Friday, October 16, 2009

engagement rings for a nontraditional girl

This post inspired Holli to email me: I wanted to know if you had suggestions or a direction you could point me in to some cool rings... the boy and I are shopping around... he is entirely traditional, and it makes me want to throw up so we're trying to find a middle ground.

I'm guessing the boy wants to buy a ring with a stone? Maybe even... a diamond? That does seem to be the tradition. I keep saying diamonds are over but nobody listens to me.

Anyhoo, I did a little look around, and found some stones that I like.

Alyson's (conflict-free!) rose cut grey diamond from Kate Szabone. Obv.

Golconda Yellow Sapphire Ring from the OK Store. Nobody's vouching for the stone, but the gold is "green and recycled."

(Browse OK for lots more gorg, minimalist rings that won't make you want to throw up. The store may be in West Hollywood, but Larry lives on the east side... you feel me?)

And last, the Rough Diamond Ring by Sarah Perlis. Made with recycled gold and conflict-free rough diamond. I'd slip this on my finger in a heartbeat. (Did I just say diamonds were over?)

It seems to me that most of the cool designers are going conflict-free. As Emily of {Eco-Chic Weddings} points out, there are now FIVE C's to consider when picking out a diamond.

Wheeeeeee! Emily is blogging again!
Posted by esb at 5:01 AM
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26 comments:

  1. great rings! its so important to look for conflict free jewelry if you buy new stuff.

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  2. Try also the Clay Pot- we bought a TODD REED and love, love, love it.

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  3. I love the grey diamond ring. If I wasn't so happy with my own aquamarine engagement band I would be coveting it...

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  4. I was hoping that big diamonds would fall out of favor with the coming of "Blood Diamond." I'd also encourage antique stores or vintage type shops. Still goes along the green line of reuse. And for those with a very earthy spirit: http://www.simplywoodrings.com/

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  5. my engagement right is one of tobias wong's hidden diamond rings, for that magritte-y "bling that is not bling" effect (i'm not a giant fan of diamonds either, but the sneaky one appealed). were i a diamond fan (with ridiculous scads of disposable income), i'd have seriously considered his reverse setting "killer ring" (you can see it if you scroll right on that first link). now there's a redefinition of 'blood diamond' i can get behind.

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  6. subbing "right" for "ring" = drink coffee before commenting. insert social commentary here.

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  7. rachel - aquamarine engagement band? love it! girl after my own heart. i <3 my diamond (yes, still a diamond lover... sorry ESB) band. comfy comfy comfy and will wear forever. none of this "putting my 30000 carat engagement solitaire in a safe and will never wear it in public once i'm married" thing

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  8. Erie Basin often has cool antique/vintage rings:

    http://eriebasin.com/shop.html

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  9. My husband got me a custom tiny rose cut diamond from Sarah Perlis when he proposed. We had a similar issue, I had never really liked diamonds, but he wanted to get me something more traditional. So he had this ring made in recycled white gold and it's so simple and delicate and perfect, so much so that I've fallen in love with the diamond.

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  10. My engagement ring is by Sarah Perlis, it's beautiful and she is really sweet. She made our bands too, we love them.

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  12. ooo la la, that Sarah Perlis ring is beautiful! I'm quite partial to the grey diamond though. ;) and the coolest thing? you can get stacking rings for anniversaries. more tiny grey diamonds.

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  13. Oh man, I haaaaaaaaaaaate diamonds and yet still that last ring is making me swoon. Want. Want bad.

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  14. Thank you for posting this! Now I have a new problem, how could I choose just one of these!? Guess I'll leave it to the boy
    -hol

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  15. yiiiii. just caught a few PSYCHED FOR WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE typos from last night.


    p.s. IknewIhadthecoolestreaders.

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  17. beauties, all of them. i'm guessing these rings will stand the test of time!

    is it too soon for me to start picking out an anniversary band?

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  18. p.s. i'm going to need emily's "insult family and leave in a huff" christmas card. immediately.

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  19. Wonderful! Fine jewelry means so much more when it is recreated from older pieces holding memories from friends and family.

    Al and Caroline

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  20. Hi there -- I just discovered your blog and loooove it. Those rings are gorgeous!

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  21. Check out the jewelry designers on Etsy. There are some incredible finds. My personal recommendation is My Heart Monster. My nontraditional engagement ring is from there.

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  22. If you live in Los Angeles - Claude Morady has great antique and vintage engagement rings. I found my fiance's ring there, totally unique and totally awesome.

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  23. i love the simplicity of these rings!

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  24. I cannot more highly recommend Beth Cyr. http://www.flickr.com/photos/bcyrjewelry/

    She did my ring set as designed by my fiance: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bcyrjewelry/3727974914/

    And he got one to match: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bcyrjewelry/3727972256/

    And diamonds don't have to be white. The stone in this set is a diamond - an amber colored diamond that was my mother's. So it's an heirloom diamond AND colored.

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  25. Thank you again for posting this, ESB! I just got up some ideas of my own, feedback please!

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  26. ah yes, these are a few of my favorites. but I went with a suzanne felsen design of rose gold and aquamarines. great blog east side bride.

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