Simple engagement rings make a comeback for 2021.

 ‘Understated’, ‘fuss-free’ and ‘elegant’ – that’s some of the words commonly used to describe the simpler engagement ring style that many people desire these days. Because let’s face it, major bling isn’t everyone’s cup of tea – but, does downsizing on the extravagance, mean compromising on the style?

The simple answer is no. In fact, there’s something effortless about a minimalist engagement ring that makes it more attractive to the modern bride-to-be. The clean lines and clear-cut stones are simple in design and offer a daintier, yet timeless look and feel. Minimalist designs also withstand the test of time, that’s why they’re the ‘go-to’ option for the modern woman.

Couples with minimalist and modern styles often gravitate to the delicate stones and smaller bands because they are simple and classic in style. Rupa Aranya Liechti, owner of Flawless Fine Jewellery – a fine jewellery store based in London’s trendy Hatton Garden, said: “What many people don’t realize is that you can still have something very special and personal with smaller minimalist rings – either by cutting multiple stones into the ring, or adding accent and colored stones – like birthstones, or even personalizing the ring with a meaningful hand engraving.”

Celebrity endorsements and the emergence of loud and lavish diamonds has created a misconception that bigger is always better, but that doesn’t always necessarily suit everyone’s personal style or lifestyle. A ‘hands on’ job or lifestyle for example, could mean that a larger ring is not the practical choice for some women. Rupa added that: “Without the stone taking up a sizable proportion of the ring, you’re also able to appreciate the beauty and simplicity of the ring itself.”

For 2021, there’s no doubt that the simple engagement ring is back centre stage. Rupa suggests the demand for simpler and refined engagement rings has taken over the desire for engagement rings that boast a significantly larger stone.

Whilst this is likely the result of an uncertain 2020 where the pandemic pushed consumers to be more conscious of their budgets and purchasing decisions, there’s no question that minimalist designs can stand the test of time or changing fashion seasons and are therefore, here to stay. Even better news is that the fuss-free design leaves you with a more comfortable budget so you still have cash to spare for that knock-out diamond.

Tiffany is selling men’s engagement rings for the first time

 Tiffany & Co. announced Friday the debut of its first-ever men’s engagement ring, as it looks to tap into a new market for its high-end jewelry amid a rise in same-sex marriages globally and gender-fluid fashion trends.

The retailer, now owned by the luxury products group LVMH, has named the new line after the company’s founder, Charles Lewis Tiffany. The rings feature round-brilliant and emerald-cut diamonds that measure up to 5 carats.

Tiffany said its aspiration for the men’s engagement line was to offer products in support of love and inclusivity, while “paving the way for new traditions to celebrate our unique love stories and honor our most cherished commitments to one another.”

In 1886, Tiffany introduced its first solitaire diamond engagement ring for women. For decades since, couples have visited the jeweler’s stores around the world in search of engagement rings for women, as well as wedding rings. But Tiffany is looking to change that, as it embraces a new wave of couples more than a century later.

The design of the men’s ring is a departure from the traditional wedding band, since it features a striking center diamond, Tiffany said.

And with the new offering, Tiffany hopes it can find another solid stream of revenue growth. The company did more than $4 billion in jewelry sales last year, with women’s engagement rings representing about 26% of total revenue.

The French group and Louis Vuitton-owner LVMH completed its $15.8 billion acquisition of Tiffany in early January, following a bitter legal dispute. When LVMH reported its first-quarter financial results earlier this month, it said its watches and jewelry division’s sales rose by 138%, benefiting from the consolidation of Tiffany.

Starting next month, Tiffany said the men’s engagement rings will be available at select stores globally. They’re already available for sale online.

The Most Beautiful Celebrity Engagement Rings Ever

 Apparently when Alexis Ohanian proposed to Serena Williams in 2016 it involved a mystery flight to Rome. The destination was a restaurant and the exact table where the couple had first met two years earlier. The tennis champion announced it via Reddit (the company her now-husband founded) and soon after debuted what some refer to as the eighth wonder of the world – a ring featuring a (very) large oval diamond nestled between two (slightly) smaller semi-circle diamonds. The piece of precious-stone phenomena is rumoured to be worth over US$2 Million.

Perhaps, this experience is not quite the same for anyone not defined as the greatest athlete of all time. Regardless, the moments between dating and engaged is poignant for everyone. For my own, the setting was exquisite (a beautiful yacht docked in the harbour) even if the catering was a little rustic (an 8-hour-refrigerated barbecued chicken with a 6-pack of Baker’s Delight’s finest rolls). The ring was perfect, though – yet to be designed, as per the bride’s request.

For a friend of mine, her special moment followed months of conspicuously strewn jewellery catalogues before accepting one very risky ring-in-an-oyster restaurant proposal. Another friend booked the getaway herself, then suggested an immediate evening walk so that her clearly sick-with-nerves boyfriend could finally utter something about marriage before passing out on one knee. Another friend continues to wear the ring she received from her ex-husband some years ago, always explaining “why should the jewellery suffer, too?”

When Prince William proposed to Kate Middleton on a remarkable African safari he got down on one knee before famously presenting her with his late mother Princess Diana’s ring. Yet, when his brother Harry proposed to Meghan Markle (albeit still with an incredible three-diamond sparkler) it was simply at home following an evening of Ina Garten’s famous roast chicken. While it’s unclear if they also had a six pack of bread rolls, I like Harry’s style – realising diamond moments are in the every day.

The point is, whether a proposal’s grandeur shifts the axis of the planet or arrives over a chicken roll at sunset, engagements are spectacularly memorable. And it’s for this reason that its piece of symbolic, earthly representation, the ring, is of utmost importance.

It might seem strange to talk about trends when it comes to engagement rings, however, even the slightest tweaks to notable styles can create looks that forge a deserved originality. You might find yourself smitten by a heavenly, spherical halo, or a sculptural one-of-a-kind gem or even a classic pedestaled centre stone you never imagined yourself swooning over. So, use our edit of some of the world’s most spectacular celebrity rings to begin your own path, and quite literally design your future. Or perhaps leave this page open next time your soulmate looks over your shoulder.

Natalie Portman’s Halo

After meeting on the set of Black Swan in 2009, Benjamin Millepied and Natalie Portman fell in love and became engaged the following year. Since then, her spectacular engagement ring has become an object of desire for many a bride-to-be. In fact, it’s circular setting, or halo, remains one of the most popular styles to be requested of jewellers. The halo design is unique as it sits as a single, central brilliant cut diamond circled by one or two diamond circumference borders. Hardy Brothers’  round brilliant cut halo engagement ring as well as their oval style perfectly blend the classicism of a solitaire with the vintage detail of mesmerising diamond surrounds.

Amal Clooney’s Emerald Cut

Much like the woman herself, Amal Clooney’s engagement ring is immeasurably classic, tasteful and impressive. Following her engagement to George Clooney in 2014, the human rights lawyer took more than a few breaths away when she began wearing her supersized emerald cut diamond ring. Flanked by tapered baguettes along the band, this cut of diamond is widely renowned to be one of the most clear and spectacular. It’s also one of the most exciting when it comes to style revival. Hardy Brothers’ Trilogy diamond engagement ring is centred by a 3.04 carat emerald cut diamond with two baguette diamonds set either side. This ‘trilogy’ is a unique statement of sophisticated precision.

Engagement rings for the modern minimalist.

 Traditionally, a classic engagement ring is a showstopper, with a simple design centred around a dazzling oversized diamond. Over the last few years, a host of jewellers have been quietly challenging this assumption with edgier designs which take the focus off the central stone for pieces both sustainable and understated.

With the end of the bigger is better mentality, a world of offbeat new engagement ring design has opened up. For jewellery brand, Sansoeurs, an engagement ring design can be elegant. Established in La Coruña in 2010, the brand has quickly established themselves as a minimalist master, with a permanent collection of rings which dot diamonds onto thin gold bands or thread them through intricate golden webbing.

This year’s new collection picks up on these threads, casting diamonds onto undulating bands of gold which loop around the finger. Optical illusions add a magical and fun element – diamonds appear to hang freely from a wave of gold, attached almost invisibly, with marquise diamonds appearing to tumble over each other while they dangle from the band.

In Ring the Belle, the gold band itself splits in two to hold its marquise diamond which is unusually set – once worn, it appears to rest on the adjoining figure in another trick of the eye. The highly polished band of gold itself becomes fluid in the Miki ring which loops and loops again around the finger. The triple Miki ring threads its way around three fingers, leaving the middle one free to ensure a comfortable fit.

‘We believe in jewellery as art and as a means of personal expression that needs to serve the person wearing it,’ the brand say. ‘Our jewellery is simple, easy to wear and adapts to every occasion.

How To Properly Size An Engagement Ring.

 

There is nothing more special than the day you get down on one knee with Engagement Ring and propose to the person you love more than anything else. You’re hands are shaking, your heart is thumping. As you slowly begin to drop to the one-kneed pose it feels like it’s taking an eternity. You reach into the inside pocket of your suit jacket and pull out a small box. It suddenly hits your partner what is happening and the joy is sinking in. As you open the box, the glimmer of the perfect engagement ring shines in the moon light.

It’s a moment you’ve both dreamed about and when you slide the ring onto her finger it… it doesn’t fit!.

You don’t want to find yourself in this position, but it is all too common. People will spend so much time picking out the perfect engagement ring for their partner that they don’t even realize how important it is to that proposal moment to make sure you bought the right sized ring.

There are a few easy ways to go about finding your partner’s ring size, and in this article, we’ll help you with some of the good, and not so good ideas.

Borrow One of Their Rings

If your significant other is someone who wears rings often, this can be the simplest way to get their ring size without spoiling the surprise. Pick out on of the rings they wear often and bring it to a jeweler – they will be able to tell you exactly what size it is. Now you know when you buy the engagement ring you will be buying it in a size that they are already wearing.

Caution: Make sure if you use this strategy you pick a ring they definitely wear often. You don’t want to grab a ring they’ve outgrown or something that they hold onto for sentimental value, because then you might end up with the wrong size completely.

Wait Until They Fall Asleep

Another way to find their ring size is to wait until they are out cold to test it out. Take a string or piece of thread and wrap it around their ring finger. See how long the portion wrapped around their ring finger is and use that to determine their size.

Caution: This approach can be risky. First, you might accidentally wake them up, and then you will find yourself in an awkward position explaining yourself out of that one. Don’t even try this approach if they are a light sleeper. Second, you need to make sure that you don’t wrap the string too tightly or too loosely in order to truly find the perfect fit. This can lead to improper sizing as well.

Ask Your Partner

This one might seem obvious, but maybe you don’t have to keep it a secret. If you’ve been in a relationship for a while and are ready to propose, there’s a pretty good chance they are expecting you to propose sometime soon too. You can still keep the actual proposal a surprise, but getting the ring size is important. Contact a jewelry like Indischen, and they will send you a free ring sizer. This is the best way to rest assured that you pick the right size.

4 ways to wear a wedding and engagement ring set

 There are a number of ways to stack your wedding and engagement rings on your finger. Here are the most popular ring placements:

Initially, during the wedding, the bride wears the engagement ring on her right hand’s ring finger. After the ceremony, she slides it back to her left hand, on top of her wedding band.

Therefore, this placement is considered more appropriate and is the most popular way of wearing engagement and wedding rings together. Most newlyweds follow this order.

This option, however, may not work with all ring styles. For example, if you have a really big diamond engagement ring, you won’t be able to properly stack it with a wedding band that has intricate details. Thus, you want a thinner band in this case.

Engagement ring first, wedding ring on top

In some cultures, women wear their wedding rings on top of their engagement rings. There are several reasons for it.

One is that the engagement ring comes first. Logically, you want to wear things in the order that you received them. 

Two, this placement symbolizes the importance of a couple’s promise to love one another. The wedding band strengthens such promise, for “better or for worse.” 

Engagement ring on one ring finger and wedding band on the other

If you don’t feel like wearing both of these rings on one finger, you can actually wear them separately. This option is very popular in countries like Germany and Netherlands.

It’s an unconventional approach but works well for people who have a very active lifestyle (stacking two rings together can be uncomfortable sometimes, making it hard for your fingers to move).

This placement is also great for people with short fingers or those who don’t like wearing too many rings on one finger. 

Lastly, wearing the rings separately is a great option if both your engagement and wedding rings have elaborate or conflicting designs. If your wedding band has a different band metal or color, or if it features intricate details that the ring looks great on its own, give it all the space and attention it needs by wearing your engagement ring on your other hand’s ring finger.

If you’re choosing this placement style, wear your wedding band on your left hand’s ring finger and the engagement ring on your right hand’s ring finger.

Alternate between rings

While it may be tempting to wear those rings at all times, some people find it uncomfortable in some situations. 

Engagement rings have more detailed designs, which make them less suitable for daily wear, especially when you’re going to the gym or participating in strenuous physical activities. Also, diamond rings are prone to scratches and damage so most people only wear these precious jewelry pieces during special occasions. 

Since wedding bands have simpler designs, it’s perfectly fine to wear them all the time. Day-to-day activities are less likely to harm your wedding ring, so go ahead and flaunt your bauble. Of course, you should take it off if it will be exposed to harsh chemicals, like when you’re cleaning.

Other people choose to wear one ring at a time simply because they aren’t used to wearing too many rings.

Should you solder your wedding and engagement rings?

If you like wearing both your relationship rings at the same time, all the time, soldering these two pieces together is a good idea.

Lastly, if your wedding band doesn’t look good on its own, soldering the rings together might be a good option. 

Final thoughts

There are different ways to wear a wedding and engagement ring set. Again, the traditional approach is to wear your engagement ring on top of your wedding band, like the way it’s supposed to after your wedding ceremony.

You can also have it worn otherwise (the wedding ring is on top of your engagement ring) which highlights the order of these unforgettable events in your life.

If stacking both rings in one finger doesn’t suit you, go ahead and wear them on both your hands. Or, you can choose to alternate between rings, depending on the occasion.

You can follow the norm or become a trendsetter and choose to wear these rings your way.

After all, at the end of the day, it’s your personal style that matters most. As long as you’re comfortable and you feel great about it, then it’s the best possible way you could wear your rings.

Wedding and Engagement ring etiquette.

 However you want to wear your wedding and engagement rings, it’s totally up to you. But it doesn’t hurt to know about the “proper” way of stacking them on your finger especially if you decide to wear both of them at once or if you’re thinking of having these two symbolic rings soldered together.

In this guide, we’ll talk about the traditional way of wearing a wedding and engagement ring set, along with some contemporary ways to keep you in style.

Engagement ring etiquette

The engagement ring is the most important piece of jewelry you’ll ever own. Therefore, you want to do everything right when it comes to engagement ring etiquette.

But before we dig deeper into it, let’s be clear on what makes it different from your wedding ring.

Obviously, the engagement ring is given during the proposal and the wedding ring, during your wedding ceremony. However, it’s not the only difference.

Generally, this piece of jewelry is more intricate and expensive. Engagement ring designs are as diverse as the brides-to-be and usually feature a diamond center stone. The most popular styles of engagement rings are brilliant round, solitaire, halo, oval-shaped, and emerald-cut.

When shopping for engagement rings, here are some etiquette practices to observe:

• You can help your partner choose the ring. Don’t think it’s just the “guy thing”. Stop prolonging his agony by taking part in the selection. In fact, most couples these days prefer shopping for engagement rings together.
• It doesn’t always have to be diamond. While diamond rings are ideal for engagement rings, no one says you can’t choose any other stone. You can choose to have a unique gemstone or combine it with a diamond. The most important thing is it should make you feel comfortable.
• Men can wear engagement rings too. Who says only women get to wear the ring? We’ve seen celebrities like Ed Sheeran, Michael Buble, and Johnny Depp wore engagement rings too. 
• Tradition (which dates back to ancient Romans) dictates that you wear your engagement ring on the “ring finger” of your left hand. 

Should your wedding band match your engagement ring?

Needless to say, engagement rings are far more expensive than wedding rings. Wedding bands are way simpler. They may or may not have diamond sparkles. 

Many couples take into big consideration the metal and style of their engagement rings when buying wedding bands. Others prefer to choose a completely unique band. 

While matching your jewelry is essential to look fashionable, there’s no “right” or “wrong” when it comes to pairing engagement rings with wedding rings. As long as it fits your style and it makes you happy, go for it!