Jason encouraged me to choose wherever I most wanted to look for the perfect ring, and we ended up in the Antique Jewelry Capital of California (at the very least), Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Viau Estate Jewelry is a small jewel box of a shop, located next to Tommy's (the best Chinese food, hands-down). I used to walk past Viau every day when I waitressed at Tommy's, and remember peering in to their display window to admire the various antique jewelry on display. Beautiful, high-end pieces, but since I didn't have a reason to actually buy anything, never actually stepped inside.
The lovely gal who ended up welcoming and helping us was the niece of the owner (and this being a small town, we of course ended up figuring out that her brother used to work at the aquarium, which is the usual game of six degrees of separation in this area!). And the second ring that caught our eyes was the most *perfect* ring.
The ring is a late Victorian piece, with a 2-carat dark blue sapphire, surrounded by a carat of old mine cut diamonds. Set in yellow gold, with the daintiest band (that is so thin and comfortable to wear that I actually sleep with the ring on!), it is the most exquisitely gorgeous and perfect ring I ever could have dreamed up!
