When I was on my search for an engagement ring, I was looking for something classy, modern-vintage, and elegant. Ken and Dana Design checked off every box of what I wanted. All of their rings give off a soft sort of beauty that I knew I wanted to encapsulate in our ring. Of course, a beautiful ring is only one half of the story. The other half was their wonderful team. I never got to meet or speak with Ken or Dana. But when I look at their stories, I see my now fiance Sara and I in them. I knew I was in the right place. Luckily in their place I got to work with Morgan mostly but also had assistance from others there. If I had to summarize the experience I would say that I was well taken care of. For such a big purchase, there obviously will be lots of back and forth. Not only were they patient but they were super helpful in helping me achieve the look I want. Throughout the process I was sent many reference videos, photos, and designs that helped me imagine what my custom ring would look like. They have a wide knowledge of what they've done in the past so I cherry picked aspects that I liked from what they showed me. I recommend calling if there's anything urgent to discuss. Because they're so popular it could take a hot second via email. Once it was finalized, they were accommodating in making sure we hit the delivery date because I wanted it for our upcoming vacation. The ring is stunning, the views were wonderful and my fiance looks lovely as always. In every life, I'll always come back to Ken and Dana. Thank you Team! read more

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The ring was perfect! It exceeded my expectations! I knew they were very good at what they do, so I didn't need to call them and pester them with questions. Good work takes time, and I used to own a business myself, so I just left them to it to create this gorgeous ring called "Rachael" in 18Kt Rose gold with a marquise center. She hasn't seen it yet but I'm kinda jealous lol oh well I'll live vicariously through her. Oh and by the way, everyone I show pictures of it starts to feel super self conscious about their own engagement ring! It's that good!!! Thanks again Ken and Dana Design!! read more

Ken & Dana Design - Bridal Near Me - New York, New York

My fiancée and I had an amazing experience with Ken & Dana Design! We chose Ken & Dana Design because we wanted to choose a small family-run business with lab grown diamonds and a focus on the couple's story who would rather meet with five people in a day than a large commercial business that meets with hundreds and just cranks out orders. Our shopping with KDD was exceptional and Stephanie did such a great job with the customization of everything! She did a great job of listening to what we wanted and didn't try to upsell us or push a higher price tag. I got the sense that she truly cared about our ring order whether it was worth $1,000 or $10,000. We are so thankful for the part Ken & Dana Design played in our love story and would whole-heartedly recommend them to anyone who is ready to get engaged! read more

Ken & Dana Design - Bridal Near Me - New York, New York

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We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Emeli, and are so grateful for all of her help and guidance. The rings turned out absolutely stunning, we cannot believe how perfect they are. Thank you thank you 1 million times. We are so appreciative of you! read more

I could truly never choose a more integral business like Ken & Dana Design for a special moment. I had been eyeing a specific design they had for months and months and was lucky enough to receive a ring from them as my engagement ring. To start, their designs are flawless and very intricate. I appreciate the fact that each ring can be customized to how you would like & that this company offers lab grown diamonds as it was a top item on my list of what I wanted in an engagement ring. Aside from design, Ken & Dana Design offer a wide variety of of services and knowledge such as cleanings, resizing, and offer external options for insurance after purchasing jewelry from them. Their customer service is great as well, just with general questions or reassurance. The original design of my ring showed 5 prongs which concerned me as I was afraid my 3 prong ring may be less secure, but they reassured me that their jeweler felt this was the best looking while most secure design for my specific ring. I can't wait to come back and pick out our wedding bands! read more

Ken & Dana Design - Bridal Near Me - New York, New York

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What a fantastic design studio! They were so kind and helpful, and I found my absolute dream ring, which was completely different than what I had imagined and SO much better. They were wonderful about customizations (the prongs on my ring are leaves) and were so diligent about finding the perfect salt and pepper diamond. I couldn't be happier with my engagement and wedding band set! read more

Ken & Dana Design - Bridal Near Me - New York, New York

Despite having beautiful rings, our experience at Ken & Dana left a poor taste in our mouths. They were late for our appointment, but saw two groups that came in after we did. The representative we saw, Cara, had a generally matter-of-fact and dismissive attitude. My partner liked a ring and she completed ignored him and his wants. Didn't even send his ring's specs/quote after the appointment. I liked a ring and asked if it would be possible to pay to see a drawing or rendering of the ring before ordering the stones, so I could get a sense of color and proportion, and Cara said "Wouldn't it be nice if everyone got rendering before they placed an order?" like it was a silly question to ask. It may have been, but as someone who is buying her first ring ever, a bit of patience and grace in explaining how things are done would have gone a long way. Generally, it also felt like for a jewelry store that does custom work, the client doesn't get that much of a say in what happens. When we asked about using alternative stones (not diamonds), Cara informed us that they would source stones and that we wouldn't be able to see them in person - we'd have to decide based on photos and videos. It seems like other places allow you to see stones in person before committing, which feels like a more custom and luxurious experience. Anyway, this was not the place for us. We had much better experiences elsewhere - what a pity. read more

Amazing rings, and really appreciate Sophia during the selection process. Beautiful atmosphere! Wish we could have had champagne during the process but we make whiskey work! read more

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Just designed my engagement ring with them and they are just, so lovely. Incredible selection of gorgeous stones. Natural and lab-grown. All certified and absolutely stunning. Staff is wonderful. read more

Time to show some love for MEN'S RINGS! Bottom line: Custom and creative designs made with top tier metals crafted and presented in a relaxed environment exuding an original NYC vibe !! I live in SF.. why would I go to NYC to get our wedding rings? Because these are the rings that I have always wanted and have not seen anything like them anywhere else! I was in NYC for business and just looked on Yelp after wanting to avoid the crowded glass counters of the "me too" rings and pushy sales people of big stores or Marts. I knew I wanted custom and platinum. Hands down this was one of the best shopping experiences from start to finish - classy and comfortable. We chose the Nando in platinum and could not be happier. Day 3 with it on and I can't stop looking at it. Special shout out to Pearly, you made this such a personable and hassle-free experience. Thank you Ken and Dana Design! read more

Ken & Dana Design - Bridal Near Me - New York, New York

Excellent service! The engagement ring was beautiful as expected. A wide range of designs to choose from at an affordable price.

Ken was great to work with; he was attentive, responsive, and was able to steer us in the right direction (regarding the design of our ring) without imposing. And, ultimately, our custom-designed engagement ring came out fantastically - we couldn't be more thrilled!! read more

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Ken and Dana Design made me the most beautiful ring. When my husband and I got engaged he did not buy a ring, since we were moving to Hawaii. 5 years later for our wedding anniversary, he gave me the ring of my dreams. I love that it is a small business. They give so much importance to details, and working with the owner made us feel completely comfortable ordering a ring online. We gave them a challenge since we had a wedding band already, and wanted a ring to complement it. It worked out perfectly!! Needless to say I will be returning to buy a stack ring in the future. I can not thank you enough to everyone at Ken and Dana Design, I appreciate it! read more

Ken & Dana Design - Waking up to this beauty - Bridal Near Me - New York, New York

My fiancé bought the ring of my dreams from Ken and Dana! After reading reviews and browsing their website, I knew this was the place. My fiancé wanted the proposal to be a true surprise, and with the help and design of Ken and Dana this could be accomplished. Highly recommend! read more

Ken & Dana Design - Rachael oval, yellow gold. - Bridal Near Me - New York, New York

Ken & Dana Design is nothing short of perfect!! I had the pleasure of working with Pearly on an engagement ring. I had just a basic idea of what I wanted to do but need a lot of assistance to reach the final product. Pearly was very patient, helpful and knowledgeable about all of the products and options. I loved the ability to create my own design and how flexible they were. If anyone is looking to make a truly unique engagement ring please come to Ken & Dana. The best part of it all is that she said YES. We have since come back for our wedding bands and had the pleasure of working with Pearly again. The process was great again and we found the perfect rings for our special day. read more

Fantastic experience all around. This was literally the only easy part of our entire wedding process. For all my other vendors, I had to sift through anywhere from 5-25 options, but within 5 minutes at Ken & Dana, I found both my and my husband's wedding rings. The staff is easy to work with and they have a lovely whiskey selection while you're waiting ;). Though do remember it's a small shop, so you have to make an appointment and the weekend options require a decent amount of planning ahead. Trust us though, it's worth it! The free re-sizing was fantastic too! read more

Ken & Dana Design - Bliss & Juno wedding rings (2 left rings). Photo by Sean Gallery. - Bridal Near Me - New York, New York

Such a special NYC adventure! My fiancé and I were searching out a very unique jeweler to make our wedding bands as well as my engagement ring. Both being from Ohio we love exploring and getting out of town so NYC was our next stop! After doing a lot of research and reading about Ken and Dana Design, we booked an appointment a few months out. When the appointment day came, we arrived and were greeted with warm smiles and a glass of whiskey! it was such a great touch to sitting in the waiting area while we waited for our turn at the table. They entire store is a big NYC loft style space, we loved it. They had display cases to see different designs but everything is custom made in house so they were all simply designs to try on and see how you like them. Patty has since made my TOP TEN list of best human beings on the planet. She was so patient and attentive with our appointment because she knew we had traveled from Ohio. We nailed down my engagement ring design and also my fiancés wedding band all in the same sitting. We customized with our fingerprints being engraved on each band (my wedding hband was chosen via email exchange of pictures with patty AFTER we got my engagement ring and I had worn it for a few weeks) Ken and Dana Design truly made us feel special, they truly took into consideration that this was a HUGE symbolic trip for us as a couple and also a very important purchase for us as future Mr. & Mrs. I can't wait to see my band! Our wedding is in two months and we couldn't be happier about our adventures to NYC and the story our rings tell. Thank you to Patty and the entire team! read more

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I am absolutely thrilled with the service and the product my husband and I received from Ken & Dana Design. We had a terrible experience with the original engagement and wedding band we purchased from a wholesale diamond dealer in which they swapped our previously purchased diamond out for a dud. When we moved to New York, we decided to get another ring from a place with an established reputation. I knew immediately when I walked into their location that this was the place for us. They didn't make us feel as if our budget was too small, the store was appointment only and they were completely focused on us, and they answered every single one of our questions. Understand that, because of our horrible experience at the previous dealer, we had dozens and dozens of questions. They answered all of them knowledgeably and patiently. Because they know of our previous experience, they had our diamond laser engraved and even sent it back to the original certifier to be re-engraved and re-certified. They gave us the number for the certification lab and asked us to call and make sure we were satisfied. And now, when I take the ring in to be serviced they make sure to show us the laser inscription to prove that the diamond is the same before we leave. It's amazing and very thoughtful. Service aside, my ring is beautiful. I wanted something traditional with a little bit of flare, which I think this ring accomplishes wonderfully. The engagement bad has a 1 ct diamond with a paved diamond band, and the wedding bad is vintage-inspired and a different shape from the engagement bad while still matching perfectly. It gives it a little texture and personality, which I love. The quality is extremely high. I haven't had a single side diamond pop out, which was a constant problem with my previous ring. They are also incredibly proactive about repairs. We bought the engagement ring prior to the wedding bad, and so I went in a few different times for appointments, re-sizings and to pick things up. Each time they inspected my rings to make sure there were no problems and proactively fixed any small things they saw. I would love to be able to shout my love for this place from the rooftops, but in lieu of that I'll just post this yelp review. After our horrendous experience, it was so lovely to go to a place that took extra steps to make sure we were comfortable. Thanks Ken and Dana! read more

Ken & Dana Design - Bridal Near Me - New York, New York

My fiance proposed to me with the Molly style engagement ring and we could not be happier with the ring and Ken & Dana Design. My fiance worked with Patty Hernandez via email for the specifications of the ring he wanted including diamond size, cut, and clarity and answered all his questions. Professionalism and knowledge all around. We would definitely recommend Ken & Dana Design to everyone! read more

Ken & Dana Design - My beautiful engagement ring. - Bridal Near Me - New York, New York

It was really important to me to have an engagement ring design that was unique and ethical, and I wanted to also give an engagement ring to my fiance. I knew I was setting a high bar trying to find a place that had a variety of different lab-grown stones AND used recycled metals AND had good options for men's engagement rings. Ariel was incredibly patient as I changed my mind about what type of design I wanted several times, and she was extremely flexible, giving us many different options, talking us through, helping us find our style. I cannot recommend this place enough! read more

Ken & Dana Design - Bridal Near Me - New York, New York

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My fiance and I got engaged last weekend with a Ken & Dana design: the Brianne. I had loved this ring for months and was blown away that I had a creative, eco-friendly, and beautiful ring that I love even more in person. My finace tells me that they were a pleasure to work with. He even thought ahead and bought the chevron wedding bands that we will put to good use next year in Savannah Georgia!! Skilled artisans.. highly recommended. read more

Ken & Dana Design - Bridal Near Me - New York, New York

Buying your engagement/wedding rings is (hopefully!) a once in a lifetime experience - so you owe it to yourself to buy the right rings from the right people. Having selected and purchased a ring from Ken & Dana, I know I made the right choice. Ken & Dana offer beautiful (and well priced) rings that speak to your personality, not to a lowest common denominator taste factor that even high end corporate jewelers (e.g., Tiffany's) adhere to. However, while their designs are unique, this is not to say they don't read as timeless. We actually selected rings that look both modern and like family heirlooms. And hundreds of couples in, say, Minnesota, won't be wearing the same ones! The professional, thoughtful, and personal service we got from Patty should also be mentioned. She made what can be a stressful purchase a breeze while respecting our taste and budget. We had some custom work done on our pieces and the process was refreshingly uncomplicated. The whole crew at Ken & Dana (the showroom is an extension of their workshop) seemed genuinely interested in making us happy with our rings. I get the appeal of the pretty blue box from Tiffany's but shouldn't you treat one of life's most important milestones with a little more personalized care? As an aside, we are a same-sex couple: Ken & Dana were fabulous to work with in that regard, making us feel as comfortable and special as any other of their clients. read more

Bear with me, as this is a very long review. Appointment 5/5 Ariel was friendly and knowledgeable. She brought out a lot for me to look at/try on and ended up bringing out the ring we bought but hadn't even considered. She was super friendly, patient (we had to bring our toddler since we were on vacation), and helpful. Order process 5/5 Going back and forth over email was a little time consuming at times, but ultimately the ordering process was easy and went smoothly. The filled out order form was easy to understand and the carting and checkout process was a breeze. We ended up using affirm for part of the purchase and that was super easy to navigate as well. Order follow through 1/5 (if I could give it a zero I would) 24ish hours after my order had been placed and I had paid I got word that the center diamond that we chose had actually been sold "moments" before I had checked out with it the day prior. I was given two diamonds to choose from that were similarly sized and priced, but neither was identical to what I had already paid for. At this point, it was too late in the day to get a response for the next step. I was very upset and confused, as I couldn't wrap my head around the fact that you can accidentally sell the same diamond to two people. I responded to the email twice and called in the morning, leaving a message for the owner to get back to me. Ken called me back a few hours later and told me he had talked to the other client and had convinced them to go with a different diamond. He also rushed the order and said it would be overnighted when it was finished, at no charge, and of course let me know there was still an option to refund and cancel the order. "I didn't know this would cause so much distress." is something that really stuck out for me during the whole phone call the stone dilemma. I'm not sure how I was expected to be totally understanding when they had just double sold the stone I had already paid for. I was caught off guard and annoyed that I had just spent a large sum of money on something that was no longer mine. Trying to sell a more expensive stone to multiple people isn't what I have an issue with. I get that, businesses have bills and employees of their own to pay. Just the fact that the stone was able to be purchased by two separate people is what made me the most upset. Ring itself 5/5 I love that they are eco friendly and use recycled metals. I also like that they are conscious of where their stones come from, so you do not end up with a stone that funds any type of violence or wars. They also offer lab grown diamonds (which is what we ended up going with) so you know exactly where your stone is coming from. I love my ring. It's perfect and very well made. The ring and stone are amazing and I wouldn't change a thing. I also love that it's handmade. I would recommend this shop, as what happened to me doesn't seem to be the norm. Reviews are everything for smaller shops, so I wanted to keep this as fair as possible, while also being honest about how unhappy I was with part of this whole process. Remedying a situation doesn't make it just go away, that's why I've included every part of this process in my review. I will likely be buying my wedding band through them as well, so obviously I'm pretty happy with the end result of this whole mishap. read more

Ken & Dana Design - Bridal Near Me - New York, New York

Words can't even explain how great Ken and Dana Design is! Purchased the engagement ring for my fiancé from here last year. Communicated with Patty via email and everything worked out flawlessly. I gave her a description of a style I was looking for that matched my fiancé's personality and she helped so much with everything. The ring came out perfect and my fiancé loves it! We live in California and once shipped it got here extremely quick and safe! Had such an epic experience last year that my fiancé and I decided to get our wedding bands from here as well. We decided to stop by while we were in New York this summer during a long layover. If you ever get the chance to stop by, the place is amazing looking inside! Felt so comfortable in there. My fiancé and I worked with Nati while we were there. She was extremely knowledgeable and helpful when I came to picking out our wedding bands. We now have both of our bands and are looking forward to the big day! Thank you Patty and Nati for all your help. You both are awesome! read more

**** Review updated 10/8/20 5:14 pm (posted about 8 hrs after initial review): I'm amending my review to 5 stars. Regarding the the owner's response, this Yelp account is under an alias and my boyfriend is the one interacting with the store. They have provided an explanation regarding the unusual mishap and have been very accommodating. It is times like this we're reminded small family-owned stores are doing their best and rare circumstances of a mistake can happen to anyone, especially during these times. This store excels at providing a personal experience. I truly appreciate how responsive they were. We will continue doing business here moving forward. _______________________________ Jewelry is beautiful but service is trash. I gave them benefit of the doubt due to the pandemic at first but it's been almost 7 months and we still have not received the ring that we ordered in store in February. It's making it a pain to plan anything regarding our engagement. We liked the place but felt as though they have no consideration for their customers (or at least us) after the ring order was made. We wanted to be engaged by now to have at least one positive thing to happen this year. Feel like they don't give a crap that we've been waiting for so long either. Wish we knew this beforehand * Will update my review regarding the outcome. We were planning on getting our bands from here too, but I doubt we're still going to based on our experience. It's really discouraging read more

Consider their work if you want jewelry that is environmentally conscious, service fit for the queen and a great value! Ken & Dana Design provided me my absolute ideal wedding band and engagement ring. I got the Audrix design with an uncut pink diamond with recycled rose gold metal. My entire wedding, down to the nail polish I used was eco-friendly and this designer couldn't have been more attentive or incredible to work with. I was ready to not have a wedding ring at my wedding because we were afraid my diamond wouldn't be located on time. But! Thanks to Ken and Dana's incredible work ethic, I got my rings two days before my wedding. Talk about a life saver! :) Bottom line, if you want value that extends to the earth itself, go with Ken & Dana Design. read more

Ken & Dana Design - Audrix Engagement Ring - Bridal Near Me - New York, New York

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Patty and everyone blew my expectations out of the water. She answered every question, made sure I was ready for the purchase, and delivered a product that exceeded expectations. Thank you so much, and I cannot recommend you more than enough. Definitely will be back for all our jewelry needs. And needless to say, everyone is absolutely in awe of the quality of the ring and consistently ask where I got it from. Kudos to the pros. read more

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Couldn't have been happier with the purchase. I wanted something nontraditional and with a stone that captured more of her true being. I love the look and the quality and the essence that this piece holds. I am looking forward to buying my band as well here this year. Thank you to all who put in their time and kindness into her beautiful ring. Always Love. read more

The store was conveniently located next to Penn Station and their decor was welcoming as I walked in. I didn't have to wait long to meet with a representative, Ariel, and she was extremely helpful. Her knowledge on jewelry design and stone selection was invaluable and she was able to convey the different aspects of buying a ring to a newbie like me. The store is very forthcoming when it comes to pricing, and they offer good options for payment. The ring was ready days before deadline. Complimentary first resizing, using recycled materials and donating their profits to good causes, environmental, etc, are added bonuses. I highly recommend checking out their shop. read more

I'm not really a jewelry person so I was surprised to be SO in love with my ring. I found the ring when looking online a year ago - I knew I didn't want a diamond and liked gold or rose gold. Then I discovered padparadscha sapphires or peach sapphires. My fiancé bought the Delphine ring and it is absolutely STUNNING. I cannot take my eyes off of it . We bout the esme band to go with it. Both in rose gold. read more

Ken & Dana Design - Bridal Near Me - New York, New York

Ken & Dana are the shiz. Marisa and I couldn't recommend them highly enough. Amazing quality work. And to say they care about every little detail is the understatement of the century; we sing their praises to anyone who will listen. Whenever we're in NY we stop by just to say hi and drink their whiskey LOL. Love you guys! read more

Our review for Ken and Dana is long due! Scheduling an appointment We were visiting New York in March and had set up an appointment online with Ariel at Ken and Dana Design. Selection process Ariel was patient and let us take our time. For my engagement ring, I was looking for a particular shade and cut of tourmaline (gemstone) and lo behold they had exactly what we were looking for. Prior to the appointment, I had fallen in love with their nature inspired designs on their website;the designs were beautiful and intricate in person. Decision process We ended up getting our wedding rings and engagement ring from Ken and Dana (see links below) engagement ring - Lorelei with oval cut blue-green paraiba tourmaline and gold band https://shop.kenanddanadesign.com/products/unique-engagement-rings-nature-inspired-lorelei wedding ring (her) - Sasha with matte yellow gold https://shop.kenanddanadesign.com/products/unique-wedding-bands-nature-inspired-sasha wedding ring (his) - Forrest - matte yellow gold 3mm https://shop.kenanddanadesign.com/collections/wedding-band-his/products/unique-wedding-bands-organic-nature-inspired-forrest Delivery and payment Payment was seemless and delivery was made within the specified timeframe. All in all, we are super happy with the rings and would highly recommend Ken and Dana Design. Thank you Ariel and Patty (for coordinating the delivery of the rings)! read more

Hard to imagine a more perfect experience for choosing an engagement ring for my future wife here. From the moment we entered, the atmosphere was very relaxing, and for me personally, when a friend of a friend entered almost 10 seconds after our arrival speaking good things, I realized this place would be it. For a guy who doesn't know much about rings, they talked me through everything and I never felt lost in the process as they also indulged me in their detailed records of their jewelry. Later I came back with my now fiance, and she confirmed I wasn't crazy in my thoughts, her immediate reaction aligned with mine it was a great experience. A good experience for anyone looking for jewelry knowledgeable or not. read more

We picked up our engagement rings and weddings rings at Ken and Dana and will definitely go back for any more custom needs. They're super easy to work with and very responsive. It was great working with Ken for the engagement ring. The quality is fantastic and he was very helpful when it came to picking out a diamond - even broke out the IdealScope for me! We came up with a timeliness design and she loves it. Same goes for our wedding rings - picked out some great funky designs to complement the engagement ring and can't wait to wear them. Fast turn-around and again, really easy to work with. read more

Phenomenal. I walked into Ken & Dana's studio looking for a customized engagement ring setting, as I already had the center diamond, and Ken patiently walked me through the process and even pulled the setting up online. This was a different design than they normally did so it took about a month but Patty was quick to provide updates. My fiance loved it and I just went to the appraiser who spoke incredibly highly of the settings customization. He even said he was shocked the setting was so cheap. I can't stress how wonderful this experience has been and we will absolutely be coming back for our wedding bands. Don't overthink. Just go. read more

Excellent and beautiful product, great attention to detail, nice storefront gallery space, simple but elegant designs. Rings are gorgeous and use ethically sourced materials. exactly what I had been looking for. different, magical, perfect! read more

Ken & Dana Design - Laurel and Willow - Bridal Near Me - New York, New York

I ordered a special custom ring with a fingerprint and engraving. Patty and Ken & Dana Design worked with me through email to verify the correct engraving and to confirm receipt of the fingerprint sample. Patty also followed up with me on tracking the shipping and payment and made the whole experience very easy and comforting. The ring arrived very nicely packaged with a nice box and on time. Overall I had a great experience! read more

Late review...my husband bought this ring 3 years ago and I couldn't be happier. I couldn't have hoped for a more beautiful engagement ring! read more

Ken & Dana Design - Bridal Near Me - New York, New York

When it came time for me to ask the most wonderful woman in the world to spend the rest of her life with me I knew I just couldn't get any ring. There were a few guidelines I needed to follow for the ring: 1. It has to be unique. In other words, it can't look like something I bought at a mall jeweler that everybody else has. 2. No conflict gold. 3. No conflict diamonds. So that left me a few options for procuring an engagement ring. I could go to a pawn shop to look for a vintage rings, if the gold and diamonds came from the conflict zones, the warlords have already profited from it. Or I can go to one of the certified places on the internet, I didn't have the time to scour pawn shops, although I could have made a detour to Las Vegas to the Pawn Stars shop during my cross-country move. And most of the online places, while sustainable and ethical, felt expensive and didn't seem unique. Then came a helpful email from my now fiancee's teddy bear (I never knew teddy bears had the ability to type) pointing me to Ken and Dana. The designs were classic, beautiful and surprisingly affordable. Bought it and hid the ring underneath the bathroom sink, behind my Costco sized pack of soap. On December 31, 2011, I asked the love of my life to marry me. Obviously, she said yes. If she didn't I don't think I would be writing this review. We will be back for our wedding bands. They have a cool design that they sell as a part of their B-Side collection that has the citation to Loving v. Virginia, the Supreme Court case that invalidated anti-miscegenation laws. If it weren't for Loving, I don't think we would be a "legal" couple in more than a few states. Just make that ring in a precious metal and I will be happy to wear it for the rest of my life. Just like Earl Warren in his opinion in that case, we too believe that marriage is a fundamental right. And this is my 500th review. read more

Absolutely a pleasure to deal with and absolutely a stunning, incomparable ring. I found Ken and Dana because I was being a smartass and googling "blood diamond" for my soon-to-be-fiance. Ken and Dana were the first match, and all for the right reasons - their stones are all ethically sourced, conflict-free, and all that other hippie shit that is important to some of us. If it's not important to you, and you stumble upon the store only for the obvious reasons, then rest assured, you're going to have a wonderful experience. Their designs range from timeless and simple to really out there and unique. We're more on the conservative side, so we ended up getting a vintage-looking art deco style (the Almira, if you're so inclined to research) that has since turned into a show stopper - even though I didn't go for broke with the size and kept it to .75 carats (which is plenty showy for us). The process was simple. I went in by myself the first time and just shot the breeze with Patty. I started right off the bat by saying I don't know anything about anything, so she patiently and succinctly educated me. I went on to give her the backstory about me and my girlfriend, what she's into, and what kind of styles appealed to her. I had a ton of questions and Patty was honest about everything. She was funny and fun and sensitive to my concerns. I told her cost wasn't really a HUGE issue, and that we're naturally pretty understated people - so I appreciated her not trying to sell up and spend more money than necessary on anything too gaudy for us. I tried various suggestions of varying colors and gems and she would answer honestly and logically. After my first visit, I had it down to two picks, but wanted to make sure. Since this wasn't going to be a surprise, we made an appointment to bring in the lady next time. A week later, we went in for another 30 minutes, with my erstwhile girlfriend. She made her pick and kept it simple. We got her measurements and left it at that. The next morning I emailed Patty and placed the order. My lady wanted a half carat and I was pushing for a full one just to be *slightly* obnoxious. I decided to split the difference and about two weeks later it was done, even though they said thye might need 4-6 weeks. I paid for half the ring online when ordering it and completed the order upon pickup. And for those wondering, I hid it in my sock drawer until I got word back from her parents. After that, she said yes after only about four hours of convincing. Thanks, Patty! I recommend them wholeheartedly. read more