Life certainly doesn’t always play out the way we expect it to. However, Summer House star Luke Gulbranson has decided to turn lemons into lemonade by auctioning off the stunning engagement ring he bought for his ex through renowned secondhand jewelry marketplace, I Do Now I Don’t (www.idonowidont.com). And, Gulbranson will be donating a portion of the proceeds to a cause near and dear to his heart, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
The gorgeous Tiffany & Co. round brilliant solitaire diamond ring, set in 18-karat white and yellow gold, is just shy of one carat – with both excellent color and clarity. It will be up for auction from Monday, August 17 through Sunday, August 23, with a starting bid of $5,000.
We had the pleasure of chatting with Gulbranson about the unique auction, supporting The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, those Summer House season 5 rumors, his Ranger Co. (R Co.) and more.
What inspired the idea to auction off the engagement ring and donate a percentage of the sale to charity?
LK: It was something that was kind of a negative in my life and I felt like it could be turned into something positive. I don’t even want to say negative at this point, because I grew a lot from that relationship. But I still thought if you’re buying a ring and you’re not gonna get married, why not benefit other people in some way or do something positive with it? That was my whole mentality with it. Let’s have something good come out of something that went south.
When and why did you know that you were finally ready to let go of the ring?
LK: I felt like I was ready a while ago, but life happens, you get busy, you get caught up with doing things and running a business and with COVID and all that stuff. I have the time now to put forth and I wanted to make sure that when I did it, I did it right and I was able to donate to a charity. You want to cross your t’s and dot your i’s. It was also a thought that came to my mind, but I didn’t put it into action right away. I felt like once I had the opportunity to get the wheels turning on it, I would move forward with it.
That’s kind of why I’m doing it now. And also, I feel like with COVID and being home and renovating my lake home and having to be alone in my thoughts, I felt like I grew a lot as a person and really moved forward from my past. Really, it helped a lot.
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The Tiffany & Co. sparkler retails for $11,500. (Courtesy Photo) |
The cause you selected is incredibly personal. Could you speak about why you wanted to share your gratitude towards The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society?
LK: My mother has leukemia, and she’s been battling it for eight years now or nine. They’ve been very, very good to her and my family. I just want to give back to them because they’ve been so good to her and us as a whole. They’ve been so, so gracious and so kind to my mom.
Now you actually create your own jewelry for your Ranger Co. brand. Would you ever think about creating an engagement ring?
LK: I would love to. I haven’t worked with stones. I would probably outsource that. I would make the band and work with somebody to put a setting in, in stone. I have created wedding rings for men. I literally just made one – probably three weeks ago – that was ordered and it was my Pine Ring. The Pine Ring is very interesting. It’s a really cool ring and it’s really great as a wedding ring. So, I’ve had quite a few orders, actually, for that ring in gold. The last one I made was in 18-karat gold and the guy seems super happy with it. It’s different. The cool thing about it is some people want something that is original or handmade. It’s really fun for me because I feel like with work, you enjoy your job, but you really enjoy it when you do something that’s rewarding or fulfilling. For me, being able to create something and see the smile it puts on someone’s face, and I know that’s kind of cheesy, but it’s so true. When they write you a kind message saying how much they like something you created for them, it’s like wow… It’s just really fulfilling for me and it makes me happy. I enjoy what I do, but then that’s just like the icing on the cake.
Last summer, you spent quite a bit of time in the Hamptons, along with the rest of your Summer House castmates. Will you be spending any time in the area this summer and what was it like to join the cast of the Bravo hit?
LK: I had to come back for some hockey stuff. With COVID, for me, being in Minnesota away for a month and being alone, coming back to the city was kind of a trip. I don’t like being in the city right now. I’ve been able to escape out to the Hamptons a couple times, just with friends and just to get out of the city and be away.
But, I enjoyed my time last year. It was a lot of fun. I walked away with great memories and grew a lot as a person and made really great friendships with the people I didn’t know prior. This year, being in New York coaching in hockey, I’m able to get out to the Hamptons a little bit for a break here and there. It’s nice because I enjoyed myself out there last year so much that being able to get away and enjoy some of those things, on a weekend or a couple days here and there, is nice. The Hamptons grew on me last year, I guess I should say.
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Ranger Co. Pine Ring in 18-karat gold. (Courtesy Photo) |
What does an ideal day or evening in the Hamptons look like?
LK: For me, I feel like it’s a workout in the morning or run. Then probably sitting by the pool, barbecuing, having a beer and then in the evening going for a ride on the Harley, watching the sunset, coming back and having a fire, and then have a few more drinks and maybe play a little guitar and some tunes and just enjoying it. It’s really beautiful in the Hamptons. It reminds me a lot of being at home. So, I just like to do the things I like to do at home, which is enjoy nature and enjoy riding my motorcycle and that type of stuff.
There’s rumors that season five has begun or will begin filming soon. I’m not sure if you can discuss this, but will you be a part of the new season and can you share anything about it?
LK: I have no idea. It’s funny because I’ve heard a lot of stuff and people keep messaging me on my social media like, “What’s going on?” I’m like, “I’m coaching hockey right now. I don’t know what’s going on.” Nobody’s reached out to me about it. I’ve talked to my friends and nobody’s mentioned anything. So, if they decide they want to, given the circumstances with COVID, I don’t know what would happen. I’d be happy to go back. But, if not, no worries. But, like I said, I’m not sure what’s going on with it. So, we’ll see. Rumors are rumors.
What’s next for you?
LK: With being in the city and coaching hockey, you know, over the past like two weeks, three weeks, I’m thinking I’m possibly just going home, back to Minnesota, and running my business there and spending a year at my lake home, getting some more renovations done. Just running my business and staying there. I mean, with this COVID stuff happening, it’s changed my life in a lot of ways. It’s just I’m not enjoying New York City right now. When I’m at the lake, I can come on my property, I don’t need to wear a mask all day. I can go for a run and not see one car. In the city, you’re wearing masks when you’re running and it’s just all these people. For me, I think I’m probably going to go home until this COVID shit gets figured out. I’m fortunate enough to have that escape, which is nice.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
LK: I hope we can get this ring sold and make as much money as we can and donate a portion of it to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Like I said, let’s just make something good happen out of something that was, for me personally, was a tough, tough situation.
For more information about Gulbranson’s Ranger Co., visit www.rcoshop.com. To make a bid, visit www.idonowidont.com.
