When Larkin Silverman, the Marketing Coordinator and Social Media Manager at Day’s Jewelers, was asked to design a custom design pendant for rising Maine basketball star Cooper Flagg, she knew it would be a project unlike any other.
”I was really excited,” Larkin said, “because in my time at Day’s, I’ve fallen in love with jewelry with a way I’ve never expected. I’ve designed my own stuff and played around with loose gemstones, but this was something substantive. It wasn’t whimsical or something that I was going to wear; it was something serious to mark a huge professional milestone for a hometown hero.”
Indeed, Larkin is no stranger to custom design; she has designed several personal pieces in partnership with Day’s Jewelers, and right away, had a vision for what she wanted to create for Cooper.
“The original inspiration was a number 32; I noticed that at several points in his basketball career, Cooper sported a 32 on his jersey, including his time with the Dallas Mavericks.”
Larkin’s concept evolved into a stylized depiction of the number 32. Taking note from the embroidery of a number on a jersey, the original concept was a sharp, bold 32, using pavé diamonds for the bulk of the pendant and a high polish white gold edge to the number.
Larkin worked directly with the Flagg family, who loved the idea of a custom pendant from the start. The 32 concept evolved into the final F5 pieces, a nickname the family carried for their family of five. Each pendant features a bail in the shape of Maine, and four pendants plus one bracelet were gifted to the Flagg family: parents Ralph and Kelly, Cooper and his fraternal twin Ace, and oldest brother Hunter. The F5 pendant became a way to commemorate all members of the family, a lasting reminder that no matter where life takes them, they will always carry their story and bond.
“We are so incredibly grateful that Day’s Jewelers made us these amazing custom pieces. They are a beautiful representation of family and home,” said Kelly Flagg.
The story also carries a powerful full circle meaning. In 1997, Kelly and Ralph purchased their engagement ring from Day’s Jewelers in Bangor, marking the beginning of their journey as a family. Nearly three decades later, Day’s was honored to celebrate that same family by gifting custom pieces that will be carried forward by each of them.
Day’s coordinated with Cooper to present these custom design pieces to his family the day before his mother was inducted into the Maine Sports Hall of Fame for her time playing basketball for the state. An in-person presentation was organized in the Bangor Day’s store, the same location where Ralph and Kelly bought an engagement ring, and later, wedding bands.
Day’s Jewelers was delighted to partner with the Flagg family to produce this memorable custom jewelry, creations that symbolize not only athletic achievement but also family, heritage, and home.
For more than a century, Day’s Jewelers has helped people tell their stories through jewelry. Whether you come to us with a sketch, a vision, or simply a feeling you want to capture, our sales teams and master goldsmiths will guide you through every step of the process, from concept to creation.
Each custom design begins with a conversation, just as it did for the Flagg family. From engagement rings and heirloom redesigns to one-of-a-kind pendants like the F5, we take pride in creating jewelry that reflects who you are and what matters most.
At Day’s, we believe the best pieces are the ones that mean something, and when you design with us, your story becomes part of ours.
Ready to create your own custom piece?
Visit any Day’s Jewelers location or contact us online to begin designing something uniquely yours.
