In 1986 the French company Orest, expanded its distribution to the United States, and Mémoire Engagement Rings was born. Additionally, Orest named J. Douglas McDowell as CEO and Douglas’s mission was to cultivate a new level of quality in the US market.

In the 1980s, many jewelry manufacturers were promoting cast mountings and 14K gold. Douglas was a visionary who pushed platinum and extruded 18K gold. In fact, the quality of the fine French bands was so exquisite that a new standard of luxury emerged, and Mémoire Engagement Rings quickly became one of the most sought after fine jewelry brands in the United States.

Mémoire creates timeless and elegant pieces in a classic tradition.  Mémoire uses state-of-the-art laser engraving techniques which allow them to create personalized pieces that express the wearer’s personality. In fact, every gem in each Mémoire jewelry piece is inspected and certified by the Gemological Institute of America (G.I.A.)!

Schwanke Kasten Jewelers invites you to explore our full collection of engagement rings on our Schwanke Kasten website.