When a Simple Berry Tells the Story...

The first glimpse of the Leaf & Berry Twig Ring. A little red berry inspired what would become the beginning of the Berry Collection.

Front view showing the intertwined branches rising to offer the center stone, a guiding principle behind my nature-inspired jewelry designs.

Side profile highlighting the bark texture, leaf detail, and substantial branch structure that form the foundation of the design.

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Every design has a beginning.

Sometimes it starts with a gemstone.
Sometimes it starts with a sketch.
And sometimes it starts with something so small that most people would overlook it.

For me, it started with a simple little red dot.

That tiny berry became the spark that inspired what is now growing into the Leaf & Berry Collection.

The ring shown here represents the earliest stage of that journey. At this point, the design is only about 30% complete. Like the vines and branches that inspire my work, it will continue to grow, change, and evolve as new ideas emerge and future versions are created.

The foundation begins with intertwined twig structures that naturally weave around the finger. Small leaves emerge from the branches while tiny berries appear throughout the design, creating the feeling of a living woodland vine rather than a traditional jewelry setting.

At the center, the branches rise upward and gently offer the stone. This reflects one of the guiding principles behind my work: gemstones should feel lifted and presented by nature, not simply held in place. The stone becomes a gift offered by the branches that grew around it.

The berries may be one of the smallest details in the design, yet they carry the greatest meaning. They serve as a reminder that inspiration can come from the simplest things. A single berry became the seed from which an entire collection began to grow.

This blog will follow the development of the Leaf & Berry Twig Ring as the design progresses from wax model to finished jewelry. Future updates will document design refinements, castings, gemstone variations, finished pieces, and new additions to the Berry Collection.

Today, it begins with a single berry.

Tomorrow, we'll see where it grows.

— Dawn Vertrees

Updated Wax Model & 14k Rose Gold Visualization

"Every design goes through a period of growth. After studying the original wax model, I refined the branch tips so they embrace the diamond more naturally, strengthening the feeling that the stone is being lifted and offered by the surrounding twigs. The updated wax model allowed me to fine-tune these small details before casting."

"Seeing the design visualized in 14k rose gold revealed details that are difficult to see in colored wax. The soft oxidation settles into the bark texture while the polished berries catch the light, creating contrast and bringing the organic elements to life. Comparing the wax model to the rose gold version helps me evaluate the flow, balance, and overall emotion of the piece."

"Sometimes a simple berry tells the story. What begins as a small accent becomes part of a larger journey, guiding the eye through the design and connecting every branch, leaf, and detail to the center stone. Each refinement brings the ring closer to my vision of nature gently presenting a precious gift."

Where Vines Hold Light — Forest Design Collection

It started with a feeling I couldn’t ignore.

Shop Online DV Jewelry Designs or our Etsy Shop

A deep blue sapphire lifted by flowing vine-like gold
—where nature’s movement meets quiet strength.

The first image captures that moment when everything begins to settle into place—soft movement, natural curves, and a stone that feels alive within the design. The rose gold carries warmth, while the sapphire draws you inward, like something discovered rather than set.

A closer look at the flow
—each vine wraps with intention,
lifting the sapphire as if grown into place.

As you move to the next, the perspective shifts. The structure reveals itself more clearly—the way each vine wraps, not to confine, but to support. There’s intention in every line, yet nothing feels forced. It grows the way nature does—quietly, organically.

The same form, reimagined in light
—where a diamond is lifted and offered within flowing gold.

Then the story changes slightly.

A diamond takes the place of color, and suddenly the design speaks in light instead of depth. The form remains the same, but the emotion shifts—cleaner, brighter, yet still grounded in that same flowing structure.

In white gold, the movement sharpens
—cool tones revealing every ridge, every shadow,
every line that carries the stone forward.

In white gold, the piece becomes something else again. Cooler, more refined, the textures stand out differently. The contrast between light and shadow deepens, and the organic lines feel almost sculptural.

The full expression—two rings grown from the same form,
flowing together as one continuous movement, lifting the stone in quiet harmony.

And finally, the full composition.

The wedding set brings everything together. The curves extend, the movement continues, and the design feels complete—not as a single piece, but as something that belongs together. Each ring flows into the next, like branches from the same root.

This collection was never about holding a stone in place.

It was about lifting it.

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Letting it exist within something that feels grown, not made—so that when it’s worn, it carries more than beauty.

It carries feeling.

Shop Online DV Jewelry Designs or our Etsy Shop

 

Hand-Sculpted 14k Rose Gold Oak Leaf & Acorn Twig Ring

 This bold, nature-inspired men's ring was custom-created for a groom-to-be who wanted something truly unique. Hand-sculpted from soft jeweler's wax, the design features a single detailed oak leaf and two acorns nestled among textured twigs that wrap organically around the finger.

Men's Custom Wedding Band

Cast in solid 14k rose gold, the 8mm-wide band has a rugged, substantial feel perfect for daily wear. A heavy antique finish adds depth and character to every vein in the leaf and groove in the bark, while a light polish brings out the warm rosy glow of the gold.

Men's Custom Wedding Band

Size: 11

Width: 8mm

Material: 14k Rose Gold

Finish: Heavy antique patina with selective polishing

Style: One-of-a-kind, hand-sculpted, nature-inspired men's wedding band

This ring isn’t just jewelry—it’s a wearable piece of forest poetry, a symbol of strength, growth, and deep roots. Already on its way to becoming a family heirloom.

Men's Custom Wax Model Ring

Additional Information Coming Soon

Hand-Sculpted Rose Ring with Pink Sapphire by Dawn Vertrees

Additional Pictures and Prices

Every petal on this ring was born in fire. Using the centuries-old lost-wax method, I sculpt a real rosebud in wax, layer by delicate layer, until the bloom feels alive on your finger. Then the wax vanishes in the kiln, replaced by molten metal that captures every curl, every vein, every whisper of nature.

Choose Your Metal, Choose Your Mood

• Sterling Silver – crisp, cool, everyday poetry

• 14K White Gold – sleek modern romance

• 14K Yellow Gold – warm sunshine on petals

• 14K Rose Gold – the original “Rosegold bloom” glow

• 18K White, Yellow & Rose Gold – ultimate luxury upgrade

Rosegold Bloom Edition – because love should blush.

The Heart of the Rose: Pink Sapphire

A single natural pink sapphire (approx. 4 mm, ~0.35 ct) nestles in the center like morning dew. Its delicate blush mirrors the rose itself—symbol of passion, tenderness, and promises that last.

Details at a Glance

Ring Width (band): 3.5 mm

Rose Head Diameter: ~12.5 mm

Rose and Stone Height: 7.72

Stone: Natural pink Sapphire

Finish: High-polish with oxidized petal shadows

made for you.

Links to purchase are coming soon.

 

New Lemon Quartz Vine Design

I have been sitting on this stone for a while now but the design finally hit me while in Winston-Salem at a convention. It was the perfect stone for trying out my new Vine Design.

I'm not particular fond of the tradition straight line settings that most stones sit in...especially since I don't care for straight lines in the first place.

My father has always told me that nothing in nature grows straight, so I sculpted this ring as if the vines were holding the ring up and my leaves were holding the stone down.

Well I'm happy to say...I'll probably never go back to a straight setting again. I think it came out beautiful...

Vine Setting

Laser Cut Lemon Quartz