Shane Co. customer Harper Grae was ready to propose to her girlfriend before lockdown orders began to take effect across the country. Luckily, with a little help from Shane Co., she was able to create an even more magical proposal and ended up celebrating true love with her amazing fiancé.

Originally, Harper was planning on going down on one knee after running in (and training hard for) the Nashville Marathon. When the marathon was abruptly canceled, Harper decided that she wasn’t going to let COVID-19 stop her from getting engaged to her sweetheart.

With Shane Co. stores being closed for the safety of our customers and employees, Harper contacted us to see if there was any way we could help make her proposal dreams a reality. “I had the most incredible experience at the Nashville Shane Co. location,” she said. “With everything that happened during COVID-19 and the store closing, they worked with me and had the ring overnighted so I could pull off my new proposal. And to say the ring was perfect is an understatement!”

After securing the ring, Harper ran her new proposal plan by her now-fiancé’s daughter for approval. She received an excited “Yes!” and an offer of help, so the plan was set into motion! Harper created a heart out of candles and flowers while Mom and daughter were sent on a scavenger hunt. Upon returning, Harper was finally able to pop the question — both to her girlfriend and to her little one. Luckily, she got the answers she was looking for! They celebrated with an at-home meal from their favorite Nashville restaurant. You can see more of Harper’s proposal story in the video below, plus hear the beautiful song she wrote to her fiancé.

The post Customer Stories: True Love in a Pandemic appeared first on The Loupe.

We thought it would be fun for all of us to see how you and your loved ones are creating meaningful moments, even during these hard times. We asked for your moments, and you delivered — plus, one winner received a sparkling diamond necklace! Check out some of our favorite entries below, and let us know how you’re spreading joy by tagging us on social media (@shanecompany).

The Winner

@susanjhendler shared this tear-worthy moment of love in these unsettling times. Congratulations to the happy couple!

“Getting married Covid 19 style, true love can’t be stopped #meaningfulmoments @shanecompany” – @susanjhendler

The Runners-up

“Giant bubbles were a hit! We’re realizing how much we used to go out, and how lucky we are to have temperate weather and a yard so we don’t go crazy. #stayhome doesn’t mean that you can’t go outside and create #meaningfulmoments while keeping a safe distance from others. ?” – @fairlybrutal

“#MeaningfulMoments @shanecompany  Hubby and I enjoying these special days together on the patio in this beautiful weather” – @joytedd

“My husband, snuggling our final baby, Sullivan. It means a lot to us to have come this far. With me suffering a huge loss in my past and being told the chances of having children are slim? We came out on top with not one, not two, but three healthy pregnancies. Not everyone is so lucky to just have effortless or noncomplicated pregnancies. I count my lucky stars every single day.” – @moonlitjoy

“Been journaling now, which is new for me. Remember my thoughts and feelings in these new & trying times #meaningfulmoments @shanecompany” – @jtabor9873

“#MeaningfulMoments to love on these babies after work, all f(ou)rry of them” – @hay_jschmidt

Finally, a Proposal!

“It’s been exactly one week since Cass proposed and I still can’t believe it! ??

Fun fact: Cass and I had planned a mini getaway to celebrate our four-year anniversary. We were going to go to Monterey for the day and then head to @seascapebeachresort for a fun and romantic weekend.

She had it all planned. She found the exact place I asked her to be my girlfriend four years ago (a miracle! If you know us, you know we’ve been trying to find this exact beach and bench every year since because it’s right off a residential neighborhood and we just stumbled across it back then). She was going to get my favorite cupcakes from @karascupcakes and have them spell out “Will You Be My Wife?” She had a photographer who was going to follow us and photograph the entire proposal. She was going to have our song playing in the background. And she had the most beautiful and perfect ring from @shanecompany I could ever dream of. CUTE, RIGHT?!

However, as the weeks leading up to our trip were getting closer and closer, and the concerns with the coronavirus continued to grow, we had to make the difficult decision to cancel our trip.

So Cass had to come up with Plan B. I was really looking forward to our trip, so anyone could imagine how upset I was feeling. Especially with the fact that stepping foot outside our home was somewhat of a scary idea. But nonetheless, she somehow made our day special. We spent most of it indoors. We cooked, baked, watched movies and looked through old photos. Towards the end of the day, we decided to get all dolled up just for the sake of our anniversary and Cass told me we were going out for a drive.

We went down to Shoreline Park and Lake; not a soul in sight. She played our song, placed her phone against her speaker to record our moment, and got down on one knee right at sunset. I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect moment. Of course I said yes!” – @victoria.rayne

Thank you to everyone who shared their meaningful moments with us. We hope there will be many more to come!

The post How Are You Making #MeaningfulMoments? appeared first on The Loupe.

Justin and Heidi

Justin, originally from St. Louis, Missouri, met his now-fiancé Heidi, from northern Iowa, in Minnesota in January 2019. Justin knew he was ready to get engaged to Heidi almost immediately because of her sweet and captivating nature. Once he selected her engagement ring and diamond, he decided that popping the question at Shane Co. might just be the perfect way to make it official. He ran the idea past Bailey, their jewelry expert at the store, and they started planning.

The proposal

When Heidi and Justin showed up at Shane Co., Bailey greeted them and told Justin to go back to the financing area to check out the rings and make sure everything was correct before picking them up. Meanwhile, Heidi went over to the fashion jewelry area to look at some necklaces and stay busy.

While she was preoccupied, Bailey gave Justin the heads up – and in he came, with a bouquet of roses in his hands and his engagement band as well as her perfect ring in his pocket. After handing over the flowers and showing her his own ring, Justin took Heidi’s engagement ring out of his pocket and popped the question. Heidi happily said yes and the store staff celebrated with them, taking pictures and offering congratulations. They finished off the proposal with a kiss and a celebratory dinner.

Buying the ring

We asked Justin and Heidi how they ended up with Heidi’s beautiful ring and what their experience was like with Shane Co.

Justin: We shopped together, both for the ring and the diamond. My experience at Shane Co. is hard to put into words. From the first step into the Shane Co. store to spending quality time with Heidi and seeing her get overjoyed/excited while looking at rings, to the actual proposal experience – it was effortless, amazing, memorable and life-changing. Last but certainly not least, the service; Bailey did such an incredible job, and without her, none of this could have happened.

Heidi: Excellent customer service means a lot to me and Bailey and Shane Co. certainly displayed the highest level of service. The shopping process was easygoing, no hassle and a lot of fun.

Looking towards the future

Finally, we asked Justin and Heidi what they were looking forward to most about married life.

Justin: Spending every day with Heidi. Falling in love with her over and over every day for the rest of our lives together. Being able to have my best friend as my wife is, quite simply, living the dream – my happily ever after.

Heidi: I’m excited to watch our three kids grow up together and I am forever grateful to be able to share that experience with my soulmate.

The post Customer Stories: Justin and Heidi’s Shane Co. Proposal appeared first on The Loupe.

Did you know that Shane Co. has the best lifetime warranty in the business? Well, now you do! Our 100% Free Lifetime Warranty covers even the center stone of your engagement ring, as long as you stay up to date on cleaning and checkups. With our noncommission, no-pressure sales team and expert in-store jewelers, your piece will receive the love and attention it needs — even when accidents happen.

Still aren’t convinced? Well, you don’t need to hear it from us — take it straight from our customers with these warranty stories.

Lisa R. says:

“Recently my center stone fell out of the setting. GONE! I searched high and low and turned the house upside down easily 100 times. I panicked. I’ve kept up with my cleanings and inspections and my husband reminded me about the warranty and we called Shane Co. They said to come on in to see what they could do. I wasn’t very optimistic. I came in on a very busy day and went toward the back to try and find anyone available. I must’ve looked distressed, because when Michelle saw me she instantly asked what was wrong and if everything was okay. I immediately began to tear up and told her what happened. She calmly said to come with her and that we would figure it out together. After a short amount of time looking up my information, Michelle informed me that she found a comparable stone and that she’d have it mailed in to be mounted in just a few days. I was speechless. I’ve since picked up my ring and it was perfect. Although the original stone held more sentimental value for me, Shane Co. and Michelle went above and beyond to help me. The customer service, authentic compassion and caliber of professionalism that Michelle showed me was exceptional. She was so genuine and even called me a few days later to check up on me. Michelle and Shane Co.: THANK YOU. I appreciate you so much and am so grateful. My husband and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts. You have loyal customers for life. I keep telling everyone I know to ONLY buy from Shane Co. Thank you!!!”

Tucker H. says:

“My fiancée and I had her engagement ring for only three weeks when her diamond fell out (due to far more than normal wear and tear…whoops). We were absolutely terrified we would have to deal with insurance, claims, etc., but Shane Co. made it as easy as coming in and explaining what happened. Their lifetime warranty COMPLETELY covered the lost main stone and damaged band. Kat took amazing care of us and put us at ease that this would all be covered by Shane Co. and we could breathe again. We will never shop anywhere except Shane Co. for jewelry again. Best warranty in the industry.”

Carol P. says:

“We bought my ring here back in ’06. We bring it in about 2x a year for cleaning, rhodium, etc. In 13 years, I lost two accent diamonds: once at the beach, then another while wrenching on our Jeep. Because we take it in regularly, it has a lifetime warranty and both times they replaced the diamond for free. They’re very professional and helpful. I’m soooooo glad my hubby bought my ring here.”

Tanya H. says:

“My husband bought me some Tahitian pearls for Christmas of 2006, with matching earrings, and he accidentally broke them while he was helping me take them off last week. We took them back to Shane Co. in Roseville, which is where we bought them, and their customer service was amazing! Anna was so attentive and helpful and even took down our anniversary and birthdays, so they would be sure to send us a card or email! The good news is that we won’t have to pay a dime out of pocket since the pearls were under their lifetime warranty, which is standard for Shane Co. jewelry! So, if you are looking at getting your special someone a ring, necklace or any kind of jewelry and want excellent customer service, Shane Co. is your place!”

Dana J. says:

“Shane Co. went above and beyond our expectations when I managed to lose the center stone from my engagement ring at work. I was so worried and they were reassuring and stood by their warranty to replace the center stone and make my ring stronger so this wouldn’t happen again. Cannot thank them enough!”

Diana M. says:

“Just received my wedding ring in the mail after getting repair work done and I am in tears. Last week, I was devastated when I smashed my hand in a ladder, flattened my ring and lost a diamond. I called Shane Co. just to see what size the diamond was so I could begin to look for a replacement. They told me, “Oh, it’s under warranty.” Guys. I just got a diamond replacement (smaller one) and repairs FOR FREE. I’m so grateful my husband got my ring at Shane Co. and will forever sing their praises. You’re not just buying THE ring. You’re buying protection for when life happens and you damage one of the most sentimental pieces you own.”

There you have it! Besides having the most comprehensive lifetime warranty in the industry, Shane Co. creates pieces that are built to last. Learn more about our superior standards of quality.

The post Tales From the Warranty appeared first on The Loupe.

We asked and you answered. As it turns out, there are a lot of ways to know you’re ready to get engaged. Thanks for sharing your stories with us! Read below to see some of our favorite customer responses.

“You just know, that’s it :)”

– @jsssaka

“When the thought of living life without him broke my heart.”

– @camie41

“He is my person and pushes me to be the best ‘me’ possible. My teammate. My best friend.”

– @michayla_thomas

“When my husband-to-be told me that he was moving 500 miles to make sure I was never alone again.”

– @rachel.b.roberts

“When my husband and I went to Shane Co. to look at rings! A great experience!”

– @ladyjanssen14

“When we moved from Florida to Colorado together!”

– @_hillarygray

“When you are happy and more than willing to compromise on the small things.”

– @siecysdiary

“I didn’t. I was 18 and crazy! 14 years later, we’re good <3”

– @rubyslippers20

“After 6 years and a beautiful engagement ring, how could I say no?”

– @kathyworksout

“When you have gotten over the honeymoon phase and talked about the future and values.”

– @veeemwhy

“When my bf (now hubby) became as meaningful as my own family <3”

– @edenlillie

Still trying to figure out if you’re ready? Read more on how to prepare for engagement here, then find out if your partner has been dropping hints that you’ve been missing. If you’ve already decided it’s time to get engaged, you can start building your dream engagement ring on ShaneCo.com or in person at your nearest Shane Co. store. With directly and ethically sourced diamonds and the largest variety of exclusive settings, we promise it’ll be easier to find an engagement ring than it was to find the one.

The post Customer Stories: How Did You Know You Were Ready to Get Engaged? appeared first on The Loupe.

A dream come true

“Jessie and I had a photoshoot planned with the sweetest photographer, who we had done a shoot with in the past. We got to the location, but the wind was blowing like crazy and it was absolutely freezing. Jessie said that his heart was pounding as we moved from location to location, fearing that he wouldn’t find the perfect spot. We finally got to this beautiful cliff overlooking the ocean and I turned around and he was down on one knee! Saying yes to marry Jessie was the best decision I’ve ever made. I can’t wait to marry my sweetheart. He had the perfect ring with the help of a Shane Co. employee and he found the perfect moment.”

Want to see the ring Jenna said yes to?

You can shop this Halo Diamond Engagement Ring with an oval diamond center stone to re-create the look that sealed the deal for Jessie. To see more fashionable halo rings, head over to ShaneCo.com and begin creating the perfect engagement ring for you!

The post Customer Stories: Jenna & Jessie’s Proposal appeared first on The Loupe.

Meet our couple

Leamon is a native Georgian and lived in Savannah until he enlisted in the U.S. Army after graduating high school. Post‐military, he obtained his degree in Respiratory Therapy at Armstrong State College, and then worked for St. Joseph’s Hospital for 22 years before moving to Tampa, Florida with a previous partner. After that relationship ended, he met David and was eventually courted by the Kennestone Hospital. They moved to Georgia together and currently live with their three dogs and two cats.

David was born and raised in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. Growing up in the Pocono Mountains led to an outdoorsy childhood, filled with biking, skiing, canoeing and more. He attended college at the University of South Florida in Tampa. Throughout college, David worked as a bartender/waiter and volunteered with the Tampa Bay Beagle Rescue – that’s how he ended up adopting the three dogs he and Leamon live with today. Nowadays, he loves rollercoasters, hiking, and adventuring with his fiancé, both in and outside of Kennesaw.

How did you two meet?

David: Lea and I met while we were both living in the Tampa Bay area. We met online and spoke over the phone a few times before meeting on May 29, 2016. We set up a date at Buffalo Wild Wings since it was right next to my job and I was working long hours in sales over the Memorial Day weekend. I almost cancelled from being so exhausted from a tiring day, but I didn’t want to miss out on the chance to meet this great guy.

After meeting, we began talking as if we had known each other forever. We were there for over two hours when the waitress told us that the kitchen was closing soon. We were so into each other that we forgot to eat! Our adventure had begun. Over the next few months, we got to know each other better, sharing our love of rollercoasters, shopping and our mutual joy of cooking.

What is your favorite thing about him?

Lea: I would have to say that my favorite thing about Dave is his dry, smart wit and quirky ways. And that I don’t have to have a calculator out when he is around, as he is like a human calculator!

What are you looking forward to most about married life?

Lea: I’m looking forward to nourishing our marriage and standing beside one another. I know we won’t always agree, but we respect each other and still love each other and have that spark like we first did on May 29, 2016. And that when the time comes that we no longer occupy this earth, we meet again so that we can do this all over!

Were you surprised when he popped the question?

David: Lea proposed while we were out to dinner on the second anniversary of our first date. As you probably noticed by the picture we originally submitted, I was totally surprised and of course said, “Yes!”

How did you plan the proposal?

Lea: I knew I wanted to make Dave my everlasting partner many months prior to the engagement. I knew that the person who sat beside me in the emergency room and rubbed my back while I was writhing in pain from a kidney stone was the man who was seeing me at my worst, who was genuinely concerned, and who would be there for anything else. He was overwhelmed when I got down on one knee, put my hand into my pocket, took his hand and asked him to marry me.

Meanwhile, I was so nervous the entire evening leading up to then that I went several times to the bathroom because I was either checking on the ring to make sure all the diamonds were there or hoping I would stop being nauseated (nervous jitters) and not look like a scared deer in headlights all evening. I made reservations a week before at the Sun Dial Restaurant at the Westin Downtown Atlanta. They asked if it was for an occasion and I told them the entire setup for the night, including what we wanted to eat. They put us with the BEST and loveliest waitress who had been there for a generation. She made sure that we were taken care of and asked to use my phone to take pictures.

What did you like most about your wedding?

David: The original plan was to get married at the courthouse and save our money for our honeymoon in New York City. Lea’s cousin is an ordained minister, though, and she offered to marry us. Our families saw her offer on Facebook and insisted that if there was going to be a wedding, they wanted to be present for it. So, with only a couple months before our planned date of October 25, 2018, we began planning a wedding. There were no venues available that we liked, so we decided that we would hold the ceremony in our front yard, as it is beautifully landscaped.

Our special day came, our families and friends gathered and we started the next chapter of our adventure as a married couple and I took Lea’s last name as my own. Nearly eight months later, I find myself more in love with Lea than I ever could have thought was possible. He truly is my soulmate and the love of my life.

Lea: What we looked forward to most about our wedding was that it would be small with a fun party. We knew that only those that meant something to us would attend and that we would just be “us” and not be over‐dramatic and exhausted from all the work getting up to that day.

How did you tell your friends and family that you were engaged?

Lea: I told my mother ahead of time this was going to happen. I called Dave’s sister and told her that I was going to propose and I told our neighbors who are good, close friends of ours. Then, at 9:25pm, the rest of social media found out!

How did you pick out your rings?

David: When we first bought our wedding rings from Shane Co., we were on a tight budget, but Lea saw a ring that he loved. It had blue sapphires in it with a Celtic design, which represented his Scottish heritage. It wasn’t in our price range, but I saw how much he wanted it, so I got a plain comfort band and added more money to get him what he really wanted. Of course, now that I work for Shane Co., we’ve both upgraded our rings. Lea took a family diamond and had it set into a ring setting while I wore the sapphire ring for a while until I upgraded to my current diamond band.

What does love mean to you?

Lea: Love to me is faithfulness, friendship and loyalty to the person one chooses as his partner and spouse. Love is not material wealth but wealth of helping one another and making sure our needs are being met.

When did you start working at Shane Co.?

David: Lea and I were already engaged when we came to Shane Co. to shop for our wedding rings. It was late September of 2018 and we were out running errands when we drove past the Shane Co. store. Lea noticed the sign and we both started quoting the commercials and decided to go in. We were given the full Shane Co. first‐class service. Our salesperson, Aaron, was extremely helpful and made the whole experience easy and comfortable. I had noticed a sign in the lobby saying that they were hiring when we first came in, and after we finished paying for our rings, I asked Kelly Ray what experience I would need to work here. He explained that he had worked there for over 20 years and that the company would teach me all I needed to know about jewelry.

I was so impressed with how professional the staff was, the fact that we were not pressured the way one is at other jewelry stores, and our overall experience, I told Lea this was a place I would feel proud and confident to work for. When Lea and I got home, I immediately went online and filled out an application. A couple days later, I came back to pick up our rings and spoke briefly with Neomi Love‐West about how happy Lea and I were with our rings and my desire to work there. I spoke with the recruiter, interviewed and was working here two weeks later. My first day was October 15th.

The post Customer Stories: David and Leamon’s Engagement appeared first on The Loupe.

It’s one of our favorite times of the year: Pride Month! Summer is finally here and we’re happy to have the opportunity to celebrate every kind of love. With all these warm feelings in the air, we’re more than excited to feature our next Shane Co. couple: Andrew and Brian! They have a beautiful love story that recently took its next step into engagement. What makes this story even more special for us is that Andrew is a proud Shane Co. employee — in fact, he was Salesperson of the Year at his store in Arizona. We loved hearing about their engagement and all the amazing things on the horizon for them. Congratulations, Andrew and Brian!

Let’s meet our couple

Andrew is 28 years old and co-parents three beautiful dogs named Finn, Mallie and Momo. He loves playing video games, food, and working for Shane Co. While growing up in Iowa, he never pictured himself selling diamonds, but is more than happy where he is now, living in Arizona with Brian.

Brian is also 28 years old and currently works for Best Western Hotels and Resorts. His interests include martial arts movies, Overwatch, Star Wars, fantasy novels and all things pop culture. He grew up always believing in the importance of marriage, so he’s overjoyed to be engaged and living with his fiancé, Andrew.

How did you two meet?

Andrew: Brian and I met online. Five years ago, I would have been mildly embarrassed to admit how we met. We had a fun story of telling people that we met while volunteering at a pet shelter, but as we grew more serious, it became easier because I was so proud to tell anyone how I met the love of my life! While working in the jewelry industry, I have been introduced to many love stories. And nowadays, many successful relationships have started their first page online.

Brian: Online dating. Not a spectacular origin story, but we certainly have built a relationship that is spectacular. We are fortunate to live in a time where technology has enabled us to connect with each other, even miles and miles apart.

How did you know you were ready to get engaged?

Andrew: A few months into dating Brian, we had a discussion that he would propose to me! Which was a great feeling at the time, because the pressure was off of me. I already knew Brian was my life partner. We spent our time loving each other and enjoying all the ups and downs love has to offer. The perfect timing of being engaged was never essential to us, we always knew we would get there one day, but I wanted to surprise Brian and that’s when I decided to propose to him instead. I asked friends and family for their thoughts and was overwhelmed with how supportive everyone was to the idea. That gave me the confidence to present him with a ring I knew he would love.

Brian: It wasn’t just one realization or reason. Andrew truly is my best friend and there are so many milestones, trials and aspirations that we have been able to conquer together. We have pretty much been through it all together and he has been my partner in crime since day one! This is the next step in celebrating our relationship. I was always ready to marry this man.

How did you plan your proposal?

Andrew: Let’s just say the moment went by fast! Brian and I were headed to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and I wasn’t sure if I was actually going to propose on this vacation. However, I did have a ring ready because the feelings were present and having the option to present a ring was most important to me. I had several different ideas and everything seemed perfect. Puerto Vallarta has a beautiful little peninsula and a lovely little town, but it wasn’t intimate enough for us. It was hard for the friends traveling with us not to react beforehand, but luckily no one ruined the surprise. In fact, they helped ensure the surprise was made!

We started with a personal moment between us while walking on the beach late at night. I had a few minutes to tell him how important he is in my life and with the moonlight shining down on us, I did it. Looking back at it today, I’m lucky to have a person who makes me feel amazing every day, and that’s why I planned to propose. The pictures and videos that people tried to capture secretly were not great quality since it was very dark, but I am actually glad that the moment was not captured — it was so unbelievably magical that I will never forget that night!

Were you surprised when Andrew proposed?

Brian: I was EXTREMELY SURPRISED! In our dating phase, I had always made it a point that it would be me that would be proposing. Although, thinking back on how nervous Andrew was that night, I should’ve known something was up. I had always pictured me popping the question to Andrew and it was such an amazing surprise as it happened. It seemed unreal. We have been together for five years now and I was always looking for the best way to ask; it had to be so special and intimate. Andrew found the perfect time and place for the proposal.

What’s your favorite thing about him?

Andrew: There are so many things. Let’s first acknowledge the fact that Brian can COOK! He attempts new recipes and I get to taste-test everything — of course, I can’t lie about the flavors being good or bad because he knows me too well. He makes the evenings at home feel like a night out at a restaurant. At the same time, he’s adventurous, which keeps me on my toes. He thinks of great things to do together and amazing places to visit. He’s supportive of my friends and welcomes them when we plan adventures.

Brian: I’d have to say his magnetic personality. Andrew is such a charismatic person, it’s hard to pick just one thing. I have never met a person that didn’t love being around him. His glowing energy and positive attitude lights up the room.

How did you decide on a ring?

Andrew: I’ve worked at Shane Co. for almost five years now, and over the years I’ve asked several times what style of ring he would want. It started with a simple yellow gold band until recently, when Shane Co. introduced our Damascus steel collection. I knew he’d love it because he has a collection of swords, and his favorite swords are made of Damascus steel. I still asked him to look through our website and to my surprise he had a handful of favorites (who wouldn’t?!), but he LOVED the classic Damascus steel ring with the rose gold strip in it. So naturally, I presented to him what I knew he would love and wear forever as a symbol of our relationship.

What was your favorite part of the proposal?

Brian: I would have to say the moment Andrew got down on one knee. As he knelt, the tide came in and nearly knocked him over. Andrew stood tough and didn’t budge. I was so in shock about what he had asked me that I was speechless for a few moments. Andrew shouted out in laughter, “I need an answer before the tide takes me and the ring!” It was definitely a priceless moment.

What is your favorite thing about Shane Co.?

Andrew: The people I work with! It is so important to me that the environment I work in has a great team culture. I enjoy going to work so much that it basically seems like I am going to visit my family five days every week to sell beautiful jewelry and diamonds together! It is such a refreshing feeling to know that the company I work for cares about my mental and physical health, with an understanding of letting us have a work-life balance.

What do you love about your ring?

Brian: I absolutely love it! I’m a sword/knife collector, so I was already familiar with Damascus steel. As soon as I saw the ring I knew it was meant for me. I love that each pattern is a unique “fingerprint” on every ring and the rose gold accent is just enough flair for my taste. There were a few different rings that I had considered, but it always came back to this one.

How did it feel going from salesperson to buyer?

Andrew: Oh, my gosh. It was interesting … I would talk out loud about it at work and to myself nonstop. Every day for about two weeks before I bought the ring, I would hold onto it while I was working. Trying it on, figuring out what fingerprint of the Damascus steel I liked the most. My coworkers (the AMAZING SALESPEOPLE that they are) definitely gave me the push to purchase the ring and to just have it on hand for when the right moment came around. It was a positively emotional feeling being on the other side of the jewelry case.

What are you looking forward to most about married life?

Andrew: We look forward to having children someday; however, if that does not work out, we will look forward to many more pets, hopefully on a large lot of green land. I am grateful to be living in a time in which I am able to call Brian a husband and to be recognized legally as a married couple. I am excited to spend my life with this man and I know wherever we end up, we will be happy that the adventure will be together.

Brian: Filing our taxes together will be nice! I’m joking! Marriage is such a special commitment between two loving adults, and having our relationship validated through marriage wasn’t even a possibility until recent years. We are truly blessed to have the support of our friends and family. Marriage will allow us more opportunities to grow our family and household together — that, by far, is the most exciting.

Where do you see yourselves 10 years from now?

Andrew: Regardless of where we live, we want to be on a large lot of land. Hopefully a little greener than Arizona. We want to grow our family — maybe with children, but definitely with more animals! I still imagine I will be selling the prettiest diamonds here at Shane Co. It’s hard to imagine what will happen in a 10-year span because Brian and I are naturally spontaneous with the opportunities that come our way.

Brian: I see us living in a cozy home somewhere greener than Phoenix. Exactly where is still up for discussion, but I hope it’s somewhere cooler! Andrew is a Midwestern boy so I know he misses the green outdoors. Lots of pets and hopefully a larger family.

What does love mean to you?

Andrew: Love means knowingly choosing to take on all of the rough days and all of the rewarding days with the one you want by your side for the rest of your life. Whatever negative or positive experiences we go through together or individually, it has always been easier with Brian in my life. Everyone experiences a different kind of love, and I truly believe our love is one in a million.

Brian: Love to me is difficult to define with words, as you love different people for different reasons. Consider the deepest physical, emotional and spiritual bond you can form with another person — this is the kind of love I have for Andrew. I know he will be there to share my struggles and celebrate my triumphs, as I will do the same for him. We have the kind of love that is built through mutual respect and honesty.

The post Shane Co. Customer Stories: Andrew and Brian’s Engagement appeared first on The Loupe.

At Shane Co., we feel lucky to be a part of such a special day in so many couples’ lives. Hearing our customers’ engagement stories reminds us of the importance of love and companionship and the many meaningful moments along the way. Getting engaged is a big step, but finding the perfect ring is only the beginning, which is why we’re highlighting some of our customers’ love stories and sharing them with the world.

Karrie and Casey are an incredible couple that have had to defy long-distance odds to start planning their life together. We asked them about their journey and how they ended up at Shane Co.

Who are Karrie and Casey?

Karrie is originally from Southern California. She moved to sunny Colorado eight years ago and currently lives with their eight-year-old and four-year-old. She works in the mental health field and focuses on helping people find recovery and treatment across the nation. She’s studying to become a personal trainer, though her dream is to start a food truck company with her now-fiancée, Casey. They have two dogs: a Chihuahua named Rocky and a French bulldog named Frankie. 

Casey is an East Coaster from a small town in Connecticut. She grew up with her eccentric Italian family, working in her family’s restaurant before moving to Colorado seven years ago to finish school. Last year, she opened a private practice focusing specifically on providing mental health/addiction services to the LGBTQ+ community. She was offered a job in Thailand shortly after meeting Karrie and just couldn’t pass up the opportunity for new adventures and experiences. She is now the primary therapist at an LGBTQ+ treatment center in Chiang Mai. Karrie and Casey’s dog, Frankie (a.k.a. Meatball), lives with her, while Karrie and the kids remain in the United States. She shares Karrie’s vision of opening up a food truck and sharing her family’s recipes with the world.  

Q: How did you two meet?

Casey: It was a Friday night in July. I went to see my friend perform in a play. After the performance, he said, “I want you to meet a couple of my friends.” I met Karrie and she blasted me with information! She asked me so many questions that I left thinking, “What just happened?” On the drive home I thought, well, she’s attractive but probably off limits. My intentions were strictly business … little did I know …

Karrie: Our story is quite dreamy! Honestly, it was love at first sight for me. We had a mutual friend that was in a play, but we didn’t know each other yet. As the play began, the stage lights lit up the first row of seats and I happened to glance over and see Casey. I remember saying to myself, “Wow, she is strikingly gorgeous!” I couldn’t stop looking at her big, beautiful eyes and incredible smile. At the end of the play, she ran up and hugged our mutual friend. I began to introduce myself, talking a mile a minute with excitement. We ended up meeting for coffee a few months later and our love story began.

Q: What is your favorite thing about her?

Casey: I mean, I think I’m hilarious, but Karrie’s catching up to me. I love her humor.

Karrie: My favorite thing about Casey is she has this positive, infectious energy that I instantly felt the moment I met her. She wears a smile and loves to laugh as much as I do!

Q: What are you looking forward to most about married life?

Casey: I was trying to think of something sappy, but honestly just the little things … coffee in the mornings, cooking dinner at night, venting about work, singing in the car, traveling around the world and just laughing our asses off.

Karrie: I’m looking forward to the ordinary and simple things in everyday life. I’m really looking forward to cooking, cleaning, shopping and walking the dogs together. I can’t wait to go on weekend dates to the movies and out to dinner. Most of all, I can’t wait to fall asleep and wake up next to her.

Q: Where do you see yourselves 10 years from now?

Casey: Ten years from now, I’ll be planning Karrie a surprise 50th with all of her friends and family … and lots of tacos.

Karrie: I see us either living in Hawaii or outside of the country and traveling the world together. We’ll have our own businesses and continue to discover, grow and create an adventurous life together for us and the kids. We would like to write a book together as well.

Q: What does “love” mean to you?

Casey: To me, love is a choice and I choose Karrie every day.

Karrie: Love is when you want your partner to be joyous and free to evolve, change and discover what truly makes them happy. Love is when you respect and rely on one another for support, but you don’t lose your own identity.

Q: How did you know you were ready to get engaged?

Casey: I’ve never met anyone like Karrie. Things just fit — she sees me. And have you seen her? Fire!

Karrie: I knew I was ready to get engaged because I couldn’t imagine doing life without Casey. I knew Casey was my person when she encouraged me to truly accept and love myself. She encouraged me to be vulnerable, honest and authentic, while still unconditionally loving all the dark and bright parts of me.

Q: Were you surprised when Karrie popped the question?

Casey: Yes and no. We had talked about marriage. I was actually going to ask her to marry me, but she beat me to it.

Q: How did you plan the proposal?

Karrie: I started working on different ideas a few months before my trip to Thailand. I wanted it to be outside and captured at our favorite time of day, the “Golden Hour” just before the sun goes down. We drove up to a cute mountain town called Pai and stayed at the Quarter Boutique Hotel. I had photographers waiting in a garden and got down on one knee while she sat on a cute little bench. We had a private dinner in the garden as well. I wanted to incorporate a Thailand tradition, so I had us light up wish lanterns and release them.

Q: What was your favorite thing about the proposal?

Casey: My favorite thing was she planned everything from the other side of the world and it was flawless. Every time I turned around, there was another surprise.

Q: What are you looking forward to most about the wedding?

Casey: The endless amounts of pizza, tacos, doughnuts, dancing, karaoke and so much love in one room!

Karrie: We’ve discussed planning a private ceremony in Italy, which I’m really excited about. I’m also really looking forward to celebrating with her family in Connecticut. I can’t wait for karaoke, dancing and laughs.

Q: What advice do you have for couples that are thinking about getting engaged?

Casey: I think Karrie getting a photographer was the best idea ever. They captured everything!

Karrie: Just make sure you always do what works best for the two of you. Don’t worry about what other people think or outside opinions.

Q: What made you choose Shane Co.?

Karrie: Casey sent me a few pictures of rings she really liked. I looked up what company made her first choice and it was Shane Co. I really loved the five-stone setting and the design reminded me of Casey’s style.

Q: What was your favorite part of the shopping experience?

Karrie: My favorite part of the experience was my salesperson, Mitchell Richards! The store was super busy because it was just two days before Valentine’s Day. I walked in and people were waiting in line. I walked around and happened to find the exact ring Casey had picked out. Mitchell approached me and asked if I wanted to see the ring before beginning to explain the design, saying that my boyfriend would love it. I corrected him and said it was actually for my girlfriend. Mitchell didn’t waver or change his enthusiasm and was super supportive! He started to ask about Casey and the proposal. I explained that she lives in Thailand and I had set up an epic engagement in the mountains of Chiang Mai. He began to tell me about the owner, Tom Shane, and how he is often in Thailand and imports many of his gems from there. The connection blew my mind. Mitchell’s knowledge and passion about Shane Co. and his sincere interest in our engagement truly made the whole experience so memorable and exciting.

Q: What do you love about your ring?

Casey: I love wearing my ring, partly because I thought this day would never come. One of my favorite parts of the ring is that it’s simply me. The five diamonds represent each one of us in the family: my fiancée, Karrie; myself; daughter, Lila; son, Holden; and, of course, our dog, Frankie.

Q: Do you have any ideas about what your ring will look like?

Karrie: I’ve looked at a few styles and I’m leaning toward either a cushion or radiant halo diamond design.

Q: Are you going to shop for Karrie’s ring together?

Casey: Shop together? Of course! However, I want to surprise her.

Karrie: Right now, we can’t shop together because Casey is still in Thailand. However, I’m visiting her again in June, so maybe that’s something we can look at together to get ideas. I wish there was a Shane Co. store in Thailand!

The post Shane Co. Customer Stories: Karrie and Casey’s Engagement appeared first on The Loupe.

“We constantly describe our proposal story as magical, even before reading this prompt using that adjective, because it truly was so magical! We live in Arizona, where holiday moments complete with snow are few and far between. On the exact day he planned to propose, just as he thought he was going to have to switch plans around because the forecast called for rain, it snowed. Winter-wonderland-status snow. I was completely surprised by the snow and then even more surprised by the proposal! My fiancé proposed at my grandma’s cabin, on a cliff on her property with a beautiful overlook. This is a sentimental location for my family, and as he was down on one knee, one of the things he said was, ‘One day when we have kids, I want to be able to bring them back to this exact location and tell them that this is where I asked Mommy to marry me.’ *Cue the tears* I couldn’t be any luckier and we couldn’t be happier or more in love.”

The post Shane Co. Holiday Proposal Contest Winner appeared first on The Loupe.

Melissa’s Artsy Proposal

“Aaron proposed to me on December 12, 2017, at the Dale Chihuly art museum. We dated long-distance for two years before making Seattle our home. I had been wanting to visit Chihuly’s exhibit for a while because of his extravagant artwork. A few weeks before the proposal, Aaron forwarded me an email from his company stating that they had extra tickets for the exhibit and I was thrilled. Little did I know that the email was fake and he had purchased the tickets himself and had his coworker write an official email to offer him the tickets. He had gone through the exhibit to find the perfect spot, had his cousin take me to get our nails done, hired an amazing professional photographer, Sasha Reiko Photography, and surprised me with the most beautiful proposal and the most gorgeous emerald cut engagement ring. Thank you, Shane Co., for making this day so special!” — Melissa M.

Hanna’s Magical Proposal

“I had planned a date to the lantern festival and was extremely excited! We got all our supplies and picked a spot to sit down. They gave us a lantern, s’mores stuff, a marker and a lighter. Gavin had the fun idea to sit back to back to draw on our lanterns. I got done way quicker than he did and had to wait and wait. It was finally time for everyone to light their lanterns and he was still doodling, telling me not to look. I was getting anxious because I wanted to light my lantern with the other thousands of people there! Gavin helped me light mine and we sent it up into the air. Then it was time to light his and as it was filling up with hot air, getting ready to lift into the sky, I saw my name written on it with ‘Will you marry me?’ I was so happy as we sent it up into the air and a super nice lady that happened to have her nice camera took some pictures of us. They’re the best I could have ever asked for, which is crazy since it wasn’t even really planned for her to take our pictures! Everything turned out magical.” — Hanna N.

Eva’s Adventurous Proposal

“My boyfriend and all of his friends planned a trip to Las Vegas. So we flew down to Vegas but then they decided to drive down to Arizona. We went somewhere I have always wanted to go: Antelope Canyon and the Horseshoe Bend. He said let’s take a picture, so I walked over to a spot and when I turned around everyone was out of the way and he was on his knee.” — Eva H.

Brynnan’s Underwater Proposal

“Mikkel and I traveled to Cozumel for a scuba diving vacation. We scheduled a handful of dives around the beautiful local reef, and on the second dive of the trip we ‘happened upon’ a glistening shell with a pearl inside. When I realized the pearl was attached to a ring, he unfurled a sign that read ‘Will you marry me?’ and offered me the choice between a ‘yes’ sign and a ‘no’ sign. Of course I said yes, and now we’re searching together for the perfect diamond engagement ring!” — Brynnan F.

Lexy’s Snowcapped Proposal

“We were heading up to Lake Tahoe for a little weekend getaway late on a Friday evening. Tahoe was the place that we fell in love, started dating and soon to be where my best friend asked me to be his human forever. We frequently went up to Tahoe for little getaways so I really had NO IDEA that he was about to ask me to marry him.” — Lexy A.

The post National Proposal Day Contest Winners appeared first on The Loupe.

Fun Florals

Beautiful Black & White

Spring Style

Do you have Shane Co. sparkle you’d like to see featured? Head over to our fan photo gallery and submit your photo or use #ShaneCo on Twitter or Instagram!

The post Our Favorite Fan Photos: Spring 2017 Edition appeared first on The Loupe.

Dauda and Chryston first met completely by chance in their hometown of Tampa, Florida, in August 2013. Dauda remembers that they kept making eye contact at an event they both attended, and as they crossed paths at the exit, Dauda got up the courage to ask Chryston for her name and number. The rest is history!

Dauda and Chryston have made many memories during their time dating, like going on a cruise and touring Paris together. But even before these milestones, Dauda says he knew he was going to propose to Chryston, because he could see from the very beginning that she was everything he’d ever wanted in a partner and more. Before he could propose, Dauda had to find the perfect ring.

He knew that Chryston wanted a vintage-style ring, and he had seen a few photos of engagement rings that Chryston liked. After doing his homework, Dauda headed to Shane Co. and selected the perfect vintage setting with a floral halo, and with the sales associate’s guidance, found a beautiful brilliant round diamond to set in the center. When he saw everything finished together, he knew he had created Chryston’s dream ring!

Dauda decided to make the proposal a complete surprise to Chryston, and got several friends in on the plan. First, he recruited his coworker Tray, who is also a photographer in his spare time, as well as Chryston’s close friend Annie and her boyfriend, Will. Annie told Chryston that Tray was one of her clients and that she wanted to build up his portfolio with a “couples in love” photo shoot, and wanted to know if she and Dauda would join Annie and Will in being one of the couples. Chryston was thrilled and said they absolutely would.

To throw Chryston off, Dauda acted like he didn’t really want to partake in their friend’s photo shoot. He actually got in trouble with her for not helping because he acted so convincing! But on the big day, he “reluctantly” came along to their beautiful shoot location on a rooftop overlooking downtown Atlanta. Chryston had spent the whole day planning her hair, outfit and even Dauda’s outfit, so between the view and her preparations, Dauda was sure everything would be just perfect for their proposal pictures.

After they arrived and had been taking photos for a little while, Tray asked Chryston to pose in front of the skyline while Dauda stood behind her. Dauda quietly knelt while Tray snapped away, and then Tray asked Chryston to try a new pose where she looked over her shoulder at Dauda. Dauda says at first, Chryston completely overlooked the fact that he was on one knee because she thought it was all for the photo shoot! Suddenly, Chryston realized Dauda was actually holding out a small box and she did a double take. Tears started streaming down her face and she began to repeat, “Are you kidding?” as Dauda took her hand and asked if she would marry him. She said yes!

Annie and Will brought out a couple of bottles of champagne and custom glasses, and everyone toasted to the couple. Then, Dauda and Chryston went for a stroll alone through the nearby Centennial Park, and indulged in an amazing brunch with bottomless mimosas before heading to a romantic couples suite at the Hilton that Dauda had booked. It was full of champagne, chocolate-covered strawberries and plenty of rose petals.

Dauda and Chryston are currently discussing potential wedding dates and visiting venues. We can’t wait to see how their lovely wedding will turn out!

The post Dauda & Chryston’s Picture-Perfect Proposal appeared first on The Loupe.

The two met when Jess joined Sam’s team at Sullivan University in Louisville, Kentucky. Sam swears he had nothing to do with the decision, but Jess’ desk ended up being right next to his. Eventually they developed a friendship and started taking daily walks together during their break. This friendship morphed into texting, then some long calls, a few double dates and eventually a full-fledged relationship.

For the last three and a half years, Sam and Jess have enjoyed plenty of adventures like weekend cabin getaways, international cruises and even moving in together! Sam says Jess has become the love of his life, and he was so excited to plan the perfect proposal. So, in October of 2016, Sam and Jess decided to make a little trip to Shane Co.

At the time, Sam said he was planning on proposing a year from this first visit to Shane Co., but Jess fell in love with her dream engagement ring: a beautiful rose gold infinity ring with a lovely halo. That December, Sam went ahead and bought Jess’ ring, and worked with our Louisville store until the end of January to find the perfect brilliant round diamond to set in the center. He said his decision about the center diamond was confirmed when two ladies next to him in the store went all aflutter over the combo!

With ring in hand, Sam just had to wait a month for the day of the proposal—Jess’ 30^th birthday on February 18. Sam says you’ve never met anyone as obsessed with birthdays as Jess. She tends to pull out all the stops for others, and she’s known for turning her big day into more of a “birth month” celebration. As Sam put it, “Your 30^th birthday is a moment in a time that you are guaranteed to visit only once,” so it was the perfect special time and place for Jess’ proposal.

On the day of the proposal, Jess and Sam went to brunch with close friends and family, then headed to their alma mater to watch a basketball victory. Afterwards, they went to dinner with Jess’ family at a gastropub with a menu tailored to include all of Jess’ favorites. Then they all traveled to a friend’s home where they met up with 30 more friends and family members. They had gone all out decorating with things like giant balloons, Jess bobble heads, a photo booth and a positively huge cupcake piñata!

Jess thought it’d be fun to do a cake smash for her birthday, but Sam planned for her to “smash” a giant cupcake instead. So, Sam grabbed the golden karaoke microphone and asked everyone to gather around the piñata, while handing Jess a custom baseball bat wrapped in a white ribbon. Jess was delighted and attacked the piñata until it spilled out 600 rose petals and 30 Ring Pops. She hadn’t noticed that the ribbon on her bat had become undone, until Sam pointed out that she should see what was under it. She ripped off the rest of the ribbon to find this message engraved in gold:

Happy 30^th Birthday!

Will you marry me, Jess?

February 18, 2017

Just as it sank in, “Single Ladies” began playing and Sam went down on one knee and presented Jess with her dream ring. Still doubled over in shock, Jess gave him a big “yes!” Sam says the best moments of his life have been the moments spent with Jess, and the proposal was the best of those.

Sam and Jess haven’t yet made many plans for their wedding, but they’re having tons of fun experiencing venue tours, cake tastings and all of the other exciting activities that come along with getting married. We wish these two lovebirds the best on their journey, and we can’t wait to see what comes next for them.

The post Jess & Sam’s Birthday Surprise Proposal appeared first on The Loupe.

We love how this gorgeous halo ring really pops.

A picturesque mountain backdrop makes this ring selfie unique and eye-catching.

This adorable winter-inspired ring selfie is so sweet!

We love how this Shane Co. fan’s ring sparkles in the sky.

The friendly face of a furry friend makes an engagement ring photo even more perfect.

Classic and romantic! This beach-inspired ring selfie is both elegant and stunning.

A gorgeous adventure makes this ring selfie awe-inspiring.

We love the soft sunset lighting captured in this romantic ring shot.

Do you have a beautiful ring selfie? We’d love to see it! Submit your photos on Instagram or Twitter with #ShaneCo, or upload them here.

The post Must-See Engagement Ring Selfies appeared first on The Loupe.

Danny, Shane Co.’s live endorser at 610 Sports Radio Kansas City, and his love Stephanie met at a Kansas City bar watching their college football teams play against each other. They instantly bonded over their love of the sport, which turned into a night of dinner and drinks. The two have been creating memories ever since. Taking vacations to Mexico, moving in together with an adorable puppy and going to Arizona for the national championship game to watch Stephanie’s team are just a few highlights. Danny says he knew he was finally ready to propose when he realized that he didn’t just look forward to coming home after work, but he specifically looked forward to seeing Stephanie.

Danny and Stephanie had talked about getting engaged previously, and even though Stephanie knew a proposal was coming eventually, she had no idea when or where. Danny decided to take her to Loose Park in Kansas City, and to get her there without any suspicion, Danny said they were going to meet up with his cousin and her kids. Once they got to the perfect spot just over the bridge, Danny told her that his family had been coming to this park for generations, and now he wanted to make her part of his family. Stephanie immediately started crying and couldn’t get out a “yes,” but they both knew this was the start of forever. To celebrate, they went to lunch where they had their first date and topped off the weekend with a couples massage.

Danny said his fiancée made picking a ring very easy, as she had told him she wanted a simple and classic ring. Her dream ring was a round diamond and she emphasized that “size definitely mattered!” With the help of Shane Co., Danny learned all about cut, color, clarity and everything that factored into his choice. He found exactly what Stephanie wanted and says she is beyond thrilled.

Danny and Stephanie plan to get married in the spring or summer of 2017. Congratulations to this Shane Co. couple and thank you for letting us be a part of your love story!

The post Danny and Stephanie’s Perfect Park Proposal appeared first on The Loupe.

Kyle and Amber met through mutual college friends a year after graduation. They discovered that they had classes together at school, but simply missed each other until they were introduced through Kyle’s roommate’s girlfriend. Talk about fate!

Since then, these two lovebirds have created several years of wonderful memories together, like their first “I love you” during a Florida vacation, moving in with each other (building pillow forts included) and even adopting a mini Goldendoodle, Paisley! Toward the end of May, one day when Amber was at work, Kyle said he looked around at the life they had built together, called his father and said, “I think I’m ready to ask Amber to marry me.”

Amber had been sending subtle ring hints for a while, so Kyle took those and her Pinterest boards as inspiration, then had her mother and best friend suggest some jewelry shopping excursions where the sales associates were notified to be on high alert and take note of Amber’s favorites. After a lot of shopping, Kyle eventually decided to get Amber’s ring at Shane Co. He knew she loved hexagon and octagon halos, which were not originally in stock at Shane Co. However, Nicole, Kyle’s Shane Co. sales associate, found out about a hexagon halo ring design that Shane Co. was considering, and she worked her magic! When Kyle saw the photo of the special, not-yet-produced ring, he knew it was the one and picked out Amber’s center diamond to complete the gorgeous look.

Ring in hand, Kyle started planning the perfect proposal. He knew he wanted the special moment to happen in the Butterfly Room of the Indianapolis Zoo, a special place for both of them. While dating, they had gone there for Amber’s birthday and Kyle took a photo of her holding one of the butterflies. When he looked at the picture, he says he knew Amber was the one he would love forever, so it was only fitting that the proposal happen there! Kyle spent several months planning with Amber’s mother and inviting all of their family and friends to be present for the big moment. About three weeks out, he had his sister tell Amber that she wanted to come into town, and Amber had the idea of spending a day getting their nails done and going to Christmas at the Zoo.

This provided Kyle the perfect excuse to get Amber to the Indianapolis Zoo, where he suggested that they all go look at the Christmas lights in the Butterfly Room. Once they walked in, Kyle started getting so nervous. He had a whole speech prepared, but he just couldn’t wait. He dropped to one knee, told Amber how much he loved her and popped the big question! As Amber said “yes!” over 40 of her and Kyle’s family and friends popped out and cheered. Kyle had a huge engagement party planned afterwards and they spent the entire night celebrating.

We’re so excited for this wonderful couple!

The post Kyle and Amber’s Proposal Will Give You Butterflies! appeared first on The Loupe.

Kevin and Lauren met through a mutual friend and sparks flew immediately. Since then, they’ve been on a journey of love that has encompassed major life events including Lauren’s college graduation, adopting a puppy together and plenty of family get-togethers and vacations! Lauren said that once she felt ready, she started dropping little hints to Kevin about getting engaged, like, “I can’t wait to be an aunt to all your nieces and nephews!”

Looks like Kevin got the hint, because soon the two went to pick out her engagement ring together! Lauren and Kevin visited our Indianapolis jewelry store and saw quite a few rings that Lauren liked, but none felt like “the one.” Suddenly, the sales associate said he had an idea and went to the back of the store to bring out a ring he thought she might like. When he came back with the ring, Lauren got tears in her eyes and knew the search was over. Putting her mother’s center stone into the ring was the final touch that went into making it the perfect match for her.

Now that Lauren had her perfect guy and perfect ring, she just had to wait for the perfect proposal! One night, the couple had plans to head downtown for Kevin’s aunt and uncle’s anniversary. On the way to the restaurant Lauren got a text from Kevin’s sister saying that some family members got stuck at work and were going to be late. Lauren wasn’t pleased since they were already on their way there, but Kevin suggested that they take a nice stroll around a canal to pass the time before getting there.

During their walk Kevin stopped suddenly and told Lauren she should turn around. As she did, she spotted her cousin and Kevin’s niece and nephew standing on the bridge holding a big sign that said “Will you marry me?” Lauren was completely surprised and, of course, she said yes! As an added surprise, Kevin’s sister was taking photos of the whole thing!

To top everything off, Kevin told Lauren that his parents had no idea the proposal was taking place and they were going to go surprise them at dinner. As they walked up to the restaurant, Kevin held out Lauren’s left hand to let his parents in on the surprise! Lauren says his mom’s face was priceless.

Once they got inside, Lauren discovered that not only were Kevin’s parents there, but so was the rest of Kevin’s family—and her family too! Lauren said it was so touching that she started bawling! To end the night, Kevin took Lauren on a romantic carriage ride downtown.

Kevin and Lauren are planning to get married in October 2016. We’re so excited for the couple and are thrilled to be a part of their love story!

The post Lauren & Kevin’s Surprise Proposal appeared first on The Loupe.

Alyssa and Josh met in 8th grade and started dating during their freshman year of high school. When they graduated, the two ventured off to different colleges. After just one year apart, Alyssa transferred schools to run cross country, while Josh had made a switch for his cadet program—they both ended up at the same university. It seems fate just wanted them to be together!

This past summer, Alyssa and Josh both got the opportunity to study abroad in Ireland for five weeks, and the number one place Alyssa wanted to go on the trip was the Cliffs of Moher. She had seen many pictures that were absolutely breathtaking! So, on their first open weekend, she and Josh took a trip to Galway, booked a day tour over to the cliffs and the Aran Islands, and rented bikes so they could explore the island.

When they were done riding their bikes around the island, they took a ferry boat and a bus to the Cliffs of Moher. On the bus, Josh asked Alyssa if she was excited to see the cliffs, and he couldn’t stop saying how excited he was too! When they finally arrived, Alyssa was amazed and wanted to take as many pictures as possible. Josh slowly guided her along the hiking trail as she followed with the camera. Eventually, he stopped on the trail and asked if they could take a picture together. Alyssa was pretty surprised, because normally Josh hates taking pictures.

Josh asked a passerby to take a picture, and he and Alyssa posed for a gorgeous photo in front of the cliffs. Then he asked if they would take just one more photo—that’s when he got down on one knee! Josh looked into Alyssa’s eyes as he opened a box with the most beautiful ring she had ever seen and asked his sweetheart of seven years to marry him!

Josh said he selected the engagement ring because he knew that Alyssa wanted something simple with a princess cut diamond. He wanted to make sure he got a special and unique diamond that matched everything Alyssa could want, so he worked with Shane Co. associates to bring in the diamond of his and her dreams!

Josh and Alyssa will be getting married in May of 2016 in Georgia. We are so happy they let us be a part of their love story!

The post Alyssa & Joshua’s Cliffs of Moher Proposal appeared first on The Loupe.

We just can’t get over the beautiful photos we’ve received! Check out a few of the standout favorites we fell in love with in 2015:

A big thank you to everyone who submitted photos this year!

Did you receive something from Shane Co. this holiday season? Head to the gallery and submit your fan photo or share it on Instagram with #ShaneCo.

The post Our Favorite Fan Photos: 2015 Edition appeared first on The Loupe.

Sam’s next big proposal came a little over six years later during a trip to Colorado. Sam is a Colorado native and he loves all things outdoorsy, so he decided to share his passions with Taylor on a vacation to his home state. Sam and Taylor headed up into the mountains near the Breckenridge area, and during a break in the rain, began trekking up to Montgomery Reservoir, one of Sam’s favorite scenic spots. At 10,000-plus feet high, the trees and mountains were glistening with snow! Taylor recalls that it was unbelievably gorgeous and, with no one around for miles, incredibly romantic. Little did Taylor know how romantic it was about to get! She turned away from Sam for a few moments to capture some pictures of the beautiful view, and when she turned back, he was on one knee! Then he asked the question she had dreamt of hearing for years: “Will you marry me?” Between laughing, and crying, Taylor managed to squeak out a very excited, “Of course!” While she knew that a proposal was coming, Taylor was still totally surprised that Sam had chosen that moment.

Since Taylor and Sam were on vacation, the rest of their trip was a giant celebration. They were already booked at a luxurious hotel in Beaver Creek, but being a newly engaged couple made the stay even more special. It was Cinco de Mayo, so that evening—after making a handful of phone calls to spread the good news—they celebrated with enchiladas and margaritas at a nearby Mexican restaurant. The following evening, Sam made reservations at Elway’s, a steak house in Vail, where his parents surprised them by sending a bottle of Champagne to the table. Besides close friends and family, Sam and Taylor kept their engagement a secret for the remainder of the vacation, enjoying every second of living in their little bubble!

Sam did a beautiful job picking out Taylor’s ring, and she’s proud to say that she had no part in the decision process! All throughout their relationship, when the topic of getting engaged came up, Sam was very adamant that he didn’t want to go ring shopping together—instead, he wanted it to be a complete surprise! With the assistance of his mom, Sam took Taylor’s Pinterest board to Shane Co., where the staff helped him find a ring that was the perfect combination of his and her styles: a cushion-cut diamond in a halo setting with a pavé split shank and baguette diamonds. Taylor describes it as absolutely gorgeous (and sparkly!), and says every time she looks at it, she smiles knowing he picked it on his own.

As for their future wedding plans, Taylor is an editor at a wedding magazine in Minneapolis, so she felt prepared to jump right into planning! She always envisioned a fall wedding, so they will be getting married in October 2016 at the Minneapolis Golf Club in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. Congratulations to Taylor and Sam—we’re so happy we could be a part of your love story, and we wish you all the best in the future!

The post Taylor and Sam’s Colorado Mountain Proposal appeared first on The Loupe.

One day during their trip, Derek finished up a round of golf and Ashley was about to start a day filled with shopping and sunbathing. Derek had other ideas, though, and asked Ashley if she’d take some pictures on the beach with him instead. Derek’s parents and sister were in on the plan and tagged along as the “photographers,” while Ashley’s sister was already on FaceTime to watch the proposal as well! As the two lovebirds strolled down the beach, Derek began to get a little nostalgic, telling Ashley how much he has loved her for the past two years. Ashley said her heart started to beat faster as she began to catch on. Just then, Derek turned to her, dropped to one knee, and pulled out a beautiful ring. As Ashley, Derek and their family walked back to the condo to celebrate, other beach-goers congratulated them on their engagement. Ashley said, “I was so excited, and my heart was so full of love knowing my heart found its mate.”

Before the proposal, Ashley had mentioned to Derek that she loved the white gold look for an engagement ring, and she dropped a couple of other hints about her preferences as well. However, the ring was a complete surprise! It looks to us like he did a fantastic job.

Ashley and Derek are set to get married in May 2016 at a private beach in Georgetown, South Carolina. Congratulations to this Shane Co. couple and thank you for letting us be a part of your love story!

The post Ashley & Derek’s Seaside Proposal appeared first on The Loupe.

Justin and Brittany started dating when they met by chance at a restaurant a few years ago. After a little conversation, they found out they had attended the same high school and had a lot of mutual friends. They were a perfect match!

Over the next four years of dating, their relationship grew and Brittany dropped a few hints about what kind of ring she would like. Justin knew that ideally it would have a halo, feature rose gold and a princess cut diamond and, above all, it would be unique. With this list in mind, Justin visited the Shane Co. store in Woodbury, Minnesota and our team helped him create a custom ring that was everything Brittany wanted!

With the ring taken care of, Justin then planned a gorgeous surprise proposal at Minnehaha Falls in Minneapolis, a place Brittany had mentioned she’d like to visit. On the day of the proposal, Justin and Brittany walked leisurely along the falls as Justin covertly guided her to a secluded spot with a gorgeous view of the waterfalls and rose petals sprinkled on the ground. As they approached, Justin’s friend Nate began to play “(Everything I Do) I Do It for You” on the saxophone while his other friends Ryan and Jenny took pictures and video from a secret vantage point. Justin and Brittany danced together before Justin dropped to one knee and popped the big question. Brittany was completely surprised and, of course, she said yes!

Justin and Brittany look forward to having their wedding in September 2016 in Minneapolis, and we’re so excited to be a part of their big day. Congratulations, Justin and Brittany! We wish you a lifetime of love and happiness!

If you’d like to see more of Brittany and Justin’s proposal, check out the video below.

The post Justin & Brittany’s Minnehaha Falls Proposal appeared first on The Loupe.

As we examined diamonds, he shared with me that he and Leah had been together for three years but she had recently moved to California for work. He planned to surprise her with a proposal on her upcoming visit, and would ultimately move to the West Coast to be with her.

After the proposal Terrence brought Leah in to look at wedding bands. It was apparent to everyone in the store that day that their love was as radiant as the diamond on her finger. She loved it, and couldn’t stop smiling the whole time.

I mentioned that Terrence would be moving with her to California soon and she excitedly told me there was no need, that she had decided to move back to Atlanta to be with him! She went on to tell us the story of how Terrence got down on one knee and proposed. All of us women gathered around to swoon.

We all wanted to know more, so I took the liberty of asking Terrence and Leah a few questions. Get your tissues out!

How did you two meet?

She said: We met at a random party on August 8, 2009. A friend of mine from New York was visiting Atlanta for the first time, and she wanted to experience the nightlife. I wasn’t really into the whole party scene, so randomly I picked an all-white party hosted by a former college buddy of mine. Turns out the party wasn’t the “happening spot.” My girls and I ended up dancing with each other in the center of the empty dance floor. Then a group of guys came along, pretty much in the same situation.

Terrence’s twin brother approached my buddy from New York, and by the end of the night Terrence and I shared a dance. As we were leaving, Terrence invited us to join them the next evening to help continue his birthday celebration. We exchanged numbers, but I chose to not join him the next evening. Two years later we began dating.

He said: Leah and I met the weekend of my 23rd birthday, on August 8th, 2009, at a white party in downtown Atlanta. She had a friend in town and was trying to be the life of the party. I also had plans to party with my friends all weekend. I noticed her dancing along with her sister and few of her friends. I tested my luck and approached her to dance with me. From what she says, she gave me her number by the end of the night as a way to entertain her company. Well unfortunately, I didn’t see her again for a while after that weekend, but we did stay in touch for a few months. From texting and talking on the phone to a friendly dinner, we took our time…and the rest is history!

When did you know you wanted to spend the rest of your life with him/her?

She said: In 2013, I moved to California, not knowing a single soul out there. This was a dream I had been working toward for four years. I left with the intent of following my own dream, despite the fact that it separated me from Terrence. I had to do this for myself. Terrence without hesitation supported my decision.

Though miles apart, our relationship continued and my love, trust and admiration for Terrence grew stronger. All of a sudden, every new thing I learned, every new dish I tried, every new person I met and every new adventure I experienced left me with a feeling of “this would be so much better if Terrence was here.” With Terrence, my life has more laughter, more love, more warmth, more self-awareness and more purpose. I want that for the rest of my life.

He said: I knew early on in our relationship that I wanted to marry Leah. Even when we considered each other just friends, I was attracted to everything about her. I always have told her that she’s the first person I met that I could actually see myself marrying!

What do you love about each other most?

She said: Terrence’s genuine kindness. He’s the nicest guy you’ll ever meet, I promise! His kindness feeds my appetite to love him more and be my best person. I love him!

He said: Leah and I balance each other out. As cliché as it may sound, she’s the yin to my yang. She also matches me emotionally and spiritually. She has a beautiful heart and it shows through her smile.

How did you propose?

He said: Leah had been living in California at the time, and I personally knew that I wanted to propose before the end of the year. With her coming home for the holidays, I narrowed my ring choices down to two that were in my budget. Something told me to visit Shane Co. the week of Thanksgiving. There I met Miss Sharie Grant. She assisted me in the finding the best diamond ring I had ever seen, and once I had a ring, I was more than ready. I believe I picked it up the next day and the following day Leah flew into town.

My original plan was to propose during her sister’s baby shower around her family. When those plans changed, I had to improvise. The morning after Thanksgiving we were supposed to drive to Macon, GA. Before our trip I took Leah to get her hair done at Avalon Alpharetta! From there I reached out to her sister, who wasn’t too far away. I managed to grab some flowers and a small Santa hat. After Leah’s hair appointment I walked her outside next to a huge Christmas tree. It was there that I asked her if she wanted to go shopping. Little did she know I had her sister show up with her husband, and her niece presented her with the flowers while wearing the hat. With that as my decoy, I surprised her when she turned around! She said “Yes!” Our wedding date is exactly 6 years from the day that we met each other!

It’s always nice to see true love in action. Terrence and Leah will be married on August 8, 2015. They are one of my favorite couples to date and I am happy to have been even a small part of their story.

The post Terrence and Leah’s Long-Distance Proposal appeared first on The Loupe.

Jewelry is a powerful symbol for many of the memories we carry with us through life. From the one-carat flawless family diamond to the gold-plated costume necklace, the value we place on each piece is not solely based on what it’s worth financially. It’s the memories tied to the item that determine our connection to it. A wedding set from a previous relationship is offloaded quickly so the reminder of the pain doesn’t follow us into a new chapter. Conversely, we cling to a ruby ring from Grandma after she passes so her memory is always with us. Pieces of jewelry are personal, and they all have stories. Some we want to live on and others we want to keep in the past.

Margie wanted to make sure her ring was around for a long time. It came to us very thin and worn-down, with all four of the center stone prongs needing to be re-tipped. We had also adjusted the size. “Looks like we put a little life back into this,” I said as I revealed the finished product.

“My goodness, yes,” she replied with a content yet heavy sigh.

I saw her mixed emotions flood onto the counter as she put on the shiny gold ring. Tears pooled in her eyes and she smiled. It was a smile of relief, sorrow and hope. “Is everything okay?” I asked as I leaned in. And then, out it came.

This wedding ring belonged to Margie’s mother, who had passed within the last year. Her mom never took it off—not even to be cleaned. When she died, she left it to Margie’s older sister, but it sat in a box for a number of months while she grieved and settled affairs. After a while, Margie’s sister told her she could have it because it would never be anything but a painful memory. It took Margie a while to decide if she wanted to wear it or not. Memories are complicated. Do we want to remember the good at the risk of reliving the bad?

Margie’s father didn’t have much in the way of memories anymore. At the age of 95 he was battling the beastly thief of memories: Alzheimer’s disease. She explained how hard this had been for her and her sister when their mom passed. Their dad couldn’t share in remembering her and laugh about the fun times as we all do in moments of loss. Instead, he would simply and repeatedly ask if their mom was still at the grocery store. Margie had lost her mother physically and lost her father emotionally.

The progression of Alzheimer’s continued and her father’s health deteriorated in general. He was no longer speaking and the moments of recognition and connection were fewer and far between. This led to Margie’s decision to finally wear the ring. She needed to look down at the physical reminder of her mom, and the symbol of the love between her parents. And, on one very special visit, that symbol sparked a memory for her father.

All of a sudden, in a quiet and solemn room, Margie’s dad pulled her right hand over to the top of his chair. He didn’t make eye contact, but he tugged at her hand and tapped on her mother’s ring. That symbol somehow opened an area deep in the locked vault of his memory, and the urgency of showing this cognitive achievement flowed forth. He just kept tapping the ring, over and over, like Morse code. He recognized it, and needed Margie to know.

For Margie, this definitive moment meant she would revive her mother’s ring so she could wear it every day. It was now a symbol of her mother, her parents’ love and hope. She came to us to perform the work because she was a longtime customer and didn’t want to go anywhere else. She would now be able to wear this ring and create new memories that it would represent. I thanked her for telling her story and allowing us to be a part of it. She wiped away a few more tears, looked down at it again, and smiled up at me before leaving the counter. I think I smiled back with the same emotions: gratitude, admiration and resilience.

I felt truly humbled by Margie’s experience and think of her every time I assist a customer who is picking up his or her piece of jewelry. Whenever we take an item into our shop, we are entrusted with their financial and emotional value. We are custodians of the most precious possessions.

We are guardians of memories.

The post Ring Revival appeared first on The Loupe.

Our customers come from all different walks of life. Some couples met in middle school and have been through high school and college, still together through all that time. Some couples knew each other years ago, and were fortunate enough to meet again later in life to rekindle what they once had. Some couples met by chance, and realized the love they shared almost immediately. No matter what path brought them to Shane Co., I feel pride knowing that I am a part of one of the most important days of their lives.

Every customer story is special. I have heard many stories over the past couple years, but one stands out as being extra special and will forever impact how I view life, love, and ultimately, fate.

A gentleman came into our store one day looking for an engagement ring. I directed him to our rings and proceeded to begin showing him different styles. As I got to know him a little better, I asked what his girlfriend’s name was and how he had met her. He paused and said, “Well, that’s a rather long story.” I smiled – I had heard this statement before – and asked him to tell me about it.

He was originally from Minnesota, and had recently moved back here. He had lived in various locations for work and had been living in California when he decided to make contact with old acquaintances he had lost touch with over the years. He found an old Minnesota phone number for a past girlfriend and upon calling, discovered that the number now belonged to someone else…his soon-to-be fiancée. Instead of apologizing for a wrong number, he decided to begin a conversation. One thing led to another, and over the course of several days, they soon realized they had a mutual interest in getting to know each other. He was planning a trip back to Minnesota, so they decided to meet in person. When they finally met, they realized they had met before, years ago, but hadn’t had the opportunity to exchange information! The gentleman went on to say that they began dating and the rest was history!

I helped the gentleman find his girlfriend shop for the perfect engagement ring. They are now happily engaged, and beginning a life together. His story has remained with me ever since. I am thrilled that I got to be a part of his happy ending.

The post A Touching Customer Story appeared first on The Loupe.

Frank and Alayna would stop by Shane Co. throughout the following year to say hello and make her engagement ring extra sparkly. I even took a picture of them together in the store after she said yes.  Frank surprised Alayna with a freshwater pearl set for her to wear on their wedding day. And every time they would come into the store, even if I was busy helping another couple, Alayna would run up to me and give me a huge hug. Her joy, the joy that radiated around both of them, always brightened my day.

In March 2014, with their wedding day just around the corner, Alayna and Frank came in to visit the store again. This time they came in to invite me to their wedding! I was delighted and excited to share in their special day. And of course, I wouldn’t miss it for the world. Their ceremony was beautiful. They had a slideshow with pictures and video clips from throughout their relationship. The photo that I had taken of them at Shane Company was one of the pictures they used! It felt really special to have shared in one of the moments they were sharing with everyone at the wedding. They not only each wrote their own vows, but they wrote a ring on his finger, she giggled and exclaimed, “Yay!” It made me laugh, to see her dancing with so much excitement on her wedding day. Joy was literally spilling out of her, out of both of them. And the rings that I sold them were a symbolic part of the ceremony, of their love. It was an incredible reminder that what I do every day becomes part of the most important day in people’s lives. The snapshots of seemingly small moments become a permanent part of their story, of their history. That is inspiring and part of why I love my job. It brings me great joy.

To Mr. and Mrs. Frank Garcia, and all the couples that brighten our days, cheers to you, to your love, your joy. May your love continue to paint smiles on the faces of everyone lucky enough to share in your journey.

The post Congratulations Frank & Alayna! appeared first on The Loupe.

Gary* and Alice* came to Shane Co. for the first time to look for a ring for their anniversary, specifically a three stone ring to upgrade her diamond solitaire wedding rimg. After browsing through the cases for a while, Alice had a few different options that she liked. Then she found it. Her “dream ring,” a gorgeous 4 carat three stone ring with incredible sparkle. The only problem was that it was significantly more than they had intended to spend. Having figured as much, Alice was prepared to choose one of her other options.

Unaware that Shane Co. buys outside gold and diamonds, Gary and Alice were pleasantly surprised when the sales associate asked if they would be interested in selling Alice’s original diamond solitaire ring to Shane Co. and putting that money towards the cost of the new ring. While they had purchased jewelry in the past, they had never sold any of it.

The office manager took Gary and Alice through every step of the Shane Co. gold buy process to help put them as ease about a transaction they had never done before.

When a diamond is set in a ring it is impossible to provide an exact carat weight for a gold buy. This was the case with Alice’s ring and we estimated that her diamond was around 1.50 carats. After the diamond is removed from the setting we can provide a more accurate measurement. In this case Alice’s diamond was actually over 2 carats! This was wonderful news for Gary and Alice and allowed them to sell their original ring for a lot more then they initially expected.

Because of the convenience and accessibility of this gold buy service, Gary was able to get Alice her “Dream ring” and stayed within their budget. What mattered most to them, however, was that they now have a jewelry store that they trust and enjoy doing business with.

We take pride in offering an easy and transparent gold buying process. We want to make sure that you receive the best value for your jewelry! We look forward to working with Gary and Alice to maintain their jewelry for many years to come.

The post Honesty and Integrity appeared first on The Loupe.