The Ring That Broke My Heart, and Made Me a Designer

I opened Brax Jewelers in 2005, inside a small jewelry mart.

My rent was $1,000. My startup capital? A $30,000 loan from my mom. That’s how it all began.

By 2009, something in me knew I had to take a bigger risk.

Without money or a financial safety net, I opened my Newport Beach location. It was terrifying, but I had one thing stronger than fear: a deep passion for design.

Soon after, I decided to launch my own jewelry line: AmyA Design.

Even though I didn’t have the resources, I invested what little I had into creating displays, developing a logo, and designing 5–6 custom rings. It was one of the most exciting seasons of my life.

One of those rings was an emerald piece inspired by nature and flowers — my favorite source of beauty. I poured my heart into that design.

Then one day, a customer came in and noticed it.

She asked about the ring, but her tone changed quickly.

“This isn’t special,” she said.

“The diamonds are small.”

“It’s kind of ugly.”

But she wanted it, and I was desperate to sell. I didn’t believe in myself yet.

So I kept lowering the price. She bullied me. I let her.

I still remember the moment she walked out with the ring, my soul, for next to nothing.

I went to the back of the store and cried.

It wasn’t just a sale. It was my voice, my creativity, my courage… discounted and dismissed.

After that day, I stopped designing.

I told myself:

“Maybe I’m not a good designer. Maybe I’m not meant for this.”

But the universe had other plans.

Slowly, customers started asking me for help designing their engagement rings.

They didn’t care that I didn’t have a “line.” They trusted my taste.

They valued my intuition. They lit that fire again.

And without calling myself a designer, I became one again.

Designing started bringing me joy. Real joy.

Every time a client picked up their ring, I’d feel proud, fulfilled… like I was doing what I was meant to do.

In 2023, after almost 20 years of hiding behind the counter and giving away my worth,

I finally stepped into the light. I officially launched my new line: Amy Astaraee Design, inspired by the lotus flower, a symbol of rising through mud into beauty.

The truth is: I failed the first time because I didn’t believe in myself.

But every setback was a seed. It took me years, but now I stand tall in who I am, a jewelry designer with heart, vision, and legacy.

I don’t let anyone bully me anymore.