Emerald and Diamond Anniversary Ring

By: Cristina Velazquez Baigent

Date: August 19, 1990

Location: Toronto

Place of Origin: Colombia

Object Details: A ring custom-made by a Colombian jeweler (name unknown)

Categories: Women’s Jewelry

Brief Description: An anniversary ring gifted to Nancy Velazquez (nee Baigent) from Ricardo Velazquez

Physical Description: 18kt. Yellow Gold, Diamond, and Emerald Ring. One natural shaped Emerald measuring 5.5mm by 4.3mm in a 4-claw style setting. Center Emerald stone is surrounded by a halo of 10 Round Brilliant Diamonds, each individually set. Approximately 2.8mm each.

Materials and technique: Emerald, Diamond, 18 kt. Gold

Personal Connection:

My parents have been happily married for 34 years and the story of their engagement (or not-engagement as they would call it) has always made me laugh. After a few months of dating, my dad, Ricardo, invited my mom, Nancy, to move in with him. Stubborn as she is (she’s a Taurus) her response was that she would not move in with him unless they were married. Fast forward 6 months and they were married at the Old Mill in Toronto on August 19^th, 1989. Since there was never a proposal there was never an engagement ring. But, on the morning of August 19^th, 1990, while they were getting ready to go to a celebratory first anniversary brunch, Ricardo presented Nancy with an emerald ring from his home country, Colombia.