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Designing for Grandparents and Granddaughters

Kristen Baird

Granddaughter Rings: A Gift From the Heart

When my mother was a young woman, her grandmother gifted her a jade cross necklace. She told my mom that she wanted her to have it while she was still around, so she could see her enjoying it. A few years ago, my mom passed my great-grandmother’s necklace along to me. Someday, I hope, I can give it to my granddaughter. There’s almost a sacred quality to grandparent jewelry and heirloom jewelry. It connects us to our history and keeps our loved ones close to our hearts, even after they’ve passed. That’s why I’m so grateful that granddaughter rings - rings given by grandmothers to granddaughters or that incorporate elements of a grandmother’s jewelry - have become some of my most popular pieces. Every granddaughter ring is a symbol of the love between a grandmother and her granddaughter, a heartfelt link between generations. 

Granddaughter Rings for Kristen Baird Jewelry

Grandma to left and Nanny to right. Both of these women meant the world to me and have inspired my jewelry in various ways. Even though they haven't seen my whole jewelry journey, I know they both would be proud and excited for where I've been and where I'm going. 

While I don’t have any jewelry from my own Nanny, I do have her pressure cooker. Every time I look at it, I think of her cooking up Sunday dinner (lunch) while the AC unit hummed (or struggled) against the heat and the Atlanta Braves played (or struggled some years - eek) on TBS. Nanny would close the gates to the driveway on Sundays - only family or Braves fans could enter. Those were the good old days, and I remember them with a smile every time I look at that old pressure cooker - even if my Southern’ cookin’ never comes out quite the way hers did. There’s just something about grandmothers.  

Whether it’s an old pressure cooker, a coo-coo clock (I have one of those too), or a diamond wedding ring, I love an heirloom. That’s why I’m passionate about making granddaughter rings that celebrate the relationship between grandparents and their families. In honor of this Grandparent’s Day, I’d like to share a few of my favorites with you.

7 Granddaughter Rings

The Seven Granddaughter Rings

When an Atlanta-based client’s mother passed away, she inherited a lovely 18K gold and diamond watch. But rather than keep this treasure all for herself, she decided to transform it into seven rings - one for each of her nieces. This way, each of her mother’s seven granddaughters would have a piece of that watch to carry with them. What a sweet and generous gift! 

My client traveled all the way to Savannah to meet up with me at a coffee shop, and together we hatched a plan to make this granddaughter ring dream come true. The concept was that each young lady would receive a one-of-a-kind ring that nevertheless paired perfectly with those of her cousins. Remember those old friendship necklaces that fit together to form a heart? It was like that, but much better. 

The result was seven elegant sterling silver ripple bands, each with their own unique pattern. Portions of the 18K gold watch were formed into granules, and diamonds from the watch were carefully set into all of them. Every one of the seven rings is unique, but they all stack together perfectly. Now, each of these cousins has her very own ring to connect her not only to her grandmother, but to her entire family. 

You can read more about the Seven Granddaughter Rings here.

DNA Double Helix

The DNA Double Helix Grandparent Ring

Jewelry passed down from family member to family member is wonderful, but creating original designs lends the opportunity to imbue hidden symbolism in the pieces. This is why I love creating new pieces out of heirloom jewelry, and The DNA Double Helix ring is a prime example. The client came to me brimming with exciting ideas, but also trusted my creativity and let me run with it. 

The project started with several pieces of heirloom jewelry, including both grandparents’ wedding rings and the grandmother’s birthstone ring. I fashioned the gold from the grandmother’s wedding band into a winding double-helix shape, which also honored the grandfather’s career as a scientist. I then inset the birthstones from the original birthstone ring, plus additional birthstones for every member of the family - 12 in total! 

The completed ring is like a wearable family tree. More accurately, it’s like peering through a microscope at your family DNA and then letting an artist draw what you see. Every time my client looks at her ring, she sees her whole family. What’s more beautiful than that?

You can check out the full story of how I meticulously crafted the DNA Double Helix Ring here. 

Grandfather's Gift

The Grandfather’s Gift Ring 

Granddaughters aren’t the only people who love sentimental gifts from their grandparents. The men in our lives need to be celebrated and appreciated too, even if they don’t always speak up about it. That’s why I was touched when a repeat client reached out to me about a special gift for her husband. He had been missing his wedding band for years, and now she wanted to design a brand-new one incorporating yellow gold from her grandfather’s wedding band. 

I started by transforming the simple 14K gold band into my signature ripple design. Then, I overlaid the gold ripple ring over a sterling silver band and soldered the two metals together. This masculine two-toned wedding band creates the effect of a flowing river, both strong and gentle, just like a great dad. Who says men’s jewelry has to be boring?

You can read the full story of how I crafted The Grandfather’s Gift Ring here. 

***

These are just a few examples, but the possibilities for granddaughter - or grandson - rings are truly endless. Whether your grandparent lives just around the corner, across the country, or is smiling down on you from Heaven, these special pieces keep them always close to your heart. If you have an idea for a design for your grandchild or would like to remember your grandparent, please reach out. I can’t wait to help your vision come to life. 

Happy Grandparent’s Day!


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