The time had finally come. I knew I deserved a special piece of jewellery.

My late mum had left me some money, and I wanted to spend it wisely. But where to start? A friend recommended that I contact Philip at De Vere Diamonds for some sound professional advice. I thought, why not? A quick chat can’t hurt.

I had my heart set on a big, flashy diamond ring, a real statement piece. But I didn’t know the first thing about diamonds, apart from the fact that they looked lovely and sparkled. I just knew I wanted one. A big one!

Well, was I in for a surprise. Philip wasn’t trying to sell me anything. There was no hard sell, just some well-placed questions about what I was hoping to achieve.

We started with the diamond. I believed I should choose a radiant cut for its brilliance and sparkle, but Philip’s questions really opened my eyes, and I realised I was dealing with a true professional who knew his trade. In the end, I chose the more classic, timeless emerald cut, which suited my lifestyle so much better.

Philip sourced the exact stone for me: a fabulous 5.2-carat diamond matching my chosen provenance, colour and cut. He walked me through everything to consider beyond size and shape.

Then came the ring itself. The shape was important to me, and Philip provided sketches and visuals to help me decide on the dimensions. I hadn’t realised how much time and attention goes into creating a ring. I hadn’t even thought about the setting, the prongs, the band or the hidden halo. I loved seeing my ring take shape and come to life. I felt like a child at Christmas.

My ring is unique to me, not mass-produced, and that means something. No shop purchase could ever match this experience. It was amazing, from beginning to the final masterpiece.

I thought my joy would end there, until Philip talked me through the Legacy Vault that accompanies my ring. It holds the whole story: how the ring was created, and why. In years to come, my children will be able to look back and understand what this ring truly meant to me. I created it to honour my mother’s memory, something truly magnificent that I can wear every day in memory of my lovely mum. There will be no wondering where this ring came from. To me, that is priceless.

I’m so glad I made that call. To Philip and his amazing team, my heartfelt thanks.

Wow, what an experience.