#projecteo

Do you work in a field that prepared you for making the ring?

“I’m not a jewelry designer by any means - I actually work as a freelance copywriter. But I am a tinkerer by nature, and when I started this project Katrina was about to start teaching at a project-based learning school, so it was the ideal alternative engagement ring idea. 

“I first set out to find a lens and film small enough to fit into a ring. The Projecteo was the perfect size. I ordered the mini-projector online, along with the film wheel with 9 of the same image (in case I couldn’t cut the edges right the first eight times!), which was a photo of us when we first went to the beach together.

“I then took the projector apart to take out the lens and the light source. Since I am not a jewelry designer, I worked with Lada from L&L Diamonds, a jeweler from Philly, to create a ring in my girlfriend’s size, where the lens was the ‘stone’ and there was room for a 1mm x 1mm film slide. 

“When the ring was made I was ecstatic, but whenever I shined the light through the ring, I could only see the image projection if I held the ring really close to the wall. I realized I needed a box to help channel the light source. I worked in the AutoCAD software, Onshape, to create a ring box that would fit the ring and the light source, and then used a 3D printer to print out the box. The measurements were not perfect, so I spent a few weeks sanding down some areas so that the ring would actually fit in the box and the box would clasp shut. Creating something so cool was a proud moment for me.”

How long did it take you to create the ring? What were the biggest challenges?

“It took me 5 months from mid-May to mid-October 2015 to create the ring and the box. My biggest challenge was keeping the whole thing a secret, because I am the worst secret keeper. Conveniently, I was also working on another project that involved light projections (I’m working on an app and device that will allow people to read books/content via projection in a convenient and fun way), so whenever I did some work on the ring, she would say ‘Is this that projection project?’ and I would nod silently.”

Where did you pop the question?

“We had made plans to have dinner and see a performance at the Annenberg Center (in Philadelphia), so I had decided beforehand that I would propose at dinner during dessert. I even called the restaurant beforehand and told them to write ‘Congratulations’ on our dessert plate. 

“Well, we lost track of time during dinner, and found ourselves having to rush out of the restaurant to make the performance. In an instant, she ran out to feed the parking meter while I paid for dinner! 

“The performance we went to see was incredible but we were both exhausted afterwards. And when we got home, I exclaimed in awkwardness, ‘No wait, our date isn’t over yet.’ So I showed her the box and the projection of us on the wall, and she was very impressed, and then said good night, but I was persistent. ‘No wait, there’s more!’ I opened the box and she said something like ‘Oh neat, it has a little ring inside!’ It wasn’t until I started a speech I had prepared that she realized this was a proposal.”

How was the ring received (aside from the positive response!)?

“What is cooler than showing off an engagement ring with a rock? Showing off a unique ring that is a part of a bigger cooler gadget. Aside from the engagement, the goal was to show her what she inspires me to be: a creator.”

And does Katrina wear the ring day-to-day, or is it more of a memento?

“Showing off the ring to everyone gave wear and tear to the box and the light source. And the ring size ended up being slightly small. Also, with the exposed film, one can’t wash hands with the ring on, so the ring isn’t worn as much anymore though it’s kept in a sacred place. 

“I have made some mental notes for ‘Projection ring 2.0′, that includes a 1mm waterproof window for the film slide and also a ring for myself, but house projects and more novel project ideas have recently taken priority.”

When do you plan to get hitched?

“We plan to have a formal ceremony with a big party and everything on August 12, 2017. It was really important to me that my sister be there, and she lives abroad and couldn’t commit to coming to the States until then. In the meantime we are enjoying our long engagement with each other, and are working on new tinkering projects together, mostly home improvements.”

Thanks for sharing your story with us, Liz - and we hope the home improvements and ceremony planning go well!