Stephanie Rice: Olympic star shares feelings on eye-catching engagement ring designed by Perth jeweller

Former swimming star Stephanie Rice delighted fans with the announcement of her engagement to Aussie pastor Mark Lassey on Thursday, but few paid closer attention to the sparkling ring on her finger than the Perth jeweller who designed it.

Based in the CBD’s London Court shopping arcade, Charles Edward Jewellers was enlisted to design the one-of-a-kind adornment after the company’s CEO was introduced to Mr Lassey by a fellow pastor at Kingdomcity Church’s Canning Vale location.

Singaporean Charles Edward, who took over the store in 1999 and bizarrely shares his name with the workshop’s founder, had spoken briefly with Mr Lassey prior to their meeting but didn’t know who the special ring was for.

It was only upon the pastor’s entry into his store a couple of months ago that he learned of the “very special person” Mr Lassey was intending to propose to.

“He mentioned Stephanie Rice, and I said, ‘Oh my gosh!’, this is the lady you’ve been talking about?’” Mr Edward recalled.

The “individually crafted” 18-carat white gold band frames a centre stone with eight diamonds nestled upon each side.

“This is a once-off because I haven’t done it for anybody else,” Mr Edward insisted.

With the couple sharing a love of God, Mr Lassey described his dealings with the jeweller as a “brilliant experience” and one inspired by the Church.

“It was a one of one design that we had the opportunity of developing together step by step and that was really important to Steph and to me,” Mr Lassey said.

“Part of the journey wasn’t just walking into the store, but having a relationship outside of the store as well.”

Glowing in her appraisal of the bespoke piece, Rice remarked, “I love the ring, it’s so beautiful”.

Meeting roughly seven months ago, a mutual friend of the pair “saw the potential and connected” them, despite the former swimmer residing in Dubai and Mr Lassey calling Perth home.

Sharing snaps from the proposal to her Instagram page, the triple Olympic gold medallist flashed the sparkling piece alongside her 46-year-old Perth-based beau framed by the towering Atlantis Hotel in Dubai.

“Here’s to fresh starts and second chances … Yes to a lifetime with you,” she captioned the series of images, alongside a ring emoji and an ode to her Christian faith.