It is almost concerning that someone gave me a blowtorch and then abandoned me with a lit flame. I am a master of words, but not of patience, and making jewelry requires a great deal of patience.

Lesson 1: I took my first jewelry-making class at Smith Shop in Highland Park, Michigan, near Detroit. The class consisted of around eight people, and I was overly eager to get started. Big mistake! The instructor was proficient and knowledgeable and had to remind me more than once to take my time and not skip any of the steps. Everyone else in the class seemed to understand, but I did not. The teacher was patient with me and made sure I was following all the steps properly and diligently.

Lesson 2: My clumsiness resulted in far too many broken jeweller’s blades during the class I attended. My sincerest apologies for that! It took a while before mastering the right technique for installing and managing them with my saw. All I can do is express again how truly sorry I am for this mishap.

Lesson 3: The materials have to be respected, and there’s a lot to learn from those materials. I struggled with the manipulation of the materials themselves. If it isn’t clear by now, this class truly got the best of me. I’m glad we worked with simple wire and inexpensive stuff so that I didn’t have to write a check each time I broke, manhandled, or messed up something like gold or silver. The fact that people work with precious materials to create such art was yet another important lesson.

Lesson 4: I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw a plain material turn into beautiful jewellery! It takes a certain knack and attention to detail I lacked, but it still captivated me! Despite my lack of aptitude for creating beautiful pieces and ornaments, I really admired those who had honed their craft and found joy in this profession through trial and error.

Lesson 5: Although I still have numerous years of work to do before becoming proficient in the jewellery scene, my newbie status in this introduction class was something to be pleased about. Everyone likely had to begin somewhere and here I am, immersing myself with enthusiasm no matter my age. These rewards go beyond what words can express and it’s nothing short of marvellous that a person at 50 can feel like such a novice again. In moments like these, I’m humbly grateful for this experience.

I’m sharing this information to pay tribute to the jewelry makers and the jewelry industry that I have been writing about for JCK for over a year. I hope this personal story of what I learned in my jewelry class brings you a smile, makes you remember why you do what you do and reminds you of the many gifts you have, including the skill of soldering without making a fool of yourself in front of other people.

Will there be a specific stone cut that everyone will be obsessing over? Or metallic color? Or what about the design trend? We will answer all these questions here. And the most important part of this, especially if you have to choose a piece from the Sylvie Collection as an engagement ring, is that you can decide all these aspects to create a ring that truly reflects your style and taste. Sylvie can customize the color of the metal, the shape and size of the stone, even designing the details alongside her creations to give you what you want (because that’s what matters most). Here are the FIVE ENGAGEMENT RING TRENDS I predict:

1 — Oval cut central stone

Are you wondering what will be the most popular diamond cut for 2023? I predict ovals! Whether you like uniform proportions or weird shapes, the oval is winning the popular vote. Sometimes an oval can look bigger than it actually weighs, which is one of the reasons for its popularity. I like how they stretch out my finger and cover more area than a round stone of the same size. It’s the perfect cut for someone who wants something classic but not necessarily a round cut stone. An oval engagement ring is classic with a twist. Sylvie Collection has many options for the oval lover, as most of their designs can be customized to fit any diamond shape or size. I especially love this (above) S1924 style; As shown, it sets in a 1.25ct center and I love it in white gold. This particular style starts at $1430 and is awaiting a center stone.

2 — Old styles
We all know how much I love vintage jewelry, but so do you! Vintage styles will be trending for designer engagement rings in 2020. The great thing about the Sylvie Collection designs is that they incorporate all of your favorite intricacies of truly vintage pieces but with modern technology. I know many people who are reluctant to purchase a truly vintage piece as an engagement ring simply because they don’t want pre-owned, they want to be the first to own the piece, or what I hear quite often (but don’t believe) is that they believe that old engagement ring has bad juju. I love the milgrain detail on this particular vintage engagement ring designed by the Sylvie Collection. It has a subtlety to it, but it’s also refreshingly captivating. This style is S1132 and starts at $2750, with this one pictured showing it with a one carat center.

3 — Hidden halos
By far, halos were the biggest engagement ring trend of the 2000s. There are so many great aspects to a halo, especially creating a larger look or even a completely different look by simply adding a diamond circle around the center stone. Overcoming this trend will be difficult, which is why hidden halos are the next big thing. These are secrets and only between the wearer and the ring itself. Your ring may look like a typical solitaire from above, but from the side it reveals an all-new set of diamonds. That’s the fun part about hidden halos.

Sylvie Collection is a superb example, in S1953 style, with prices starting at $1540. I also love how detailed it is and know how special it would be to have those hidden diamonds for your eyes only.

4 — Three stone rings
One trend that has become very popular this year and will continue into the new decade is three stone rings. There are so many possibilities with this style and I love the example I have for you from the Sylvie Collection. It has an emerald cut center and baguettes on the sides. This look looks ultra-chic and elegant. If you realize how big the center stone on my finger is, it’s 2 carats! I love this white gold look like the one shown. Three stone rings can symbolize past, present, future… or three people such as husband, wife and child.

The Sylvie Collection Emerald and Baguette Cut Sidestone Ring is in the S1961 style and starts at $4335. Don’t forget that it can be customized to your liking!

5 — Classic solitaire
What can I say, a classic solitaire engagement ring will never go out of style. It will be one of the most popular engagement ring styles today, tomorrow, ten years from now, 50 years from now. There is something to be said for simplicity and a four prong setup. While a round cut stone is the most traditional and popular, a solitaire can be made in any shape or cut. The diamonds that run down the sides are also a nice touch and really make the piece shine.