Remember this ring?
Its facade is dreamy (if we may say so ourselves), but its journey to become so wasn’t exactly seamless.
You might recall that the opal cracked during setting— a moment that felt nothing short of crushing. But we didn’t let that stop us from achieving our vision. Instead, we looked for a way to give the ring a second chance.
But because second chances rarely manifest without intention, we knew we had to put in the effort to actualize our dreams.
Of course, moving forward when things don’t go as planned isn’t a simple thing to do. However, we truly believe that having the courage to do so can lead to amazing rewards. And, in the case of our Pigment Introspective ring, the decision to put our broken opal on display ultimately paid off boldly and beautifully.
Reflecting on our experience, we can’t help but smile as we’re reminded of the story of Colin Thackery.
If you’re a fan of the show Britain’s Got Talent, his name may ring a bell.
At 89 years old, the British pensioner (and veteran of the Royal Artillery of the Army) became the oldest person to ever win the competition. Thackery could have given up after life gave more than his fair share of heartache — from an unstable childhood to near-death experiences serving in multiple wars to losing his wife, Joan.
Having met at a barn dance when they were just kids, they enjoyed 66 years of marriage together — and her passing left Thackery heartbroken and adrift. Adjustment to his new life as a widowed retiree at the Royal Hospital Chelsea was rough, but instead of giving up, he gave his dreams another go, channeling his fighting spirit and passion for music that he’d once shared with his wife into singing anew. With courage revived, he auditioned for the show, ultimately winning BGT, but even more importantly, landing a second chance at his dreams.
Like many, Thackery had the support and kindness of family and friends to help him achieve his dreams — which included singing before members of the British royal family during the Royal Variety Show.
As for us, our support came from Troy Rafferty of Rafferty Opals, who helped us sift through his supply of opal rough in search of a new match.
After exchanging dimensions, masking off options, and carefully cutting and recutting the opal, a reshaping of the mounting was the final step in giving this ring its (second) chance to shine alongside a supporting cast of rainbow sapphires.
Warmest Wishes,
Nicki & The NIXIN Team
PS: A necklace that perfectly pairs? We have one left!
