Appointment-only custom guidance
I work behind the scenes. Most of my business is wholesale, buying and selling diamonds and gold inside the trade, so I never needed a storefront. What I kept is the part of the work I love: building custom pieces for people, by appointment, without a sales floor between us.
GIA Applied Jewelry Professional (AJP) · 30+ years in the trade · By appointment at the Jewelers Exchange, first floor
What gets decided
You’ll always find me on the first floor of the Jewelers Exchange downtown, the building where the trade itself buys and sells. Ask anyone there about me. I’ve done business in that building my whole life, and the floor knows me by name.
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Start by texting a photo. I’ll tell you whether the smartest path is a sourced stone, a modified setting, or a CAD build, and roughly what it costs, before you’ve committed to anything. There is no commission structure here and nothing in a case that needs selling.
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Jewelry is my family’s business. I’ve owned and managed stores, my own and my family’s, and I hold the GIA Applied Jewelry Professional (AJP) credential. These days most of my week is wholesale, the same buying and selling that stocks the cases other people shop from.
That’s the practical difference. Many rings in retail cases pass through hands like mine before the markup lands on them. Working with me directly, your budget goes into the stone, the metal, and the work.
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My sister and father-in-law run San Diego Jewelry and Loan on the first floor of the Jewelers Exchange, and T behind that counter is still my best source for the gold that goes into my rings. When I say you’re dealing with a family trade instead of a corporate funnel, that’s not a slogan. It’s the floor plan.
Inspiration, not inventory
A graceful oval center stone with clean metal, generous light, and a shape that feels romantic without becoming ornate.
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A sleek step-cut diamond secured in a clean bezel for an architectural, understated profile.
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Asscher, emerald, baguette, and antique-inspired geometry with warm detail and measured restraint.
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A focused, minimal ring that lets the diamond carry the emotion, proportions, and light.
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A round brilliant diamond set in a slim bezel for a clean, modern ring with soft protection and quiet presence.
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A soft rectangular center with a plush outline, generous sparkle, and a less expected profile than a round brilliant.
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A center diamond framed by two supporting stones for presence, meaning, and beautiful side views.
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Two complementary center stones set together for a personal, sculptural ring with strong custom-design potential.
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A dramatic elongated shape with pointed ends, strong finger coverage, and a rare editorial feel.
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A pear-shaped center with a fine pavé band for movement, shimmer, and a soft directional silhouette.
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A rectangular brilliant center with hidden detail under the crown for sparkle that feels discovered up close.
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A center stone set horizontally for a lower, modern line across the finger.
Customize this directionGuide
How a private jeweler appointment differs from a traditional jewelry store visit when buying a custom engagement ring.
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Guide
A step-by-step checklist for buying a custom engagement ring in San Diego, from inspiration photos to diamond selection and final approvals.
Read guide“I’ll admit the no-storefront thing made me hesitate. Then I met him at the Jewelers Exchange, watched half the floor greet him by name, and had a written quote and a simple contract the same day. Easiest big purchase I’ve ever made.”
Yes. Start with a text, a call, or the form. Then we set a time that suits you on the first floor of the Jewelers Exchange downtown, and the stones are on the desk when you arrive.
Of course. Plenty of engagement rings start with one person, a phone full of screenshots, and a date to keep quiet. Discretion is part of the job.
Old school, honestly. My work has always come from the trade, long-time clients, and their families. This website is the introduction for everyone else.
Start with a diamond, a setting direction, a photo, or a CAD concept.
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Create a band that works with the engagement ring and feels right every day.
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Explore lab-grown diamonds with the same setting and design care as natural diamonds.
ExploreCompare natural diamond options with guidance on shape, size, quality, and setting fit.
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Choose, modify, or create a setting around the stone and the person wearing it.
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When the right setting is not already available, build the ring path through CAD.
ExploreA photo, sketch, or even a rough idea is enough to start. I can usually tell you whether the smartest path is a sourced diamond, a modified setting, a CAD build, or a short call to compare options.
