Hello, this is Konishi.

‘It was more than just a ring buying experience’

- this is a comment from our client who ordered wedding and engagement rings.

Although getting married, they wanted their rings and lifestyle to be 'true to themselves'. Here is an interview with this lovely couple, whose value was very memorable.

Mr. T / IT Consultant

Ms. Y / Beauty Consultant

Furukawa, Manager of hum JINGUMAE atelier & shop

Mr. T:

Something I can love and use for a long time. Making a choice based on these criteria, it's usually simple, but I also focus on the process of making.

For example, the functionality, the commitment of the maker...

the endeavor of the craftsman. When I see products that look alike but feel different, it's usually because I'm not satisfied with the process.

Ms. Y:

I also enjoy learning about the process of making products. I am very attracted to things that are handmade or made by craftsmen.

I also share the same criterion of whether a product lasts for a long time. We also want to keep our own style. Even if I’m interested in something that everyone has or see often, I always consider whether it fits into my style.

Mr. T:

I buy both famous and not-so-famous brands, but I only purchase when I am fully convinced after thorough consideration.

The deciding factor is whether I am happy with the connection between the process of making and the final result.

Ms. Y:

When I decided to buy a ring, I wanted it to be made in Japan, something that was handmade by craftsmen, and hum came on the table.

I envisioned that hum would understand and respect our way of thinking and not just recommend something fixed.

Mr. T:

Rather than being told ‘this is bridal’.

Ms. Y:

I like to read the brand concept. I read the brand concept on hum's official website, and blogs extensively, and there were a lot that I could relate to.

Mr. T:

She had been looking at her phone for a long time, and most of the time it was hum's blog. She was really reading it all the time (laughs).

Ms. Y:

I encounter many cute products on SNS, but most end there. But with hum, I wanted to visit the shop! Reading the blog allowed me to feel the background of the brand, and prompted me to know more and see the products in person. I was also impressed by how hum’s sales staff listen to customer needs and put them into proper form. Being a salesperson myself, that part interested me too. That's why it was so important for me to meet Ms. Furukawa!

Mr. T:

That was big, wasn't it? I was able to see the craftsmen at work in the atelier, and it was great to feel that the work was really being done here. This space also struck a chord for me. It was fun.

Ms. Y:

There was no difference in feelings between us, and we were able to make a decision that we both sincerely agreed upon.

We had another candidate brand, but we were indecisive even after seeing it twice. We made our mind up immediately after visiting hum.

Ms. Y:

Rather than going for a wedding ring, I wanted to choose what I genuinely felt was the best and prettiest.

Mr. T:

Something we both appreciated…, something each of us wanted to wear.

We also liked how we could choose the details of design, instead of having to select from an existing set of designs.

Furukawa:. You said you don't wear a ring at all.

Mr. T:

I'm particular about not wanting to wear any accessories or watches, so at first I wasn’t sure about wedding rings... but I like this one. After receiving a lot of advice, I found something that I would enjoy wearing.

Ms. Y:

It suits him! To start with, he felt uncomfortable as he doesn’t have a habit of wearing a ring, but this one was just right.

I was very grateful about the fact that Ms. Furukawa quickly absorbed our wish to ‘wear what we liked in our own fashion’, and there was no gap in our way of thinking.

Mr. T:

Originally I thought we would only need a wedding ring.

Then my aunt offered to give the diamond ring she had received from my grandmother. My aunt doesn't have any children, so I think she was very happy about us inheriting it.

Ms. Y:

She loves you like her own child.

Mr. T:

My aunt lives in New York and for she was afraid of the ring being lost on the way to Japan, she left it with someone visiting Japan to deliver to me.

Although being passed on, it was an old design so it didn't match her image nor her size.

My aunt told me to remake it as I liked, but I didn't know where to take it and I left it there.

I did look at renovation services in department stores, but that didn’t strike me.

Anyway, I ended up at hum just to decide on the wedding band, and when I was researching about hum, I found out that they also do remodeling.

Furukawa:

Did you have an image in mind for the design?

Ms. Y:

Yes. I wanted to have something that I could wear as I got older.

Something that would look good on my wrinkled hands.

I also wanted something that could be passed down to my child if I had any. I have a yearning to pass on from a parent to a child.

Mr. T:

I didn't know you were thinking that deeply. This is first time hearing it.

Come to think of it, the ring my aunt gave us was not just a ring, it has a completely different feeling, so it's nice to be able to pass on.

We discussed the specific design with Ms. Furukawa and Mr. Moriyama (*craftsman), and it was good that we were able to combine our wish and practicality.

Ms. Y:

I wanted the top to be hexagonal, not round. The orientation of the hexagons was also what I was particular about. The band is a full-diamond design as I thought it would be more beautiful if there were diamonds on the inside when I turned my hand. Also to match my wedding band which is a full design too.

Ms. Y:

We liked that Ms. Furukawa and Mr. Moriyama had different points of view, right? Ms. Furukawa grasped and conveyed our particularities about the design...

Mr. T:

Yes. Mr. Moriyama gave us a lot of advice about the creation of ring itself.

Furukawa:

As for that, we consciously divide our roles.

The craftsman is able to talk to the customer imagining the exact look of the product, while the salesperson offers pure ideas based on the customer’s requirement and preference.

Mr. T:

Ms. Furukawa also questioned us to envision what would happen to us after we chose this ring.

That's why we decided to go for a full diamond.

Furukawa:

Thank you very much. Did you ever feel uneasy about the remodeling of your precious diamond?

Ms. Y:

I was nervous about how it would turn out.

Mr. T:

We'd expressed our exact wish, but even we didn’t have a complete picture in our heads.

Ms. Y:

But having spoken to the craftsmen, I knew that they would do a great job! We didn't have any worries when we placed the order, right? Mr. T: But right after, you were a bit worried, weren't you?

Ms. Y:

I don't remember. But we've spent quite a sum of money, so in that respect yes (laughs).

Ms. Y:

You don't usually have the chance to talk to a craftsman. It was the first time in my life to order something directly from a craftsman, so it was a valuable opportunity and a precious time for me.

Mr. T:

The advice from Ms. Furukawa and Mr. Moriyama was really accurate. They assisted us to find the points that we were unsure about, and we discussed together. We were able to express our doubts in this way, and they gave us opinions from various angles, which we appreciated.

I enjoyed the feeling of the four of us, Ms. Furukawa, Mr. Moriyama and we, were a team.

Ms. Y:

That ‘experience’ was good. It’s become a totally different memory to an ordinary shopping.

Mr. T:

Yes. It was the first time for me to buy a ring for someone, and also the first time to buy and wear my own ring, but I think it was more than just a ring buying experience.

Furukawa:

Lastly, what were your frank impressions when you saw the finished product?

Mr. T:

We were confident thanks to the 2 experts’ assistance, but when we saw the finished product, we were so impressed that we got goose bumps (laughs).

Ms. Y:

I was lost for words when I saw the sparkle of the engagement ring!

At first I imagined to wear it with marriage ring, but for it has such a magnificent presence, I think it would be nice to wear it singularly. Also, as Ms. Furukawa said, I think it will match me increasingly as I get older, so I'm excited about changing the way I wear it in the future...

Isn't it nice to wear it by itself?

Mr T:

Yes, it's nice. I didn’t know that old diamonds shine so beautifully.

Ms. Y:

The wedding ring is more like a fashion ring than a bridal ring at the moment, and I think I will wear it depending on my mood when I go out. I think such a style without being bound by the general idea of bridal, would be nice.

Mr T:

We both want to stay as we are even after marriage.

I think we've managed to reflect our own personalities in the ring.

-

-------------------------------------------------------

Marriage is just a passing phase…

they do not see it as something special and want to stay as they are forever, but they surely felt a specialness in the ‘experience’ of ordering rings at hum atelier. The diamond, which represents the bond of kinship, was transformed into a unique engagement ring for the couple, and the wedding rings are also of their own style. It was a perfect fit for Mr. T and Ms. Y who value their own style.

We hope that they will continue to be the same. We are honored to have taken a part in their lives.

Thank you very much!

Thank you for reading until the end. Our Instagram and Facebook pages are also being updated.