TrendsNov 06, 2026
Pat Pruitt’s DragonFly Earrings Take Flight on Election NightGroundbreaking New Mexico Governor-elect Deb Haaland wore the earrings, our Piece of the Week, when she declared victory on Tuesday.
EditorsJan 04, 2013
The droids they’re looking for
What do you create for a man who proposed to his girlfriend with an R2-D2 engagement ring around Halloween while dressed as Charlie Brown from the Peanuts? The answer is simple: a C-3PO wedding band.
This past fall, Pittsburgh-based custom jewelry designer Paul Michael Bierker made headlines with the R2-D2 engagement ring, crafted in 14-karat X1 white gold, an alloy available through Stuller, custom-cut sapphires, diamonds and one ruby for the red light that appears below the droid’s eye. (This light is technically known as the “processor state indicator;” thank you Wookieepedia.)
Bierker said he created the ring after the client, a New Jersey tattoo artist who was dating his tattoo shop co-worker, posted images of what he had in mind on CustomMade.com, a website that connects clients searching for custom-made objects with the artists who can create them.
The jeweler, who sells both to private clients and via The Collection, a retail store in Pittsburgh that carries the work of several different designers, highly recommends the site. He says it netted him more than $100,000 in gross sales this past year. The fee to join is only $1 and while the site takes a 10 percent cut of whatever you sell, he said that is nothing compared to the total cost of sales inherent in running a retail store.
He said he connected with the client who made the R2 posting immediately, “of course” jumping at the chance to make Star Wars-related jewelry.
“I was a kid of the 70s,” Bierker said. “That’s the Holy Grail of awesomeness.”
With Bierker in Pennsylvania and his client in New Jersey, the two collaborated over the Internet to create the engagement ring. Now it’s on to a wedding-band version of R2-D2’s droid partner-in-crime, C-3PO, for him. The ring will be crafted in--what else?--yellow gold using brown brilliant-cut and rough diamonds.
While Bierker can’t share his C-3PO sketches just yet, the R2-D2 ring begat a number of other Star Wars-related jobs, not surprising for an über-popular movie franchise that has to have one of the biggest merchandising followings in history.
There is the Death Star engagement ring (below, left), a 10.5 mm silver-grey Tahitian pearl with black incised into the surface and white or black diamonds available in the shank, and a pair of R2-D2 wedding bands (below, right).
Bierker also has a number of other designs influenced by popular movie and book franchises that can be viewed on his Facebook page.
The designer said he while he won’t duplicate the original R2-D2 engagement ring, he has, with permission of the client, created
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
a stripped-down version of the ring, which he refers to as R2 “light.” But when he sells one he makes a donation to the original R2 client’s wedding fund or applies some of the money to the cost of C-3PO wedding band.
It’s just the force that’s with him.
“I don’t reproduce this ring. I could make (a lot more money),” he said. “But that’s sort of how we go. I tend to be really personally connected to my customers.”
It’s just the force that’s with him.
“I don’t reproduce this ring. I could make (a lot more money),” he said. “But that’s sort of how we go. I tend to be really personally connected to my customers.”
More on Editors
The Latest
MajorsNov 06, 2026
SNL’s Colin Jost Finds the Perfect Gift in Kay Jewelers’ Holiday AdJost goes on an epic journey, traversing rough seas and encountering a cyclops, to discover the perfect holiday gift.
Supplier BulletinNov 05, 2026
Winning With GCAL 8X®: What’s Working at the CounterSponsored by GCAL by Sarine
Brought to you by
How Overnight Mountings’ Bridal Builder Makes Custom Engagement Ring Design Easier to SellWith customization becoming more expected in engagement ring shopping, the Bridal Builder makes the process tangible.
SurveysNov 05, 2026
What Retailers Should Know About Holiday Shoppers This YearFrom shrinking budgets to AI elves, here are five takeaways from holiday reports by Bain, Adobe, Mastercard, NRF, and insights from YouGov.
Weekly QuizNov 05, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
CollectionsNov 05, 2026
Judi Powers, Russell Jones Unleash Joy With New CollaborationThe designers combined their talents for Little Pet Portraits, hand-painted miniatures of our best friends set in a piece of jewelry.
FinancialsNov 05, 2026
Brilliant Earth Continued to Resonate With High-Income Shoppers in Q3Its non-bridal fine jewelry remains the star of the show, recently launching new collections inspired by Elizabeth Taylor and Jane Goodall.
Brought to you by
A Diamond Is Forever Launches 2026 Holiday Campaign Championing Natural DiamondsA Diamond Is Forever's holiday campaign reimagines natural diamond icons for a new generation celebrating individuality.
MajorsNov 05, 2026
Ariana Grande Stars In Swarovski’s Holiday Campaign“Joy: The Swarovski Musical” features Ariana Grande as the leading lady in scenes inspired by classic musical montages.
GradingNov 05, 2026
GIA to Offer Next-Day Holiday ServicesThe lab will bring back its complimentary next-day service for some reports starting next week.
CrimeNov 04, 2026
$250K+ in Undeclared Cartier Jewelry Seized at Philadelphia AirportA Pennsylvania woman failed to declare a ring and a bracelet, discarding the boxes and receipts to conceal the purchases, officials said.
FinancialsNov 04, 2026
Pandora’s Q3 Sales Up 7% Amid Focus on DesignNew collections and relevant marketing pushed the company forward, while Pandora’s lab-grown diamond sales continue to lag.
Events & AwardsNov 04, 2026
NYC Jewelry Week 2026 Is the Largest Edition YetThe citywide celebration, slated for Nov. 16-22, is set to host more than 175 events, including live jewelry-making demos.
MajorsNov 04, 2026
Bergdorf Goodman Names New PresidentLanessa Elrod, former president and CEO of Louis Vuitton Americas, has stepped into the role as the retailer celebrates 125 years.
AuctionsNov 03, 2026
Infinity Gauntlet Set With 170+ Carats of Colored Gemstones Up for AuctionA replica of one of the most powerful objects in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the glove is heading to auction next month in Abu Dhabi.
IndependentsNov 03, 2026
Longtime Jewelry Marketer Arthur Klein Dies at 89Klein, who had his own marketing agency and worked for Gabriel & Co. and Trans American Diamond, is remembered as a kind man.
IndependentsNov 03, 2026
Zadok Jewelers Toasts To 50 Years With Diamond Bracelet GiveawayTo enter the giveaway, locals can purchase a featured beverage from one of eight participating restaurants in Houston and Austin, Texas.
Events & AwardsNov 03, 2026
David Yurman Gem Awards Grant Opens 2027 ApplicationsThe grant recipient will be awarded $50,000 as well as mentoring meetings with executives at David Yurman and other industry executives.
Events & AwardsNov 03, 2026
NAJA, Instappraise Name 2026 Scholarship WinnersThe winners include a non-NAJA member seeking training, a member beginning NAJA courses, and a member becoming a Certified Master Appraiser.
AuctionsNov 02, 2026
197-Carat ‘Romanov Sapphire’ Heads to Sotheby’s GenevaThe rare jewel, which has links to Russia’s Romanov dynasty, is estimated to fetch up to $2 million.
CrimeNov 02, 2026
Customs Seizes More Than 400 Fake Audemars Piguet WatchesIt is one of several seizures of counterfeit jewelry and watches by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials in Louisville this year.
MajorsNov 02, 2026
Lawrence Bock, Caryl Capeci, Amanda Coleman-Phelps Join JA Board Jewelers of America announced the additions to its board of directors following its annual general meeting, held last week.
CollectionsNov 02, 2026
Olympian Kristi Yamaguchi, Heller Jewelers Expand ‘Always Dream’ CollectionThe jewelry collection supports Yamaguchi’s Always Dream foundation, which provides reading and educational resources to families in need.
Events & AwardsOct 30, 2026
Illuminating Carved Paraiba Pendant, Suite of Moonstones Wow at Spectrum AwardsSpectrum’s “Best of Show” honors went to a 101-carat Paraiba carved to look like Medusa that has a magnet-activated LED light.
TrendsOct 30, 2026
Edina Kiss’ Pendants Say ‘Eye’m Watching You’Our Halloween Pieces of the Week are four “Eye” pendants, each set with colorful gemstones.
MajorsOct 30, 2026
The RealReal Hires Former eBay Exec as New Chief Merchandising OfficerAlexis Hoopes expanded eBay’s “Authenticity Guarantee” program during her tenure.
WatchesOct 29, 2026
Bucherer Opens Rolex Boutique in Washington StateThe Rolex-owned retailer’s new 4,700-square-foot store’s façade honors the Pacific Northwest’s evergreen forests.
