Leaving No Stone Unturned
By Marianne Rohrlich | View original article here
“Will you marry me” are some of the most magical words any time of year, especially around Valentine’s Day. “Put a ring on it,” as Beyoncé sings it, doesn’t necessarily mean a diamond.
Wallis Simpson, Jackie Kennedy and Princess Diana (whose ring was given to Kate Middleton) each wore an engagement ring that included colored gemstones. In 1796, Napoleon, then a young army officer, gave his future wife, Josephine, a ring of blue sapphires and diamonds.
Today anything goes, depending on the circumstances (perhaps financial) and the couple’s aesthetics and priorities. For the design crowd, there is a plastic ring in the shape of a classic Tiffany setting that could be given as either a place holder or the real thing. After all, it is truly the thought that counts.
1. Hand-Carved With a Touch of Glamour
Angled fragment Ring With Diamond is hand carved and set with a 0.015-carat diamond for anyone who wants just a tiny bit of glamour.
$150 from Corey Egan, coreyegan.com, 415-894-2832.
2. A Gem from 1810
An English Georgian-era ring from about 1810 has a cluster of old mine diamonds set in a shank with scrollwork; made of silver and 15-karat gold. The center stone is approximately 0.40 carats.
$15,500 from Kentshire, kentshire.com, 212-421-1100.
3. Making an Impression, Literally
The Inner Message ring by Jungyun Yoon, a designer in South Korea, leaves an impression of intention on the wearer’s finger (it comes with a choice of “marry me,” “always” or a heart). The ring is available in sterling silver or 14-karat gold.
$119 from Generate Design, gnr8.biz, 888-406-8702.
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4. A Gypsy Glamour
The Gypsy Horn ring in satin finish 18-karat yellow gold has a discreetly set 0.05-carat diamond.
$1,400 from Finn Jewelry, finnjewelry.com, 212-929-9556.
5. The Pink Plastic Solitaire
The designer Alissia Melka-Teichroew said she put a “playful spin” on the classic Tiffany set diamond solitaire. The pink plastic ring, also comes in other colors and finishes.
$12 from buyamt.com.
6. Inspired by Venus
The Venus garnet and pearl ring was inspired by a bracelet worn by Venus, the goddess of love, in a 17th-century 1614/15 painting by Peter Paul Rubens. This ring made of sterling silver with an overlay of 24-karat gold is set with one garnet and two fresh water pearls.
7. Platinum and Ruby Luxury
For those who want real luxury this platinum ring has a 4.61-carat untreated Burma ruby set in blue steel and surrounded by white diamonds totaling 1.13 carats.
$625,000 from M.S. Rau antiques, rauantiques.com,8. Pyrite Bling
This 14-karat gold-filled ring gets its bling from a natural Pyrite crystal, about one-inch long.
$92 by Friedasophie, etsy.com/shop/friedasophie.
9. Love in Rose Gold
A 14-karat rose gold ring has the word love spelled out in 38 white diamonds that equal 0.14 carats by Sydney Evan.
$860 at Bergdorf Goodman, bergdorfgoodman.com, 212-753-7300.
10. One of a Kind
A signed vintage JAR ring made in the 1980s in France, for one lucky buyer who cannot get an appointment with the famous jeweler in Paris: an approximately 4.06-carat diamond solitaire, color F, in a four-prong gold setting.
It is for resale at $220,000 from RAF Jewels at 1st Dibs, 1stdibs.com, 212-627-3927.
