What’s Your (Jewelry) Story?

I love a good jewelry story. Being in this business for as long as I have (30 yrs and counting!) I’ve had the pleasure of learning about the sentiment behind the baubles. Whenever I first meet with a client, the appointment usually begins with a chat about the jewelry they own, who gave it to them, and what it means to them. Adornment is SO very personal, and never without emotion. Sometimes laughter, sometimes tears. When a client shows me the simple gold band her late husband gave her when they were young, she recounts their life together. Her fingers trace the smooth gold - it’s tactile, it’s portable, it’s a living piece of history. Someday perhaps her daughter may wear it, and even her daughter’s daughter, and on and on…  

Creating a new piece of jewelry is so much more rewarding when I understand the sentiment behind it. Helping people tell their stories through jewelry is at the heart of what I do and that’s what makes it SO very rewarding.  

Here are just a few of the many jewelry stories I’ve been lucky to be a part of. Some love stories require no explanation, a picture’s worth a thousand words!  

With ❤️

Helene Lucille

ENGAGEMENT RINGS AND THE STORIES THEY TELL

Like every good story, there is suspense, intrigue, drama, tears, lots of love, and happy endings. I absolutely LOVE the part of my business that involves creating engagement rings for couples.  Often the process begins with me getting a call from a sometimes nervous, but always excited, man telling me his plans to get engaged.   I have the pleasure of learning where they met, how long they have been dating, and how and when he’ll pop the BIG question.  Sometimes I feel like I’m conducting my own little research, as I gather data to help me in my quest to create the perfect WOW engagement ring.  What is her style, what does she do for a living, do you know what shape center diamond she likes, has she dropped any hints about the ring, does she have a pinterest page?  After hundreds of rings, I’ve gotten pretty good at listening, and asking the right questions, and nailing the perfect ring!   

Here are a few fun non-jewelry related facts I’ve gathered over the years:  more than half of my engagement couples have met online, no surprise there, most already live together, and a shockingly larger percentage are popping the question in tropical places, on a vacation, anywhere but where they call home.  Most men get super anxious about the asking part, as they really want it to be special and memorable.  Isn’t that just the sweetest?

The engagement ring tells a compelling and enduring story, it’s about beginnings, it’s about hopes and dreams, it’s about the future, it’s about LOVE.   I’m always humbled to be a witness to this special part of a couples love story.  Diamonds are SO much more than their sparkle, but that sparkle is pretty rare and special too. *To maintain constant sparkle, keep your ring clean ladies!  Contact me here for a complimentary ring cleaning. 

Hope you enjoy these pics of some recent engagements, and some of the stunning rings I created.

💗 Helene Lucille

Summer Flash Sale | DIAMONDS

In honor of summer, I am offering up to 40% off DIAMOND jewelry in my inventory until July 31st.   From formal drop earnings to flirty stack rings, to statement necklaces, add more sparkle to your wardrobe with a stunning diamond piece.   Mix and match or go for a WOW piece at incredible prices.  

Check out my inventory below and contact me directly at helene@helenelucille.com or call  312-643-2030 to get best pricing. 

*applies only for in-stock jewelry, no custom or special orders, or previous purchases 

HE DID GOOD

It's been a busy spring engagement season at Helene Lucille.  It's impossible not to feel the love spilling out of these happy couples; it's wonderfully contagious!  While every ring I create, and the accompanying love story is unique, there is a common thread: The desire the man has for a home run kinda ring - the one that entices a "Wow, it's perfect!"  In many ways men become my partners in crime while we secretly plot and discuss every detail of the perfect ring for their beloved.  In over two decades in the jewelry biz, I've been lucky enough to observe the desire of countless men who are head over heels in love.  They want the best quality they can afford; they want the perfect ring; they want the WOW factor.  As far as I'm concerned, it's my job to deliver the wow every single time.  I take this job so seriously that I often get what I like to call "the engagement ring hang-over"...that is, the exhaustion of waiting for the proposal, and the subsequent text, call or email saying "SHE LOVES IT!" That's my high, knowing I've helped deliver the sparkle and the WOW.  

So when you get that perfect ring, the one that takes your breath away, I'll say what I say to all my newly engaged ladies..."HE DID GOOD!"  

💗 Helene Lucille

Enjoy these recent diamond sparklers...

Curating the perfect selection of diamonds for my clients is the first step in the process of creating the perfect ring.  The diamonds have to speak to me, and these two were screaming, "pick me!" 

This swoon-worthy ring was a labor of love with over 300 collection-quality side diamonds, meticulously hand-set, to frame this spectacular 3.00ct beauty.  

Bruce knocked it out of the park with this ring, and Jodi is over-the-moon happy!!! Lucky to have witnessed the love of this special couple, beautiful diamond, and beautiful people.  

Walking down Michigan Ave. in Chicago, inspired by Spring weather and colorful tulips...I couldn't resist the urge to snap a shot of this hand-engraved, vintage-inspired engagement ring, on my way to deliver to my client.  Flowers + Diamonds, perfect duo. 

This oval brilliant diamond is one of the most brilliant I've seen.  Love the classic elegance of this stunner.   Not surprised my client says she often gets stopped on the streets by admirers! 

Look at how the light reflects on the step-cut facets of this stunning colorless emerald cut diamond. The round brilliant diamond halo is the perfect contrast. Feminine, timeless + sophisticated. 

Vanessa was blown away by her surprise proposal while on a hike with Yaniv at sunset in NYC.  His buddies set up this picnic for them to stumble upon, talk about romantic! He was beaming, and she cried tears of joy!  I still get texts from her proclaiming her love for her ring, "most beautiful piece of jewelry I ever owned!"

Why I became a jewelry designer

Before I started Helene Lucille & Co. in 2008, I had spent much of my career as the head buyer, merchandiser and VP of a well known fine jewelry company.  While this job afforded me the luxury of traveling the globe in search of beautiful jewels, meeting top jewelry designers, and negotiating big deals, I felt there was something missing.    

I suddenly had the urge to create something.  I never really saw myself as particularly creative.  I had forgotten that when I was young, I would sit for hours sketching free-form shapes and patterns, and coloring them.  A little advice for anyone feeling stuck: take the time to connect with your creative side!  I did just that, and it changed everything for me.  I started seeing the world in color and shapes, gaining creative inspiration from the everyday beauty around me. Soon I had created my first jewelry collection of feminine, statement-making earrings. When a friend and colleague called saying she dreamt about a pair of MY earrings, and just had to have them, I was thrilled!  I finally found what was missing.  Creating a piece of jewelry that will be lovingly worn, or given as a gift to a loved one who will cherish it, truly connects the dots for me.   

The scariest part of creating something is putting it out there in the world.  The absolute BEST part is when people connect with what you do! 

With 💗 

Helene Lucille 

This always stylish, pink loving, jewelry lover, never leaves home without a great pair of earrings!  Kelley's yellow gold citrine briolette danglers were some of my very first designs.  I guess you can say she was an early adopter! 

A fun design day starts in the HL showroom, just me, playing with my gems while sipping tea and listening to my current playlist.  I love the natural light I get from my bay of windows, perfect for gem matching and sorting. 

Samantha can't get enough of these rose gold + morganite drops.  She has a pretty impressive jewelry collection for such a young woman!

Combining and contrasting colors in unexpected ways really excites me.  I love using different tones of the same hue, or just mixing seemingly random colors together.  It just needs to feel right, no rules! 

Nothing is cooler then your 17 year old fashionista niece actually wanting a pair of HL earrings!  

I love working with briolette cut gems.  I have these pear shaped beauties cut and matched to my specification in Idar Oberstein, Germany.   Faceted on both sides, allowing for minimal metal and lots of sparkle!  (Prasolite + Coral with diamonds in yellow gold.)

If you couldn't tell from my HL signature boxes, or if you've visited my showroom, you know I adore pink!  Pink is a happy color; it's naturally feminine and the soft romantic tones of rose quartz make it the perfect LOVE STONE.  Learn more about the healing power of gems A World of Gems

To see more of my jewelry collection click here.  For inquiries, or a private design consultation, email helene@helenelucille.com  

Love + Diamonds

I feel truly lucky to work in a business, for over 25 years, that brings so much joy to people's lives.  I like to say, it's a HAPPY business.  Every beautiful piece of jewelry I create holds a special meaning, its very own love story.  

When I work with new clients, before we ever talk jewelry, the first thing I want to know is their unique story.  Building relationships and listening closely, gets my creative juices flowing.  I simply adore the process of creating fine jewelry, but most rewarding is knowing the recipient is overjoyed and IN LOVE with their new precious jewel.  Shopping for that special piece of jewelry can be overwhelming, especially in a sea of choices.  One of the best compliments I receive from my clients is how easy and enjoyable I make the entire process.  This is why I do what I do!  The HL pink box is my promise of quality, ethically sourced, fine jewelry created with 💗 in the USA.

Love sparkles from the inside out, just like a diamond, both are rare and precious.  This really is the perfect marriage!

XO

Helene Lucille 

Grahame + Michele get engaged in Napa Valley with a HL radiant cut sparkler.

Josh asks Kristen to be his wife at a symbolic concert with this radiant cut dazzler.

Lane makes Julia's "cushion" dreams come true with this anniversary upgraded stunner.  I love the richness of the yellow gold, and the added eternity band makes it perfection!

Ryan gets his son in on the secret 10 year anniversary upgrade for his deserving wife.  This HL cushion cut beauty makes Jami smile everyday!  

Every man should be as thrilled as Marty (and dressed as dapper) when picking up his wife's 50th birthday surprise.  His wife, Marcy, adores her swoon-worthy aquamarine + diamond ear-candy.