.
- Drawing the jewel, then approving the design with the client.
- Melting and preparing the gold.
- Making the mount.
- Setting the sapphires and diamonds.
- Polishing and finishing.
Every stage is carried out by hand, and the jewel is checked regularly throughout the work. I take the time to revisit a shape, refine an edge, and make sure a symmetry truly holds to the eye. Art Deco does not forgive approximation: its lines are so crisp that the slightest deviation would be seen at once.
Setting and polishing a birthday ring
Next comes the setting, the stage that demands the greatest precision. The stones must be secured to last over time, while remaining open to the light. Every claw and every edge is adjusted with care, because the jewel's durability over the years depends on this gesture.
The sapphires bring an intense depth, and their shade shifts with the light. The diamonds add brilliance and contrast. Between the two, a balance settled naturally, and that is what touches me most in this ring.
Polishing completes the work. It gives the metal its smooth, luminous surface and brings out the sharpness of the lines. The ring was finished in my workshop, then handed over to my client. That moment is always a powerful one for me: the jewel ceases to be mine and enters a life.
The jewel is finished, but its story is only beginning.
This birthday ring was designed to be worn, handed down and loved. Like every piece I design as a jewellery designer in Nantes, it is unique.
Creating a bespoke ring in Nantes: your questions
Can a ring be made with my own stones?
Yes, and it is in fact a speciality of the workshop. The stones are analysed, then set into a new piece of jewellery.
Can an old ring be transformed?
Yes. Transformation allows a piece to be modernised while keeping its story.
How long does it take?
Allow generally between 3 and 6 weeks, depending on the complexity of the project.
And the price?
It depends on the type of stones (sapphire, diamond, ruby…), the complexity of the design, the weight of the gold and the time needed to make it. When the client already has their own stones and gold, the cost is often optimised, since the materials are available. I always provide a personalised quote, because every project is unique.
Why visit a jeweller near Nantes?
Because the conversation is direct, in the workshop, the follow-up is personal, and the making is handcrafted and local. I work closely with my clients: every project is built together.
Come and talk it over at the workshop
If you have stones tucked away in a drawer, an old piece of jewellery that no longer suits you, or simply a wish for an Art Deco ring, come and talk to me at the workshop in Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire, near Nantes. Together we will look at what you have and see what can be made of it. I would be delighted to welcome you.
