Founder Story

"With family in the jewelry industry for nearly 50 years, I realized it's time to do things differently. MUCH differently."

I’m Suzan Doganay-Es, the founder and CEO of The MARQE - simplifying the commitment ring shopping experience by making customization effortless for everyone.  

My story begins with my dad, Mark, who I believe I got my creativity and outgoing (AKA semi-crazy) personality from. He also happens to be a genius jeweler who has taught me the trade over the years. As for my mom, well she's my darling cup of coffee that wakes me up every now and then. My dosage of ‘serious.’ I came to realize reality checks are not so bad, after all.

As a marketer by profession and a problem-solver by nature - and with years in the family industry - I couldn’t help but think of how we can bring innovation to commitment rings. 

After working in Marketing for 15 years, I decided to finally listen to my entrepreneurial spirit. In 2011, I took the leap and launched my first online store to make minimalist fine jewelry more accessible. During this time, I expanded my sourcing connections and deepened my understanding of the jewelry production process further. 

Little did I know that SUZANDES.com was laying the foundation for what was to come next. 

I came to realize the wedding ring industry has a major gap to fill.

The jewelry industry has remained surprisingly static despite dramatic shifts in how people approach marriage and relationships today. Seeing this disconnect – particularly given the growing demand for personalized expressions of commitment – inspired me to reimagine “commitment rings” for our modern era.

That’s what inspired me to create The MARQE – an innovative approach to commitment rings that transforms how people express their devotion. We're reinventing the wedding ring tradition by creating pieces that are as adaptable and meaningful as the relationships they symbolize.

Our patent-pending concept represents the future of commitment jewelry.