Floating Leaf Collection Sketch – Lab-Grown Diamond Engagement Ring by Dawn Vertrees

 

Floating Leaf Collection
Sketch – Lab-Grown Diamond Engagement Ring by Dawn Vertrees

For years I have created nature-inspired jewelry featuring natural diamonds, rough gemstones, twigs, leaves, and organic forms sculpted by hand in wax.

As the jewelry world evolves, I wanted to create a design specifically for those who love the beauty of lab-grown diamonds and gemstones while still appreciating artistic craftsmanship and meaningful design.

This sketch marks the beginning of a new collection.

The Floating Leaf Engagement Ring was inspired by a simple question:

How can a gemstone appear to float between two leaves?

The design features a one-carat round faceted lab-grown diamond nestled between two sculpted leaves that rise gracefully from a textured twig band. Rather than relying on traditional jewelry styling, the leaves appear to lift and present the gemstone as if it had grown there naturally.

The result is a ring that feels organic, elegant, and timeless.

While this first design showcases a round lab-grown diamond, the setting is being developed to accommodate a variety of lab-grown gemstones, including:

• Lab-Grown Diamond
• Lab-Grown Emerald
• Lab-Grown Sapphire
• Lab-Grown Ruby

Each gemstone brings its own personality to the design while maintaining the same floating leaf concept.

This ring will eventually become part of a complete wedding set. The matching wedding band will feature a simple twig design that complements the engagement ring without competing with it. Together they create a harmonious woodland-inspired bridal set rooted in nature.

As with all Dawn Vertrees Jewelry designs, every detail begins as an idea, a sketch, and a hand-sculpted wax model before becoming a finished piece of jewelry.

The Floating Leaf Collection was inspired by a simple idea: a gemstone lifted and offered by nature.

Two sculpted leaves rise from an organic twig band, cradling a faceted gemstone so it appears to float between them. The design creates a sense of lightness and wonder, inviting the question, "How is the gemstone staying there?"

Available with lab-grown diamonds, emeralds, sapphires, and rubies, each piece celebrates beauty, craftsmanship, and the organic forms found in nature.

This is the first sketch.

The collection is still growing.

💗

The Oakwood Twig Collection

 

“This is where Oakwood began.”

It started simply.

The groom knew she wanted one of my one-of-a-kind twig designs—something that felt grown, not made.

She also knew she wanted a green rough diamond, untouched and natural, something with depth and life in it.

Together, we created her engagement ring around that vision.

Then the focus shifted to him.

She knew what mattered to him—

the Oak tree, with a couple of acorns. Strength, grounding, something lasting.

He wanted an 8mm wide band at the base, solid and substantial.

A size 13 finger—this ring needed presence. Weight. Something that felt like it belonged.

At the same time, I happened to be working on a new twig heart ring.

That piece became the starting point.

The structure was already there—

the movement, the flow, the way the branches naturally came together.

From that, I sculpted the Oak leaf and added the two acorns.

It wasn’t drawn out.

It wasn’t overthought.

It developed the way these pieces always do—

one form growing into the next until it becomes exactly what it’s supposed to be.

She loved his ring.

And when it came time for him to create hers,

he didn’t go in a different direction—he stayed with it.

Her ring became a reflection of his.

Similar in structure. Connected in meaning.

That’s when it stopped being two separate pieces

and became something shared.

(Cute, right?)”

It wasn’t until I received a second request

that I realized this wasn’t just a set anymore.

“That’s when it stopped being two separate pieces

and became something shared.

It was the beginning of something larger.

It was where Oakwood began.

🙑

Gemstone Rings — From Hand-Carved Wax to Cast Metal

 🌿 The Art Behind My Gemstone Rings

Every gemstone ring I create begins in wax. I carve each detail by hand — the branches, the textures, the curves — building the design one small stroke at a time. This is where the ring’s personality is born.

Below are two versions of the same ring design, showing how a simple wax base can grow into a sculptural, nature-inspired piece of jewelry.

Wax Model & Finished Ring — Green Amethyst Leaf-Twig Ring

This design began as a hand-carved wax model, created to cradle a beautiful green amethyst in two organic leaf-shaped prongs. Every groove, vein, and curve was sculpted by hand to capture the natural movement of leaves wrapping gently around the stone.

The final ring is cast in solid sterling silver and finished with a rich oxidized patina, enhancing the depth of the twig texture and bringing out all the fine organic details.

A true nature-inspired sculptural piece — from raw wax to wearable art.