Nolan & Vada's Sapphires - Together Journal

Discover timeless sapphire jewellery, handcrafted for modern romance.

Inspired by the wild beauty of forests, oceans and sunsets, Nolan and Vada create engagement rings with rare, ethically sourced sapphires in colours as unique as their wearers. Each stone is chosen for its individuality, from vivid teals to deep ocean blues. The result is a timeless piece that captures personal stories and celebrates every kind of love.

What inspired the creation of Nolan & Vada and how did the brand come to life?

Nolan and Vada really began with our founder’s own proposal story — he popped the question with a diamond, thinking it was the classic choice, only to find out later that his partner had always dreamed of a purple gemstone. That moment sparked something: the idea that an engagement ring should reflect the person wearing it — their style, their story, their heart. From there, Nolan and Vada was born. We set out to create meaningful, one-of-a-kind rings with ethically sourced sapphires, handcrafted locally and designed around each couple’s vision.

How would you describe your approach to designing engagement rings?

We start with the person, not the setting. Every ring we design begins with a conversation — about what the wearer loves, how they live, and what makes their story unique. Then we introduce natural sapphires that reflect that individuality. From nature-inspired colours and
stories, to subtle personal details each couple wants to include, each ring is carefully considered and locally made by our talented team of jewellers. Modern heirlooms that both stand the test of time, while truly expressing each individual story and couple’s personality.

What does the process of creating a one-of-a-kind ring look like for your clients?

It’s intentionally personal and truly one-of-a-kind. Once someone enquires, we get to know what they’re after — style preferences, timelines, values, and most importantly getting to know them and their partner. We then hand-select a small collection of natural sapphires to suit them, often with some rare and unexpected options in the mix, guiding the design process based on their own inspiration or vision for the ring. From there, our clients gravitate towards our timeless collection of designs or work with us to create something completely custom. Along the way, we offer virtual or in-store consults, studio updates, and a lot of guidance. It’s relaxed, collaborative, and always built around each couple’s preferences.

What are the most important elements you consider when selecting stones and materials?

We care deeply about where our gems come from, as well as sustainability and ethics throughout the entire process. All our sapphires are 100% natural, and we work with small-scale miners and ethical partners in Sri Lanka, Australia and Montana. We take our sapphire sourcing
very seriously, with one of the largest collections in Australasia. Most importantly we only source gems that are considered AAA Grade — meaning our clients only see the cream of the crop. We’re drawn to stones that have personality, unmatched colour, and are of the highest quality. Because we believe the ring starts with the perfect gem, we not only have an abundant inventory of mixed shapes, hues and tones, we also have one of the most extensive networks to custom source the perfect stone for each couple.

How do you ensure the design journey feels meaningful and personal for each couple?

We take our time with people, there’s never any rush or pressure — that’s not our style. From the moment someone reaches out, we’re here to listen, guide, and collaborate. We tailor every part of the journey to suit them, from the sapphires we suggest to the design tweaks we make along the way. We also offer 45-minute consultations, bespoke ring previews & mockups, so couples can feel confident and connected throughout the process. It’s never just a transaction, we’re in the fortunate position of crafting one of the most memorable and unique pieces of jewellery they’ll ever wear, an honour we don’t take lightly.

How has the Nolan & Vada aesthetic evolved over time?

At our core, we’ve always celebrated nature, storytelling and emotion. Over time, meeting thousands of unique couples has shaped the inspiration of our brand — embracing bolder designs, asymmetry and sculptural details. We’ve refined our signature style to feel even more distinctive: modern yet romantic, bold yet deeply wearable, truly one-of-a-kind and individual. Over time, we’ve also expanded our offerings to include bespoke wedding bands and custom sets that continue the story of the engagement ring.

What’s a current jewellery trend you find exciting or inspiring?

There’s a real shift toward self-expression and individuality, which we love. More people are choosing coloured stones — teal, peach, cornflower blues — and leaning into meaningful symbolism over tradition. We’re also seeing a rise in non-traditional shapes and organic, slightly imperfect designs. It’s all about personality, and we’re absolutely here for it.

Are there any upcoming collections, collaborations, or ideas you’re excited to explore next?

We’re always working behind the scenes on bringing new and inspired designs into our NV Collection. Sapphires offer a beautifully unmatched contrast and charm, in addition to the limitless inspiration from our gorgeous clients, mother nature, heritage jewellery designs and more — giving us a truly endless source of inspiration for new designs on the horizon. We’re also exploring more ways to tell the story behind each sapphire, with deeper transparency around origin and sourcing. And while everything we do is bespoke, we’re always dreaming up creative ways to bring more couples into the fold, whether that’s through limited-edition pieces or new storytelling formats.