I didn't want to find something pretty online, put it on my website, and ask you to spend your money on it. If I'm going to recommend something, I want to understand what I'm recommending.
That's especially true with jewelry. I like beautiful things. I also like saving money. Those two things are a big part of why I started Box Unboxed.
So I Bought It Myself
When I found a piece I really liked, I ordered one for me. I didn't want to look at the supplier's pictures and decide it was something I could sell. I wanted to see the actual piece, wear it, and find out whether I liked it enough to recommend it.
The ring in this photo has a 2.01-carat pear-shaped laboratory-grown diamond, graded Fancy Vivid Blue and VVS2 clarity by IGI, with white diamond accents.
I wanted to experience the piece myself rather than simply rely on a product listing.
I wore it to a business expo, and women noticed it. That was one of those little moments where I thought, okay, this is exactly why I wanted to try these things myself.
My Daughter's Ring
My daughter found a design she liked and showed it to me, and we had it customized for her. Her ring has a heart-shaped lab-grown ruby, pink diamond accents, and 10K rose gold.
She loved it. She wore it for picture day, and the photographer ended up focusing on the ring in some of her photos.
That made me smile, because I didn't pick it because it would look good on a website. She chose it, and she loved wearing it.
I Don't Want to Be Just Another Jewelry Store
There are already plenty of those. I'd rather help you understand what you're buying:
- What does D color mean? What does VVS actually mean?
- What's the difference between 925 sterling silver, 10K, 18K, and 21K gold?
- Why can two pieces that look almost the same have completely different prices?
- What's the difference between a lab-grown diamond and a mined one?
- What should you look for in a gemstone report or certificate?
- Is this piece worth the asking price, or not?
I think those are better questions than "is it pretty?"
Knowing What You're Paying For
Buying and sourcing has taught me that the price on a store tag isn't necessarily the cost of the product. There can be several layers between the source and you. That's one reason I got interested in sourcing more directly.
That doesn't mean every inexpensive piece is a good deal, or that every expensive one is overpriced. I just want to understand the difference, and I'll share what I learn.
Ready to Ship vs. Sourced to Order
I'm not going to keep every gemstone, metal, style, and size sitting in inventory. That doesn't make sense for how I want to run things.
Some pieces will be ready to ship. Others will be sourced or made after you order. That can mean a longer wait, but it lets me offer more choices without buying a pile of inventory before I know what people actually want. I'll be clear about which is which.
If you're looking for something specific, like a certain gemstone, metal, color, or style, just ask. I'll see what I can source.
I won't promise anything until I know what's available, what documentation comes with it, what it costs, and how long it will take. But I'm happy to look.
Why Lab-Grown Caught My Attention
I like having options, and lab-grown diamonds are one of them. I chose one for my ring because I wanted specific characteristics and liked what was available at the price.
For me, lab-grown diamonds opened up options that made the size and characteristics I wanted more attainable.
I'm not here to tell you which kind to buy. I just want you to know you have options, and what those options mean.
How I Want to Do This
I want to look at the materials, the specifications, the documentation, and the actual cost.
When it's practical, I want to try the piece myself before I recommend it. If something is sourced specifically for you, I'll tell you that. I won't pretend I personally inspected something I haven't.
Basically, I don't want you buying blind.
If you're going to spend your money, you deserve to know what you're buying.
And that's what I'll be sharing here — not just jewelry pictures, but the things I learn while researching, sourcing, comparing, and actually buying these products myself.
Coming next: What Does D/VVS Actually Mean?
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