Friday, October 30, 2009

the f*ck-Tiffany engagement ring

I don't know how I overlooked Bario-Neal* in my round-up. Their lovely Knottedrush Ring, which, for the record, I prefer as a wedding band, has been making the rounds on the blogs for more than a year (and has been much imitated by other designers).

But they've also got some pretty slammin engagement rings. This rough diamond Avens Ring is my favorite. Does it not have a terrific fuck-Tiffany thing going on?**

And I'm referring to the design. It doesn't hurt that the rings are handcrafted with reclaimed precious metals; ethically-sourced stones; and low-impact, environmentally conscious practices. Plus 1% of all Bario-Neal profits is donated to the Association for Responsible Mining.

This concludes ring month (er, two weeks) on ESB. But I did put a little directory of my favorites over on the right for handy reference.

*Have I lost my mind, or was Bario-Neal formerly known as Rust Belt?

**After I just told practical, schmactical I thought this ring was too "indie take on the Tiffany ring." I dunno. I'm fussy.

15 comments:

  1. Its good to be fussy, I'm with you woman.

    This ring is great, and I hadn't even thought to look at their engagement rings either.

    BTW- I think he is going with the ballerina ring. ahhhhhh! we'll see!

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  2. A) i'm getting a little obsessed with the word "herkimer." name for the cat we're getting in the next few months? "here are our cats, charles bronson and herkimer." hmm.

    B) my little sis just got engaged and was given a lovely family heirloom; it happens to have a large old skool diamond, which is miles from her style but traditions and family-lovin' and whatever, it comes from a good place. BUT her creepy friends are all over facebook with the "it's so big! you must be so happy!" i'm past the diamond wars, but seriously, people can still say that shit with straight faces? in 2009? facebook: where taste and progress go to die.

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  3. i've never understood the tiffany appeal...
    "will you marry me? here's your ring... oh, and there's fifty thousand other rings out there just like it because it comes from a huge corporate conglomerate that everyone and their mom tries to rip off anyway... don't you feel special now??"

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  4. You know, I thought I liked the Tiffany ring (when I was in my early 20's it was all wrapped up in my love of New York, so whatever) until I tried it on, and it felt SO cold and SO impersonal. And thank god. Since I don't even wear my vintage engagement ring, thank goodness I don't have the Tiffany ring.

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  5. I do love the Knottedrush Ring. I have to say though... as someone who is VERY talented at ruining things, I know for a fact that i would snag the Avens Ring on sweaters... bang it on the subway railing and pretty much ruin it in week... that's just me.. i think the less *bits* to ruin, the better....

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  6. i love staring at this, but i think it would be awkward to wear.

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  7. im really into the white knottedrush necklace.. like xmas list into..

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  8. I wish I had seen that ring 1.5 years ago.

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  9. Why wouldn't you be fussy about something you'll be wearing for the rest of your life? I love those links, too!

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  10. Great site! I love the Zinnia ring. It looks a lot like my grandmother's.

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  11. oh my god have you seen the "packaging" link on the bario-neal site?! i would die to have something as special as a wedding band come to me in the mail packaged as spectacularly as that.

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  12. Well of course I want a rubbish green/blue box! I'm so glad I will never meet anyone else with the same ring as me. I really have a hankering for a uncut diamond though. Mmm.

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  13. i love my ring. i look at other rings and think, "oh. that is cool. but i still love mine better". and i pretty much think that is how you are supposed to feel about it.

    i won't ever see anyone w/ my ring because my lover designed it and had it made special. just for me. and it looks vintage, even though it's new. and it has a diamond. so sue me.

    but it's unique and it's not from tiffany. (i agree to eff the tiffany mess. everyone has those lame ol' rings).

    as long as you are happy with your ring, do whatever you like.

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