A Conversation with Heather Ng, Founder of Bohemi Jewelry

Boulder, Colorado is not exactly a city known for playing by the rules. And on the west end of Pearl Street, tucked into a studio at 1909 9th Street, there is a jewelry brand that fits right in. Bohemi is Boulder's source for alternative engagement rings crafted with sapphires, salt-and-pepper diamonds, and recycled gold. Founded by Heather Ng — a former bench jeweler with fifteen years of hands-on experience, a photography degree, and a deep reverence for the ancient relationship between humans and the objects they carry — Bohemi is built around a simple but powerful idea: jewelry is deeply personal — it tells a story, captures a moment, and becomes a part of who we are. For Heather, it has always been a symbol of strength, protection, and transformation. Different by design. Made with intention. That is Bohemi.

What is the origin story of Bohemi — and what were you trying to do differently from traditional ring shopping?

Heather: Center stones were a big one for me. We use sapphires, lab diamonds, salt-and-pepper diamonds — and we will certainly do white natural diamonds, but I just found that so many people wanted something different. Sapphires come in every color and they are incredibly durable, which makes them wonderful for engagement rings and wedding bands. We also specialize in Starbrite cuts — a fantasy cut that is really popular right now — because of the interesting way they interact with light. There is a sea of stores in Boulder, but they all offer the same thing: natural white diamonds. I do not think any of them even do lab. And if they do sapphire, it is usually just blue. This younger generation wants something different.

I also really wanted to rethink the custom experience entirely — what it actually feels like to walk into a store, sit down, and design your dream ring. I wanted it to feel easy, accessible, and genuinely transparent. Those were the things I focused on to make Bohemi different.

You describe your pieces as talismans — about strength, protection, and transformation. How does that belief actually show up in the way you design?

Heather: From a practical standpoint, strength means construction. There is so much jewelry — especially in the engagement and wedding space — that is very poorly made. I do not make super thin bands that are going to bend. I do not make tiny prongs holding a giant diamond that are eventually going to fail and lose the stone. We offer a Limited Lifetime Warranty on all our engagement and wedding rings. When I think about a talisman, I think about something you are carrying through the ages — and so construction matters deeply. I want everything we make to last a lifetime and become an heirloom.

Protection is the other layer. I really like to look at jewelry the way the ancients looked at it — as something you can imbue with spirituality, faith, or whatever it is that gets you through the day. I do not create objects just to create objects. I create them so they have meaning — so that every single time you look down at your hand, you feel something. What I love most about jewelry is its ability to create a connection to a loved one, no matter how close or far they are. A wearable reminder of someone's essence can bring daily comfort and keep their presence close to your heart.

You have built eight distinct collection worlds — Nyx, Arcadia, Stellaris, Artifex, Olympia, and others — and in custom work, you always start with the stone. How do those two systems come together in a real client project?

Heather: Over years of designing, I started to see that there are all these archetypes — witchy, geometric, architectural, botanical, cosmic. Most people gravitate toward one, but a lot of times they are drawn to elements from more than one and want to meld them together. Having eight collections that represent eight archetypes is enormously helpful for custom clients, because they can look at them and say: "I love this aspect of this one and this aspect of that one — put them together."

Right now I am working on a custom ring where the client loves the Starbrite cut, she really loves the witchy Nyx band, but she also loves the split shank of the Olympia. So we are combining those two things to create something entirely her own. Moody, magical, and a little mysterious — the Nyx collection leans into bold silhouettes and salt and pepper stones that break every rule in the best way. Olympia is the cool older sister of the engagement ring world. When you are talking to someone about custom and they are not in the jewelry world, all the language and terminology means nothing to them. Having these visual archetypes makes the conversation so much clearer — they can actually help design their own ring.

You are a photography major who shoots all of Bohemi's imagery yourself. What is your philosophy for communicating texture, scale, and trust online — before someone has ever tried a ring on?

Heather: As a buyer myself, I know what I want to see. I have ordered things online where the photography hides the back of the band, and what arrives is something super thin and cheaply made. That is not something I will ever do. I want to show you: this ring is made, this is what it looks like, this is what it looks like in natural lighting, this is what it looks like in sunlight. Videos are coming for every single ring — in natural light, with stacking — but even now, at any time someone can text us or chat through our inbox and I will go outside and shoot a video right then. Here is what it looks like in natural light. Here is what it looks like inside. I sold a ring just recently working entirely back and forth that way. All original Bohemi pieces are designed and handcrafted in Colorado with care and precision. By keeping our production within the US, we are able to maintain exceptional quality standards, minimize waste and transport, and ensure every piece reflects the integrity and craftsmanship our clients expect.

As Bohemi grows, how do you scale the human touch and Colorado craftsmanship without losing what makes the experience feel personal?

Heather: Having a production studio really helps. I was on the bench for fifteen years, and I am not on the bench at all anymore — I am almost solely in design and client meetings now. And being on the bench for that long was an absolute gift. I do not want to do it again, but it made me a significantly better designer. When I am talking to clients, the fact that I understand exactly how a ring is built — because I built them — makes me that much better at designing and doing custom work.

Growth-wise, we are looking for a new and larger space because we have outgrown the one we are in now. I plan to keep launching more rings within the collections. And we just completed a major website overhaul to make everything readable by large language models — a very large and expensive project, but the right investment. Designing a custom engagement ring or jewelry piece with Bohemi means creating more than just a beautiful object — you are crafting a meaningful symbol of your love story, your style, and your shared values. I feel like this is really my year, where everything has come together. I just plan on getting bigger.

And finally — what is your favorite Bohemi collection right now, and what does it capture about the brand?

Heather: My favorite right now is the Harlo collection — it is very Art Deco, and I am a devoted lover of Art Deco. I actually designed my own engagement ring in that world. And what I really love is the hidden detail: there is a hidden triangle diamond on the side. That combination of the clean Art Deco lines with the Starbrite cut makes it something genuinely unique — classic in its bones, but completely unexpected in its finish. I also love platinum, and I want more people to consider platinum over white gold. It is more durable, it wears beautifully over time, and for a piece you are going to wear every day for the rest of your life, it is absolutely worth it. Co-creating a custom engagement ring or jewelry piece as unique as your love story — that is the Bohemi experience. Expert-led design process, heirloom transformations, and ethical sourcing, all in one place.

Whether you vibe with vintage romance, celestial shimmer, or clean-lined minimalism, Bohemi's engagement ring collections are designed to do just that — crafted with precious metals, conflict-free stones, and a whole lot of heart, each piece made to last and made to love, with a hint of attitude. You can explore the full collection of alternative engagement rings, custom designs, and one-of-a-kind pieces at bohemi.com — or visit the studio in person at 1909 9th Street in downtown Boulder, Colorado, where the most important ring you will ever wear is waiting to be made.