Sandeep Maheshwari of Portobello Jewellery, which has locations in Seymour, Canterbury and Camberwell, said the concept was created on the request of an elderly customer.
“Fixed sized rings won’t go over the knuckle,” he said.
Initially, the design involved the use of a magnet to connect two parts of the ring at the base of the finger, which negated the issue of trying to fit a ring over a larger knuckle and ensured that customers didn’t need to purchase a larger ring which wouldn’t fit smaller parts of the finger.
“It wasn’t very successful because when you wash your hands, the magnets start rusting,” Mr Maheshwari said.
Then, the design team developed the idea of a locking concept, wherein the ring clips together at the bottom of the finger.
Mr Maheshwari said it took three tries, and many months, to perfect the design, but now, a number of happy customers have customised rings that properly fit their fingers.
Deb Stonham and Lyn Solomon were among the first to receive these specialised pieces, each having the opportunity to modify the design of their rings to best suit their personal styles.
Ms Stonham said being able to buy jewellery that fit her fingers was meaningful.
“When hubby was alive, he always brought me jewellery,” she said.
“He’s been gone for three years now, and I came in after the second anniversary and thought, ‘right, I’m having a spend up’ because if he was still here, he’d be buying me jewellery.
“I love this (ring), I saw the little vines and I loved it straight away.”
Both Ms Stonham and Ms Solomon saw the pre-existing designs in the Station St store, and Mr Maheshwari was able to alter the rings with the locking concept.
Ms Solomon said she never knew this kind of design was possible.
“I hadn’t heard about it before,” she said.
“When he said, ‘we can do this’, I thought, ‘oh, great’. It’s really good.”
Mr Maheshwari said being able to deliver products that made his customers happy was gratifying.
“It always excites us,” he said.
“We always position ourselves as a design studio, where we can sketch and make things.
“It’s very satisfying to have happy faces.”
The Portobello Jewellery team is always keen to create customised designs, and can even use people’s existing stones in new pieces and remodel broken pieces.
For more information about Portobello Jewellery, visit www.portobellojewellery.com.au/home