Pink sapphire is a popular choice of gemstone for wedding rings.  They come is a variety of shades of pink and colour intensity.  At Larsen Jewellery, we specialise in custom made wedding rings and can show you a variety of pink sapphires to choose from.  Click here to view a selection of our wedding ring designs.  Our jewellery stores are based in Sydney and Melbourne and we are open on weekends as well.

Pink sapphire is one of the most highly regarded and valuable of the fancy coloured sapphires. The most prized being the extremely rare pinkish-orange variety known as padparadscha. In some Asian markets, pink sapphires are sold as pale rubies, however in western markets pink sapphires are considered to be their own sub-category of sapphire with its own set of merits. It is debatable whether some deep pinkish-red sapphires should be called pink sapphires or ruby. There is no clear dividing line to this matter although if a stone is decidedly red with strong pink overtones, this stone would be classified as a ruby. Some pink sapphires have secondary tones of violet and depending on the intensity of the secondary shade may be called ‘lavender’ or ‘violet sapphire’. As the shade of violet becomes more pronounced into increasing shades of purple, this type of sapphire is called ‘purple sapphire’. Some intensely purple sapphires can possess the colour-change phenomenon similar to that seen in alexandrite.

Traditionally the main source of pink to lavender and purple sapphire was found in Sri Lanka (Ceylon). Although this variety of sapphire is still mined there, larger quantities are now being mined in Madagascar and some coastal East African countries.

Make your very own wedding bands under the guidance of an experienced jeweller.

While it may be thrilling to receive an engagement ring, it is the wedding band that symbolises your pledge of eternal love.  In fact, the only way the exchange of these rings could be more heartfelt is if you had personally made them for one another.  With Larsen Wedding Rings, that is exactly what you can do.  In just four hours, and with a little professional help, you will have created two elegant wedding bands and one memory of a lifetime.

"We discovered Larsen Wedding Rings at a Sydney bridal expo and thought the idea of making one another's bands would be really special," says Jade, who recently attended Larsen's studio with fiance Angelo.  "We made identical two-tone 18 carat gold rings, each with a few small diamonds and our names engraved on them.  Being able to present each other with the rings we had designed and hand made while exchanging vows was honestly the highlight of our day."

The good news is, you don't have to have creative skills or prior experience because - at every stage - you will be assisted by your very own expert jeweller.  Larsen Wedding Rings uses traditional handcrafting techniques which produce rings of the highest quality, and your jeweller will ensure the finished rings are absolutely flawless.  "People are amazed that not only can they make their own rings, but that the rings end up as perfect as if a jeweller had made them," says Lars Larsen.

Lars and wife Susie established Larsen Wedding Rings in 2006 - it is the first and only company in Australia to offer this exciting experience.  The Larsens also provide beautiful custom-made jewellery, including engagement rings, through their twin business Larsen Jewellery.  So, if you and your fiance have decided to choose your engagement ring together, this is a terrific place to start.  Larsen Jewellery also sells loose diamonds at wholesale prices, making it more affordable if you want to incorporate them into your wedding band design.

When it comes to choosing the design and style of your wedding band, there is no need to limit your imagination.  Larsen Wedding Rings offers a wide range of designs, from plain wedding bands to more intricate designs involving diamonds, a mix of metals or engraving.  Alternatively, you can create your very own design.  Plain bands can be finished on the day while more complicated designs will need to be finished by the jeweller.  Larsen Wedding Rings will also ensure that your wedding band fits perfectly with any engagement ring.

Once you have settled on the design of your rings, the real "hands on" experience begins.  Together, you and your fiance melt down your chosen metal and then mill and shape the rings.  Then it is time to file, buff and polish them until they shine.  Throughout the experience, you will enjoy complimentary nibbles and beverages, including champagne to toast your success.  You'll even receive photographs of the day and a lifetime of annual polishes to keep your wedding bands sparkling.  "We highly recommend it to anyone getting married," says Jade.  "It's a very bonding, sentimental, romantic and fun experience, something that you'll cherish forever!"

Larsen Wedding Rings is located in Sydney's stylish Strand Arcade and in Melbourne's iconic GPO building.  Appointments for making your own rings can be made on Saturdays and Sundays as well as during the week.  Packages start from just $1,500 for two rings in 18 carat yellow or white gold, comparable to normal retail prices for two handcrafted rings.  If you are not based in New South Wales or Victoria, don't despair.  Lars and Susie are planning to open similar stores in Brisbane, Canberra and Adelaide in the near future.  And if you can't wait, you can always book in at the Sydney or Melbourne shops and turn your visit into a romantic weekend away.

Please click here for more information about wedding rings.  Alternatively, pay the team a visit on Level 5 of the Strand Arcade in Sydney or on Level 2 of Melbourne's GPO.  There is no need to make an appointment just to browse, but if you do, you'll be assured of having a jeweller available to talk you through designs and styles.  On the website you'll find even more information, a gallery of gorgeous ring designs to choose from and inspiring video footage of a real life couple enjoying the Wedding Ring Experience.

By working with a designer to custom-make your wedding band you can perfectly match the shape and design of your engagement ring.

If you’ve been searching for the perfect ring but can’t quite find what you’re looking for, designing your own wedding band is another option.

Larsen Wedding Rings in Melbourne and Sydney is the only company in Australia to offer couples the unique experience of making each other’s wedding bands. Owner Lars Larsen says making your own wedding ring is the best way to get what you want and have some fun while you’re at it.

“We give couples the opportunity to design and handcraft each other’s wedding rings using whatever metals and gemstones they choose,” says Lars.

“The couples come in for a design appointment and can use the rings we have on display as a guide, or with the help of one of our talented jewellers, let their imagination run wild and start from scratch to design something that is unique and personal.”

Once you have created the perfect design, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and get to work.

The whole process takes about four hours and you will learn centuries-old handcrafting techniques, which involve melting, milling and filing your chosen metal into a ring.

If you’re after plain wedding bands you can make the entire ring yourself and take it with you when you’re done.

If you’re after a more intricate design or choose to include diamonds or gemstones in your band, you can make the band yourself, and one of Larsen’s experienced jewellers will handle the stones and finish the ring for you to make sure the design is flawless.

And don’t worry about being left with an odd looking ring, Lars guarantees each ring will be perfect, just as if it was made by a professional jeweller.

For Melbourne couple Joanne and Phillip Watts, making their own rings under the watchful eye of Larsen’s experienced jewellers was a “once in a lifetime experience”.

“We were looking for rings that were unique and we came across Larsens,” says Joanne. “I had no idea we could make our own rings and it was a great way to create something that was individual and personal to us as a couple.”

“It was especially great for Phil, who really enjoyed being able to make something so beautiful and feel more involved with the whole wedding process.”

Lars says couples don’t just make their own rings for sentimental purposes, some also do it for practical ones. “A lot of women want to match their wedding ring to their engagement ring. By working with a designer to custom-make your band, you can perfectly match the shape and design of your engagement ring to create a dazzling set you will be dying to show off,” he says.

When every other element of your wedding can be personalised to a tee, why not create a wedding band with a little bit of yourself blended in.

There is something about the exchanging of rings in a wedding ceremony that always has me scrambling for the tissues.  As the bride and groom each slip a band on the other’s finger and promise to never leave each other’s side, you can always hear me bawling in the back of the church.

Those two little rings, round bands of gold or silver, become an outward symbol of the bride and groom’s personal commitment as husband and wife.  It’s amazing how a simple piece of jewellery can come to mean and represent so much and even more so when the band itself is crafted from your very own hands.

Adding a whole new dimension to wedding ring etiquette, specialty jewellers are now offering couples the opportunity to make their own wedding bands.  Sydney’s Larsen Wedding Rings are just one such company and when invited to experience the process for myself, I can’t help but feel a little concerned that the mere sight of wedding rings being made will turn me into a blubbering mess.

The studio itself is light and airy and with the romantic voice of Frank Sinatra crooning over the radio, I can’t help but feel a little inspired.  The staff are experienced with beginners like myself and they patiently talk me through the four hour process, just as they would a soon-to-be-married couple.

Despite my belief that making a wedding ring would be like assembling a jet engine, the process itself is surprisingly simple.  Just like a bride and groom would be, I am given complete creative licence in designing my set of rings.  As I look at the many design options available - yellow gold, white gold, rose gold, platinum, sterling silver - and the other opportunities for diamonds, gemstones, two-tones, brushed or matte finishes, I start to appreciate how this experience would feel for a married couple.  Every aspect of the wedding ring can reflect the couple’s journey to the point of marriage and even beyond.

Once colour and design are confirmed, it’s a matter of melting, sizing and bending the metal to make the ring exactly made to measure, which totally eliminates the old superstition that if the ring doesn’t fit then it’s a bad sign for the couple’s future.  This is followed by the symbolic moment of fusing the band together into an unbroken circle which in the context of marriage, reflects the ongoing commitment between husband and wife.  It’s at this point that I feel the tears begin to prick behind my eyes.

With a final buff and polish, my rings are complete and as I hold them in my hand, I feel my chest puff out a little with pride.  If this is how I feel about my own pair of trinkets, I can only imagine how a couple would react to personally crafting the outward symbol that defines them as a couple.  To celebrate this moment, Larsen’s pop open a complimentary bottle of champagne and as I’m packing up to leave, another couple has just begun to celebrate.  I can tell from the way they are looking at each other, that it’s taking all their inner strength not to slip their hand-made rings on now.

For more information about the Wedding Ring Experience visit www.larsenweddingrings.com.au.  Larsen Wedding Rings is based in Melbourne's GPO and in Sydney’s Strand Arcade.  To make an obligation-free design appointment, please call 02 9223 2006 or 03 9662 3005.

One of the questions we are asked most frequently by our clients is: What is the difference between platinum and white gold? The metals are often confused because, at the retail level, the metals look very similar. Both are shiny and very white, and both can be set with diamonds or gemstones. So what really is the difference?

Platinum and white gold are completely different metals with different chemical compositions and molecular structures that give them different characteristics. Without going too far into the science of how they differ, platinum is a metal that is used in its almost pure form, while white gold is alloyed with other metals to create a strong metal with a white colour. Both metals are perfectly suited to fine jewellery, including engagement and wedding rings.

Platinum is a very dense metal. It has a density grade, or specific gravity, of 21.4, which means that a 4.0mm ring made in platinum will be almost one and a half times the weight of a ring with the same measurements in 18ct white gold. Platinum used for jewellery is usually 95-98% pure platinum, with a very small amount of other metal mixed in for strength and durability. It is an ideal metal for people who have a sensitivity to metal, or find commercial jewellery irritating to their skin. Also, given the density of platinum, it is very strong and offers a lot of strength with very little metal, which makes it ideal for delicately set gemstones, including shared claw style wedding bands. Despite its density and strength, platinum is actually a very soft metal, meaning that it will show scratches and scrapes more easily than white gold. Also, given the rarity of the metal, it is a little more expensive than white gold.

White gold on the other hand is an alloy of yellow gold and other metals, used to both change the colour to white, and make the metal strong and malleable enough to be used for jewellery. White gold is derived from 24ct gold, which is a naturally rich yellow colour. By adding 25% other metals in the case of 18ct white gold, the yellow colour is changed to a white colour. Most of our jewellery is made in 18ct white gold, as this alloy is very strong, tough (resistant to scratching and scraping) and greyish white in colour. Unlike platinum, white gold has a slightly greyish tint, which means that it is usually rhodium plated to create the very bright white finish that you see in jewellery stores. Rhodium is a platinum family metal that is applied in a very thin layer to the outside of white gold to achieve a very white, tarnish resistant coating. White gold is a great option for wedding rings, and offers a slightly lower price point to platinum.

The choice is yours as to whether to have your wedding rings in platinum or white gold. Generally, you should match the metal of your engagement ring ot the metal of your wedding ring, but other than that, the choice is yours!