LLJ x Meredith Hudkins
To say working with Lindsey has been a dream come true would be a total understatement. For years I have admired Lindsey and her stunning hand-crafted jewelry from afar, but it wasn’t until recently that she and I formed a friendship that eventually lead to us curating the LLJ x Meredith Hudkins Collection together. You probably know her best as Houston Diamond Girl on social media, but even if you aren’t familiar with Lindsey, chances are you have probably seen a bride wearing one of her works of art. It’s no surprise that Lindsey Leigh Jewelry is popular among brides-to-be, but what I love about LLJ is how their designs are not only for life’s biggest moments, but for everyday life. Lindsey beautifully walks the line of being young, fun and creative while still maintaining a classic and timeless feel. The mission of Lindsey Leigh Jewelry is to create fine jewelry that reflects their philosophy of attainable luxury, and they do just that. I am thrilled to share my LLJ design story with you and to reveal our much anticipated LLJ x Meredith Hudkins Collection.
“I’m inspired by the belief that jewelry is something very personal and sentimental. I love that there’s always a story behind each piece of jewelry—whether it was purchased, gifted, or handed down from a loved one. ”
My LLJ Design Story
Over the years I have come to value quality over quantity. I used to purchase copious amounts of jewelry—the more the merrier, right? I may have had a full jewelry box, but majority of the pieces I owned would quickly break, tarnish or go out of style. I can’t tell you how much costume jewelry I have purchase over the years only for it to break after one or two wears. In this phase of life I have truly come to appreciate timeless, quality-rich pieces that are designed and crafted to not only hold up over the years, but also be passed down to the next generation. I have discovered that I would much rather own a few pieces of high-end jewelry as opposed to countless amounts of jewelry that is of lesser quality.
I have always wanted an emerald ring, and have told myself over the years that when I got to a place that I could afford it, I would buy one. However, once I did get to the point of being able to afford it, I had a difficult time justifying and purchasing a high-end piece of jewelry for myself. I came to this conclusion: It’s okay to celebrate our milestones and victories in life. In fact, they should be celebrated no matter how big or seemingly small of a milestone it may be. By no means is buying high-end jewelry the only way to celebrate a victory or milestone, but for me, this ring was a life-long dream and desire. This custom-made emerald ring is more than a piece of jewelry—it’s a piece that will always remind me of this beautiful season of life and the milestone my family and I have hit. To me, jewelry is a way to mark milestones and life’s beautiful moments you don’t want to forget.
When I initially inquired about creating a custom emerald ring, I had no clue what I was doing. After all, this was my first time not only purchasing a piece of fine jewelry, but also my first experience designing jewelry alongside GIA trained diamond experts. The team at LLJ was so inviting, personal and helpful from the very first time I spoke with them. I cannot say enough about the customer service and knowledge the entire team walks in. I knew after my first conversation with Lindsey that I was in good hands and that the emerald ring of my dreams would be even better than I had imagined and envisioned.
One great thing to note is Lindsey Leigh Jewelry designs and crafts more than just rings. Later in this post I am going to share our complete collection which includes necklaces, bracelets, rings and earrings. I know I have gone on and on about my emerald ring, but LLJ also uses a wide array of carefully sourced stones including diamonds, sapphires, amethysts, tasavorite and more. LLJ specializes in Heirloom recreation as well which is absolutely incredible to me. If you’re not looking to design a custom piece, you can begin shopping in stock jewelry on the LLJ website now.
The LLJ Design Process
When 2020 rolled around, so much changed in the world. Because so many businesses had to close down and people had to stay home, the demand for online shopping exploded. A shift was made from shopping in-store to us populating the world of e-commerce. As consumers we embraced a new way of doing everything things and as business owners we found innovative ways to move forward. It was in 2020 that we found creative ways to partner with people who don’t live close to us—for the sake of personal relationships and business ventures.
Lindsey and her team learned so much from 2020 and took the wisdom they gained to create and perfect a virtual designing experience. I live in Baltimore, Maryland and LLJ is located in Houston, Texas, yet we were able to collaborate virtually to create a piece of fine jewelry and curate an entire collection. The whole experience was full of ease and excitement. I say this to encourage you in your desire to create a custom piece of jewelry with LLJ. You don’t have to physically walk into their showroom to begin the design process, you can do it in the comfort of your own home. One benefit about designing virtually is the ability to view
Lindsey and I worked one-on one to design my ring. It was refreshing to work with a company that values customer service so much and is just as passionate about the experience as a whole as they are about the piece of jewelry they are creating. Here is an in-depth look at the design process from start to finish: The LLJ Custom Process.
Throughout our custom design process, Lindsey and I did a series of Instagram Live Videos. Not only was it a blast to talk to her, but it was also so very informative. She talks thoroughly about the process in its entirety including how they source their diamonds and other stones, the unique benefits of designing remotely, how she began her journey into designing fine jewelry and so much more . I definitely recommend watching these videos if you’re at all interested in embarking on designing your very own fine jewelry with Lindsey Leigh Jewelry.
The Emerald Ring of my Dreams
I had no idea there were so many different types of emeralds out there. Coming into this process, I simply knew I wanted an emerald. After hearing Lindsey share about the unique qualities of each type of emerald, I decided the Brazilian Emerald was the one for me. Brazilian Emeralds run more opaque which was a characteristic that I especially loved about it. The ring I chose was one Lindsey is known for. An emerald is set front and center as the focal point with side pear diamonds. I chose the 6 ct emerald, but it can be made with different size stones. My ring was to celebrate a milestone in my life, but this emerald ring would make a stunning engagement ring as well.
LLJ x Meredith Hudkins Collection
I am so excited to share this collaboration with you! I wanted this collection to be focused on diamonds, but also desired to share fine jewelry that was suitable for everyday life—not just big events. Each piece in our collection is versatile in style and crafted in such a way that you never have to take it off. I personally love jewelry that is classic, feminine, dainty and able to be worn day after day with any outfit. LLJ’s designs are fun and creative while also being thoughtful and timeless. You don’t have to worry about any of your jewelry from Lindsey Leigh going out of style!
I now have several pieces of jewelry from LLJ and couldn’t be more pleased with them. First, I want to share my absolute love for my Engraved Diamond Signet Ring. I have always loved wearing a signet ring on my pinky, and guess what? I recently discovered it’s trending?! Signet rings are one of the most classic pieces of jewelry in my opinion and they make a sweet personalized gift for a graduation or engagement. The Graduated Bubble Bangle and Diamond Inlay Hinge Bangle are two more pieces I want to rave about for a minute. Other than their obvious beauty, one of my favorite characteristics about them is the fact that they aren’t loud. Not loud in the sense of not being overbearing and clunky, but also not loud literally. I have purchased so many bangles the past few years and they don’t last on my wrist very long because of how loud they are. I can only handle jingling so long. These bangles designed by LLJ were designed with that in mind and were also created with the intention of being stacked with other bangles. While we’re on that topic, I also want to note that each necklace, set of earrings and ring in the LLJ x Meredith Hudkins Collection was chosen because of their ability to be stacked and layered. Layering necklaces is something I do almost every day. Every single piece of jewelry in this collection has my heart, but one more I would like to specifically highlight are the Chatham Sapphire Earrings. The blue sapphires are stunning and offer a pop of color to your everyday style or could even be worn on your wedding day if you need something blue. These beauties can be created in 3 different sizes and you are also able to choose if you want them in 14k yellow gold, white gold or rose gold. I hope you love this curated collection as much as I do! You can shop the full LLJ x Meredith Hudkins Collection here.
Diamonds by the Yard Necklace - When in doubt, diamonds by the yard! Your choice of 3, 4, 5, 7, or 9 diamonds set on a dainty chain, creating the perfect every day necklace.
Chatham Sapphire Earrings - One of my favorite pieces in this collection! These earrings are perfect for your big day and then for everyday wear. Just as a side note, the blue sapphires are bit lighter in person.
Diamond Bezel Band - Bezel diamonds create a floating appearance! Stack with others or wear alone, available in two different carat weights so you can choose a dainty or more bold look.
Reversible Thick Gold Huggies - No need to choose between white gold or yellow gold with our Reversible Thick Gold Huggies!
Scattered Pave Signet Ring - 14k solid gold small pinky signet ring with diamonds set organically.
7 Diamond Bubble Necklace - Lucky number 7! This 7 diamond bubble necklace is the perfect every day necklace. Wear it solo or layer with your favorite LLJ pieces!
Mini Diamond Huggies - The mini take on our large classic diamond huggies--an LLJ top seller!
Diamond Bezel Necklace - The diamond bezel necklace is perfect for all ages. A great necklace to never take off! Layer it up with all of your favorite pieces or wear solo
Graduated Bubble Bangle - This bangle has diamonds bezel set on the top of the bracelet to create a gorgeous sparkle on your wrist! Layer her with your other LLJ bracelets for a wrist no one will be able to stop talking about! The best part, these don’t jingle or make too much noise. I also love how it’s not too big for my wrist.
Diamond Signet Ring - One of my all-time favorites. A 14k yellow gold small pinky signet ring with a pave diamond frame. Add the engraved letter of your choice in either our block or script font! This is the perfect personalized gift for a graduation or engagement.
5 Diamond Bubble Necklace - 5 bubbles means 5 times the sparkle! Whether you're wearing alone or layering her up, she is sure to sparkle!
Diamond Inlay Hinge Bangle - Unique and modern, this bangle is fantastic on its own or stacked with other bracelets. Just like the Graduated Bubble Bracelet, this bangle fits my petite wrist perfectly and doesn’t jingle throughout the day.
Diamond Mardi Gras Ring - This fun band sparkles with sporadically set diamonds on a brush finished thick band.
Classic Diamond Huggies - An everyday earring that can be layered on the ear or worn by itself! Perfectly dainty.