It's Been Too Long Since You've Had Turquoise Rings Up

Hi ESB,

Brilliant Earth has not one, not two but THREE antique turquoise rings up right now. Please make this known so someone snarky can purchase them!!!

xoxo
N.

P.S. Single, engaged, left-months-away-from-the-altar, grieving-and-single, happy-and-single, and happy-and-taken…I've kept reading through it all. Thanks for that.

*****

Also digging this one from Metier [pictured above]

Bario-Neal opens a showroom in NYC!!! (Sponsored by, erm, Bario-Neal)

Hello, internet. Hello, world! Helloooooo, New York City....

We are Bario-Neal Jewelry and we are excited to announce the opening of our New York City showroom in lower manhattan. 

Bario-Neal is committed to environmental responsibility, ethical sourcing, and marriage equality. Our work is handmade in Philly with recycled metals and responsibly-sourced gemstones. We are also happy to work with your heirloom stones or recycle your precious metals in our bands. 

The new location offers our custom design services and showcases Bario-Neal’s collections. It’s important for us to be able to work with our customers on a personal level as they search for the right wedding band, engagement ring, or special pair of earrings. With our new space, we look forward to being able to better serve (& get to know) our New York-based customers.

The showroom is only by appointment, but we are having an opening party! Stop by and check it out November 7th from 5-8pm, at 195 Chrystie St., #900A.

Editor's Note: Anna and Page sent me a whole bunch of images to choose from for this post. Rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets (yes, they make all those things, too!).

But it's the RINGS RINGS RINGS RINGS RINGS RINGS RINGS that blow me away every time -- both Bario-Neal's custom work (custom designs begin at $500, see three examples pictured at top) and the engagement rings + bands from their current collection (rings pictured are priced between $255-4400).

New from Catbird!

Gorg lil (affordable!) rings....

Sleeping Beauty, 14k white gold setting + rosecut white diamonds, $498

Maleficent, 14k rose gold setting + rosecut black and white diamonds, $364

And you might need the lil matching studs to get married in.

14k rose gold setting + 3mm rosecut white diamonds, $376

how do I subtly say BUY ME A RING?

Hi ESB,

I've been reading your blog for the past few weeks as conversations with my boyfriend have started to turn toward marriage. We've been dating for 11 months, live together, are about to embark on renovating my house together. We talk big picture all the time, like about marriage, kids, house money, etc. 

My reason for concern is that we have not talked about the small picture stuff -- like the proposal and engagement ring! I get that guys want the proposal to be a secret and I am concerned that he thinks he should just pick out a ring himself, since he has not mentioned engagement rings once in conversations about other items we're saving for (a juicer, a kayak, etc), not asked me to recommend jewelry I like, nothing. I know how to subtly drop hints about the wedding but don't know how to subtly say BUY ME A RING.

Should I be worried that we haven't chatted about the timing of engagement? And more to the point, how do I get the ring I want? Particularly, I don't want a solitaire diamond. 

PS I don't want to sound like a materialistic bitch -- I want a small, cheap wedding, etc. I just figure if I'm going to wear a ring for the rest of my life, I want to get the right one, you know?

Help!

*****

There is no subtle way to say BUY ME A RING.

You can, however, tell your boyfriend "Just so you know… If and when we do get engaged… I don't want a diamond solitaire!" 

And then show him what that is, because men are stupid. And then maaaaaaybe, if he's not stupid, he'll say "Well, what kind of ring would you want?"

Mirage by Beth Hoeckel

What should I do with these damn diamonds?

Hi ESB,

My aunt's ex-husband gave her a pair of diamond stud earrings (3 mm diamonds) when they got married (no ring) and she gave them to me when they got divorced. She told me that she didn't care if I ever wore them, but she didn't want them anymore and thought that of everyone in the family, I should have them.

A few years later, her adult son (from a different marriage) passed away as a result of chronic health problems. A few months after that, her ex husband committed suicide (after receiving a poor health diagnosis) and she wound up with his dog. She wasn't the most emotionally put-together before all of this and after the divorce and two losses, it's worse.

I've never worn the earrings because they aren't my style (prong-set in yellow gold) and I get uncomfortable looking at them. Fast-forward to today, my FH and I are designing an engagement+band set with a local artist. They will re-use stones in their designs. Do I use the diamonds as accents?

On the one hand, I don't care that much about a multi-stone ring. The artist does amazing metalworking that makes you totally forget how many stones there are and we are already purchasing a larger stone for the main setting. Also, if the earrings give me the willies when they're in my sock drawer, how will I feel about looking at the stones every day?

On the other hand, when the artist does have more than one stone to work with, the work gets even better. Also, what the hell else am I supposed to do with these earrings? Can't give them to anyone else in the family and wouldn't want to saddle anyone anyway.

If I do use them, do I need to tell anyone besides my FH (who already knows)? Do I tell the aunt? My mother?

Thanks,
Diamond Dilemma

*****

Put em in a collar for the dog.

Image via The Life Files

Seeking: The Unicorn of Engagement Rings

ESB,

Do you know of any great vintage jewelry shops? I’ve found Erstwhile, but any other recommendations would be most appreciated. I’m looking for an Art Deco, preferably rose cut ring.

Thanks!

*****

Funny you should ask... I've finally landed a vintage jewelry sponsor, and I could not be more stoked.

Badass + Modern + Antique = THE TRIFECTA

I emailed my guy at EraGem to ask which of his Art Deco rings are rose cut and he told me "the use of rose cut diamonds predates the art deco period. Art deco jewelry used predominately old european cut diamonds."

Such as:

Here's a (SOLD) example of a late 1800s rose cut ring from Erie Basin:

This would not have been an engagement ring.

Mike says, "Engagement rings weren't always a part of getting married. They seem to start about 1880s late victorian with old miner cut diamonds..."

Here's a (SOLD) example of a Victorian mine cut ring from Erie Basin:

And here's an Art Deco ring with a big ol' mine cut diamond from EraGem (also SOLD):

Mike says "I haven't actually seen an engagement ring with a rose cut center stone..."

The ring you're looking for may not exist.

Pictured at top: Vintage Estate Diamond Cluster Cocktail Ring