Artfully Elegant — Handmade Jewelry & Handcrafted Gifts

Proposing to your significant other is one of the most exciting and memorable moments of your life. However, choosing the perfect engagement ring or wedding band can be a very overwhelming task. With so many options out there, it can seem impossible to decide on the perfect ring for your loved one. And while large chain stores offer an array of options, they often lack the attention to detail and customer care that you can only receive when proposing with a handmade ring from Artfully Elegant.

Uniqueness and Personalization:

One of the main benefits of proposing with a handmade ring from Artfully Elegant is the uniqueness and personalization that we offer. Each handmade ring is crafted individually by an artist, resulting in a one-of-a-kind piece that cannot be found in any chain store. Meaning that your loved one will have a ring that is completely unique and tailored to their personal style and preferences.

Craftsmanship and Quality:

The handmade rings from our collection are crafted by renowned artists who take great care in their work. They use high-quality materials and employ traditional techniques to create each ring, resulting in a piece of exceptional craftsmanship and quality. When you propose with a handmade ring, you are giving your loved one a piece of art that they can wear every day.

Environmental Sustainability:

Most of our artist’s handmade rings are crafted using eco-friendly materials and techniques, making them a more sustainable option than rings from large chain stores. Artists such as Jennifer Dawes, Todd Pownell, Andrea Bonelli, Chris Ploof and Todd Reed often use recycled or ethically sourced materials in their work, reducing the environmental impact of the production process.

We believe a handmade ring is a beautiful and meaningful way to start your engagement journey with your loved one. So when the times comes for you to purchase from Artfully Elegant versus a chain store, we will do all we can to make that engagement journey as smooth as possible

Tags: andrea bonelli, chris ploof, engagement ring, handmade ring, Jennifer Dawes, todd pownell, todd reed, wedding band

One of the best things about doing what I do is that I often get to play a role in one of the most important parts of almost any love story. Allow me to explain. In any love story you have a simple premise; someone…finds someone else…and eventually they fall deeply in love. They promise to spend a long life hand in hand and usually end up creating and forever adding to what becomes a wonderful family. A family whose members will often end up starting the very same cycle of life all over again in the decades that follow. All in all, that is how most love is found, grown, and shared.

When I reflect back upon my years in this business I find myself in awe at the amount of people whose lives have been affected by something small that we did. You see, no matter who plays the leads in the love story, there almost always comes a point in time when someone feels the need to show someone else just how much they love them. And this is where we come in. We have sold hundreds upon hundreds of engagement rings and wedding bands to lovers over the years. And these people wear our rings daily. They use these rings as a constant reminder of the love they have and of the love they will continue to build. They use these rings to share their love of each other with the rest of the world. Families are formed. Families are grown. And when it’s time to do so, the next generation creates families of their own.

In some small way…we get to say that we played a role in this huge part of life and love. A part for which I am eternally grateful. Here’s a few pictures of just some of the rings that managed to star in these small roles over the past year.

Most of these pictures are of works created by Todd Pownell, Todd reed, and Chris Ploof. If you’d like to see more of what we have in our current collection, then visit our Engagement Ring and Wedding Band pages. In the meantime…keep finding, building, and sharing your love.

Tags: Black Diamonds, chris ploof, handmade engagement rings, handmade wedding bands, inverted diamonds, todd pownell, todd reed, weddings

When one thinks of fine jewelry, precious metals and stones typically come to mind. Platinum, gold, diamonds, silver, and other glittering colorful stones that mirror every color of the rainbow quickly materialize in our imaginations. While these are indeed amazing materials used in most jewelry, there are other materials that are just as incredible that emit a strong, powerful, and masculine vibe.

Chris Ploof Designs, located in Massachusetts, works with other quality materials to create amazing pieces. Everything from stainless steel damascus to mokume gane, which is a traditional Japanese method of mixing metals to replicate a wood grain pattern. From these materials, Chris and his team make amazing quality jewelry that will last for ages.

Damascus Ring made of Stainless Steel

One unique material his team also works with is meteorite. The galactic rock that has potentially traveled light years in space and thrust onto our planet can be crafted into amazing pieces of jewelry for any occasion. Chris’s meteorite pieces are exclusively made from the Gibeon Meteorite in Namibia, a meteorite that is estimated to have landed on the planet 30,000 years ago and is estimated to be about four billion years old.

However, not all pieces of the meteorite are all usable due to varying metal content, elemental wear, and natural imperfections. Chris’s team takes it a step further and for every piece that is suitable for jewelry, Chris Ploof Designs rejects an average of 20 for every one that they choose.
From there, the ancient material is combined with platinum, gold or mokume gane to form an extremely strong and durable ring. The Gibeon meteorite also contains nickel so it’s naturally stain and rust resistant.

Gibeon Meteorite Ring with Gold Lining

According to their website: “Each ring begins with Chris in the design process, and every single item he designs also passes a review by our skilled artisans. As a team, we make sure that, in addition to being beautiful, the design will stand the test of time.”

So if you or a loved one are looking for a beautiful piece of jewelry, head on over to Artfully Elegant or www.artfullyelegant.com, we’re the only official carrier of Chris Ploof Designs in the entire state of Pennsylvania. Not only do we carry an amazing selection, but we can help you get a custom piece that is just right for you! See more designs here!

Damascus Wood Grain Ring made of Stainless Steel

Tags: artist spotlight, chris ploof

Did you know that some say leap year is the one time a woman can propose to a man?

You don’t remember that marginally okay movie from 2010 where Amy Adams decides that she’s going to travel to Dublin and propose to her boyfriend on Leap Day, because, according to Irish tradition, a man who is proposed to on leap day must accept it, or face some sort of penalty?

Well, the tradition is thought to date back to the 5th century, when, legend has it, an Irish nun called St Bridget complained to St Patrick that women had to wait too long for their suitors to propose. source

Well, if you didn’t and you were looking for an excuse to pop the question, we have you covered.

Artfully Elegant is offering selected Chris Ploof rings at 20% off through Monday, February 29. Simply head to this link and use the code LeapDay at checkout.

Now is the time, ladies. Besides, he probably doesn’t need some ancient Irish curse to make him say yes. Good luck!

Tags: chris ploof, leap day, proposal, wedding