Industry News
10 Royal Engagement Rings We Love
We’re all waiting with bated breath to see what Prince Harry will choose when he proposes to Meghan Markle. Will he go with a brand new design from the House of Garrard, a royal family favorite and designer of Duchess Catherine’s sapphire sparkler? Or will he delve into the family’s collection for a stone or ring with a little history? Either way, we’re sure it will be an absolute stunner! But that’s not the only royal engagement ring worth ogling.
Here are ten of our favorites, from England and beyond, that we would definitely say “yes!” to!
Queen Elizabeth II
The Queen’s engagement ring, given to her by Prince Philip in 1947, will never go out of style. The diamonds were taken from a tiara that belonged to Philip’s mother, Princess Alice of Greece—a gift she received from Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra of Russia! The round 3-carat center stone is flanked by clusters of smaller stones, all set in timeless platinum. Queen Elizabeth II pairs the ring with a Welsh gold band, a nearly century-old tradition in the family.
Sophie, Countess of Wessex
Married to Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex (son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip), Sophie’s engagement ring is a Garrard design. The diamond sparkler features three stones: An oval-cut center stone, flanked by two heart-shaped diamonds, all set in white gold. The silhouette of the ring is totally classic, and those heart-shaped stones are a sweet, romantic addition.
Princess Madeleine of Sweden
The youngest child of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden, Princess Madeleine married financier Christopher O’Neill in 2013. Her engagement ring features a large Asscher-cut stone in a minimalist setting, atop a simple pavée shank. She paired it with a matching delicate pavée band, which doesn’t compete with the Art Deco facets of the center stone.
Queen Letizia of Spain
Known for her flawless taste in fashion and accessories, it’s no surprise Queen Letizia’s engagement ring makes a statement. Instead of the usual center stone on a band, the Queen’s ring is a modern eternity band featuring a series of baguette-cut diamonds. Like Queen Elizabeth II and Duchess Catherine, she too mixes metals and pairs the ring with a yellow gold wedding band.
Zara Tindall
Daughter of Princess Anne and granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II, Zara is an Olympic equestrian and is married to rugby player Mike Tindall. When he proposed in 2010, he presented her with a ring fit for royalty. The round center diamond is set above a split-shank band, with an extra dose of sparkle coming from channel-set diamonds.
Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco
The actress-turned-princess gave a generation of girls hope that they, too, might marry royalty, and it all started with an eye-catching engagement ring. The centerpiece of the Cartier ring is an over 10-carat emerald-cut diamond, which is flanked by baguettes and set in platinum.
Princess Charlene of Monaco
Married to Grace Kelly’s son, Prince Albert II, Princess Charlene is yet another royal Olympian with a spectacular engagement ring. Her ring is a break from many more traditional designs, featuring a three-carat pear-cut diamond that flatters the Princess’s long fingers. Surrounding round diamonds enhance the center stone’s inherent sparkle.
Queen Mother
While the Queen Mother’s original engagement ring was a little more classic (she became engaged to King George VI when he presented her with a sapphire ring with diamond accents), it’s the ring she swapped it out for later in life that really caught our attention. The ring featured a large pearl, surrounded by a collar of diamonds, that was equally feminine and unusual.
Crown Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece
Sapphires have popped up time and again as the featured stone of royal engagement rings, and the same goes for the ring worn by Crown Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece. A cabochon sapphire in an East-West setting is placed alongside a heart-shaped diamond in an elegant and non-traditional pairing.
Crown Princess Mary of Denmark
Yet another Olympic love story! Crown Princess Mary met Crown Prince Frederik in Sydney, Australia in 2000, when both were attending the summer games. When the Prince proposed three years later, he presented his now-wife with a ring inspired by Denmark’s flag. The stepped design features a center emerald-cut diamond, with emerald-cut rubies on either side.
Industry News
Santayana Jewelers + Panamera Sunglasses
Santayana Jewelers started 30 years ago as a passion project for Rodolfo Santayana and his family. They design and create unique, collectible pieces inspired by their Cuban heritage and Miami style. From Pandora-style charms to custom pieces, Santayana Jewelers has all your adornment needs covered!
We’re excited to announce that you can now find Panamera Sunglasses at Santayana Jewelers of Coral Gables, Miami! Visit 4100 Salzedo
Street to find your next great pair of sunglasses and shop their gorgeous bling!
Industry News
Silver Engagement Rings
While most engagement rings are crafted from yellow gold or platinum, silver engagement rings are a popular choice for their intricacy, delicate craftsmanship, and affordability. Before purchasing a silver ring, however, it is important to know how the metal compares to other options, and what special steps must be taken to keep it looking its best.
Why Choose a Silver Engagement Ring?
There are several reasons why couples choose silver engagement rings over more traditional gold or platinum rings. A bride’s taste is one of the main considerations: if she prefers white jewelry that matches everything in her wardrobe, silver is a beautiful option. As for the ring itself, both design and cost factor into the choice of an engagement ring.
Design
Because silver is very soft and malleable, it is often used for fine detail work that requires elaborate shapes, such as filigrees, knots, or molds. The most intricate Celtic engagement rings are often made of silver because it can be easily shaped. Even many gold rings use silver embellishments for unique design elements, creating a two-toned ring with a great deal of visual interest.
Cost
In general, silver rings are less expensive than their gold counterparts. Silver jewelry, however, is not priced solely based on the metal, but also on the intricacy of the piece and the labor required to produce it. Because of this, a very elaborate silver ring may have a higher price tag than a simple gold design.
Silver Vs. Other Precious Metals
When choosing between silver or other metals, it is important to consider the characteristics of each option in order to choose the most appropriate metal for your engagement ring. There are many reasons to choose silver over other precious metal including:
- For those wanting a white metal ring and are on a tight budget, silver is much less expensive than white gold or platinum.
- Unique shapes and designs can be made from silver since it is softer and easier to work with than other fine metals. It is more common to find trendier pieces constructed from silver.
- Silver develops a patina over time that adds to the character of the piece.
- If you are planning to upgrade your ring in the near future, silver is a great option to consider as an initial piece. It also makes for a great everyday ring or for times when you do not want to wear your more expensive ring.
- Many people cannot tell the difference between silver and other white metals.
Be aware of the following when considering a silver ring:
- Silver can tarnish and require more frequent cleanings than other white metals.
- Silver is more prone to corrosion over time no matter how well it is cared for. White gold is plated with rhodium and will need to be reapplied over time. Platinum is not plated with anything so will stay true in color.
- Silver is rarely used in its purest state for jewelry. Instead, sterling or copper alloys are used to add strength to the metal itself. If you have any known metal allergies, be sure to check the ring you are purchasing does not contain the metal you are allergic to.
- If the ring is silver plated, it can show wear over time and reveal the metal underneath the plating.
Caring for Silver Rings
Because silver is naturally soft, silver rings should be stored separately from other jewelry to prevent accidental scratches and nicks. As with any engagement ring, avoid wearing it while involved in heavy activity or cleaning that uses harsh chemicals such as ammonia or bleach, both of which can discolor even fine silver. Furthermore, silver can be damaged by seawater, so always remove a silver ring before swimming in the ocean, collecting seashells, or simply spending time at the beach.
The most common cleaning problem with silver rings is removing tarnish. Silver reacts naturally with sulfur and hydrogen sulfide in the air, and tarnishing is unavoidable. Wearing a silver ring continuously is the best way to avoid most tarnish buildup because the gentle friction from your fingers will keep the ring bright, but that will not prevent tarnish in delicate designs or along the surface of larger rings. To remove tarnish, use a specially formulated silver polish and a soft, lint-free cloth.
Finding Engagement Rings Made of Silver
Despite their versatility and beauty, engagement rings made of silver can be difficult to find. Fine jewelers will often have a limited supply of silver pieces, but any gold or platinum design can be reproduced as a silver ring if desired. Small, less expensive rings are often available in silver, though they are often called promise or commitment rings rather than actual engagement rings, and their designs are less elaborate and use smaller gemstones. Of course, custom rings can incorporate any precious metal, including silver. When choosing a jeweler, always inquire about their experience with silver rings because of the required specialized care and delicate nature of fine silver.
Silver rings are an affordable alternative to white gold or platinum for many couples. Not only is silver less expensive, but it is very malleable and can be used to create delicate patterns and intricate designs in addition to classic, simple configurations. When choosing a silver ring, however, always consider the additional care necessary to keep the metal tarnish-free and as sparkling as the day it is first put on the woman’s finger. With loving attention, a silver engagement ring will be just as treasured as a gold or platinum ring, and will last far past the silver anniversary.
Industry News
Alternative Ways to Wear Your Engagement Ring and Wedding Band
Tradition states that your engagement ring goes on the ring finger of your left hand, and that it goes outside of your wedding band once you’ve said “I do.” But did you know that’s not the only way to wear your rings? Our experts have a few different combos that are worth a look.
Wearing your wedding band on your left hand dates back to Roman tradition and the ancient belief that a vein ran directly from the left ring finger to the heart. The science may have been debunked, but that idea of a vena amoris, or a love vein, holds strong today, which is why when your fiancé got down on one knee, he most likely slipped a ring on your left hand (or intended to, anyway!). While wearing your band with your engagement ring stacked on top is the most common arrangement, there are many other ways to mix and match rings to flaunt your married status.
If you’re a ring stack devotee, consider purchasing more than one wedding band that you can layer on either side of your ring, creating layers of sparkle around your engagement ring. They could be jeweled, plain, or a mix of both — whatever fits your style and flatters your engagement ring!
Don’t want your right hand to be left out? Wear your wedding band on your left hand, but switch your engagement ring to your right hand. You can always add anniversary bands to create a pretty stack later!
Lefties, rejoice! In some countries and cultures, such as some orthodox Christian communities, wedding rings are worn on the right hand instead of the left, freeing up your dominant hand for tasks that an engagement ring could get in the way of.
Last, but not least, you can also skip the wedding band altogether: Instead, use your engagement ring to symbolize your marriage, too, and have your fiancé slip it back on your hand as you exchange vows.
Industry News
What’s Your Engagement Ring Style?
Choosing an engagement ring can be an overwhelming task. With so many styles, cuts, metals and makers and with the added pressure of owning one that you’ll love for a lifetime, it takes a little thought to get the ring just right! But not to fear, we’ve broken down the different styles for you to help you on your search. Which one suits you best?
1. Classic
You believe in the timeless value of things. Your taste doesn’t go in and out of season but you prefer to own things that will hold memories and last a lifetime. Spending a little more is often justified for you by investing in items that are of the highest quality and design. Pick a diamond solitaire engagement ring that’s princess-cut or round with a platinum metal and you can’t go wrong.
2. Bold
Celebrity styles have brought bold engagement ring looks into fashion. If you love to make a statement and stand out from the crowd then you’ll definitely want a large diamond ring to grab people’s attention. Go for a halo ring setting with small diamonds inserted along the ring band for a bold effect that will be sure to sparkle.
3. Vintage
Do you prefer the boho look and love to treasure memories and history? Then a vintage-style engagement ring will definitely suit you. Some brides are intrigued by precious rings passed-down through as heirlooms or you can even find second-hand rings and diamonds that you can alter to make your own.
4. Sweet
Many companies like Santayana Jewelry specialise in presenting more minimalist looks. If you prefer things petite and pay attention to detail then a square, princess or round cut diamond in a prong setting will be perfect for you.
5. Unique
You might prefer to carve your own path in life and do things your own way. Then why not custom-design your engagement ring for a truly unique style? There are plenty of other precious gems to choose from other than diamonds or you could pick a beautiful colored diamond instead. The possibilities are endless when you dive-in to design your own. So go ahead and get creative to match your engagement ring to your unique personality.
Industry News
How Diamonds Became Forever
Peggy Olson, that emblem of the pioneering ad woman in a man’s world on the television show “Mad Men,” would have been all of 8 years old on the night in 1947 when the real-life copywriter Frances Gerety coined the phrase “A Diamond Is Forever.”
As Ms. Gerety recalled in a 1988 interview with a co-worker, Howard Davis, she had just finished a series of ads and was headed to bed when she realized that she had forgotten to create a signature line. Exhausted, she said “Dear God, send me a line,” and scribbled something on a slip of paper. When she woke up and saw what she had written, she thought it was just O.K. A few hours later, she presented her idea at a meeting. According to her, “Nobody jumped.”
When Ms. Gerety applied to work at the Philadelphia advertising agency N.W. Ayer & Son in 1943, she was told that her timing was perfect: the agency had just lost a female copywriter. At the time, women were usually hired to write for women’s products only. Her main account would be De Beers. For the next 25 years, she wrote all of the company’s ads.
Her counterpart in publicity was Dorothy Dignam, a plucky brunette who kept a list of questions male co-workers asked her in the drawer beneath her typewriter; things she was meant to know as a woman, like, “Could a winter hat have a bird’s nest on it? Is Macy’s singular or plural? What do you give a girl graduating from a convent? Is this thing an inverted pleat?”
Neither Ms. Gerety nor Ms. Dignam ever married. But their greatest professional achievement arguably was helping to create a sense of emotional attachment to the diamond engagement ring.
It’s hard to imagine a time when diamond engagement rings were not the norm; today, even after a decade and a half of bad press about blood diamonds and working conditions in the mines, among other concerns, 75 percent of brides in the United States wear one, according to Kenneth Gassman, president of the Jewelry Industry Research Institute.
Last year, Americans spent almost $7 billion on the rings. But in 1938, when a De Beers representative wrote to N. W. Ayer to inquire whether “the use of propaganda in various forms” might boost the sale of diamonds in the United States, their popularity had been on a downward trend, in part because of the Depression.
N.W. Ayer conducted extensive surveys of consumer attitudes and found that most Americans thought diamonds were a luxury for the ultra-wealthy. Women wanted their men to spend money on “a washing machine, or a new car, anything but an engagement ring,” Ms. Gerety said in 1988. “It was considered just absolutely money down the drain.”
Still, the agency set an ambitious goal: “to create a situation where almost every person pledging marriage feels compelled to acquire a diamond engagement ring.”
Because De Beers controlled the world supply of rough diamonds, antitrust laws prohibited the company from doing business in the United States. The ads could not promote De Beers, or even show pictures of jewelry, so the agency commissioned bold paintings by artists like André Derain and purchased pre-existing works by Dalí and Picasso.
“Sentiment is essential to your advertising, as it is to your product,” it counseled De Beers in a memo, “for the emotional connotation of the diamond is the one competitive advantage which no other product can claim or dispute.”
Ms. Gerety’s early copy sometimes bordered on the heavy-handed. A typical wartime ad read: “Star of Hope: The engagement diamond on her finger is bright as a tear — but not with sadness. Like her eyes it holds a promise — of cool dawns together, of life grown rich and full and tranquil. Its lovely assurance shines through all the hours of waiting, to kindle with joy and precious meaning at the beginning of their new life to be.”
Meanwhile, Ms. Dignam was busy making sure average consumers saw diamonds everywhere. Her theory was that “the big ones sell the little ones.”
Capitalizing on the country’s newest obsession, she wrote a monthly letter to newspapers describing the diamond jewelry worn by Hollywood actresses. She sometimes appeared as a guest columnist on the women’s pages, writing under the name Diamond Dot Dignam. (“Jimmy Durante’s valentine to his dream girl, Margie Little, was an eye-opening diamond ring. Rosalind Russell wears only two costumes in ‘The Guilt of Janet Ames,’ but one of them consists of three and three-quarters pounds of diamonds and only two and a half pounds of foaming tulle and net and sequins.”)
In the 1950s, N. W. Ayer started lending jewels to socialites and starlets for the Academy Awards and the Kentucky Derby. The campaign was a success from the start. After just two years, the sale of diamonds in the United States increased by 55 percent. In its 1951 annual report, N. W. Ayer noted that, “for a number of years we have found evidence that the diamond engagement ring tradition is consistently growing stronger. Jewelers now tell us ‘a girl is not engaged unless she has a diamond engagement ring.’ ”
The company also succeeded in promulgating ideas like the Four C’s, which arose from a surplus of very small stones. Buyers had been taught that bigger meant better, and had no interest. So N. W. Ayer added a box labeled “How to Buy a Diamond” to every ad, with the instructions: “Ask about color, clarity, and cutting — for these determine a diamond’s quality, contribute to its beauty and value. Choose a fine stone, and you’ll always be proud of it, no matter what its size.” (The final “c” stood for carats.)
In the 1980s, the agency introduced a series of ads setting a new arbitrary but authoritative-seeming benchmark: “Isn’t two months’ salary a small price to pay for something that lasts forever?”
Some attempts at changing cultural attitudes were more successful than others. The agency briefly tried to get men interested in wearing diamond rings. A representative ad features a shaggy-haired couple in pajamas, playing checkers in bed: “She has a mind of her own. She gave me a diamond.”
The “Women of the World, Raise Your Right Hand” campaign of 2003 also met with some eye rolls, though it owed a debt to a 1965 series of Ms. Gerety’s that featured “bachelor girls, divorcées, widows, or career women buying ‘on their own’ as well as some married women,” according to her assignment. “That part of the market which for one reason or another is either less, or not at all, motivated by copy appeals rooted in love.”
Deanne Torbert Dunning, N. W. Ayer’s first female vice president on the creative side, wrote the account during the turbulent years of 1968 through 1970.
“You had Betty Friedan and ‘The Feminine Mystique,’ you had the Pill, and by 1970, you had a full-blown women’s movement,” she recalled by phone recently. “There was an anti-establishment feeling. Whatever my mother had, I don’t want. So the ads shifted to a more everyday, casual approach. They said, ‘Yes, you can get married barefoot on a beach, but don’t you still want a beautiful ring?’ ”
But one thing, at least, has remained firmly established: the line “A Diamond Is Forever,” which has appeared in every De Beers engagement ad since 1948. In 1999, two weeks before Ms. Gerety died at the age of 83, Advertising Age named it the slogan of the century.
Industry News
Should You Wear Your Engagement Ring to a Job Interview?
If you are a woman who happens to have a sizable engagement ring, a male recruiter and career counselor has some cold, hard advice for you: “When interviewing for a job, lose the ring!” This is the title of a veritable gem of a LinkedIn essay written by Bruce Hurwitz last week that’s going viral (by LinkedIn blog standards, anyway). Calling on his extensive experience, Hurwitz says he’s seen that when women come to job interviews wearing big engagement rings, they tend not to get the job. But when they leave their rings at home, they are more likely to be hired. He cites the example of a qualified woman sporting a “Hope Diamond” who lost out on several interviews; after she heeded Hurwitz’s sage advice to stop wearing the ring, she called him to report that she finally got a job.
Hurwitz has a point here: If a woman shows up to a job interview wearing a 4-carat ring, or similarly expensive statement jewelry, like an armful of Cartier Love cuffs, her perspective employer might assume she’s very wealthy, which could negatively (albeit unfairly) impact her salary negotiations. Or, her giant ring might even lead the employer to presume they can’t afford to hire her at all, and not bring her back for a second interview, which, again, would be unfair, but maybe a reality, like pretty people faring better in interviews, rather than everyone being judged on their résumés alone.
But Hurwitz’s advice to women interviewees to “lose the rock” is not financial advice; on the contrary, it’s social, and decidedly sexist. Women with large engagement rings are doing themselves a disservice, he says, because “when a man sees that ring, he immediately assumes you are high maintenance,” Hurwitz, in his infinite wisdom, writes. Not to mention: “When the woman at the office who has the largest diamond on her finger sees that ring, she will realize that if you are hired she will fall to second place and will, therefore, not like you.”
Oh, Bruce Hurwitz, you are a wise one. We working women, 40 percent of sole or primary American breadwinners, (still) fighting for equal pay and paid leave, while raising children, often with no viable options for affordable childcare, are concerning ourselves with the size of our prospective women colleagues’ engagement rings, and subsequently hating those women who have bigger rings than we do. We are that shallow (despite outnumbering men in college enrollment) and have so much ample time on our hands that we are sniffing out the ring sizes not even of our colleagues, but of interviewees, at our companies. Nailed it!
Hurwitz, as one might imagine, caught some flak for his essay: What about men wearing expensive jewelry, like Rolexes, critics asked? Surely the same rule would apply—that men wearing expensive pieces would be deemed “high maintenance” and categorically, instantaneously hated by other men at the office, right? According to Hurwitz, nope; he perceives no “moral equivalency.”
“When a man gives a woman an engagement ring, he buys the least expensive ring that he believes it will take to get her to agree to the proposal,” Hurwitz explains in a follow-up essay. “He may be willing to have a high-maintenance woman in his personal life; he doesn’t necessarily want one in his office,” Hurwitz says of potential bosses. A male candidate wearing a Rolex, on the other hand, might hurt his salary negotiations—but a flashy watch could also help boost his status and, especially if he’s a salesman, prove he’s a smashing success. “You see this watch. It’s a Rolex. Look outside, you’ll see my BMW in your parking lot. I like expensive things. I work on commission. I’m good enough to afford this lifestyle. Any questions?” Hurwitz imagines a male candidate saying.
The same couldn’t possibly apply to women with large engagement rings. They couldn’t be hardworking or successful saleswomen like their male counterparts, engaged to similarly hardworking and successful fiancés who might have independently decided to purchase them a large ring, or pluck one from their grandma’s jewelry box. No, a large ring is an automatic sign of a she-devil—a woman who, according to Hurwitz’s own crack logic, drives a hard bargain and would accept nothing less than the best in exchange for her hand. Let’s pretend he’s right. A tough woman with high standards and a keen sense of her worth? Sounds like a great hire to me.
Industry News
Keep Your Diamonds Shining with This Easy Jewelry Cleaning Technique!
Are you waiting to visit your jeweler to make your diamond ring shine again? Well, let me tell you that you don’t need to do that, because you can do the exact same thing your jeweler will do! The tools you will use to clean your diamond jewelry exist in every home, so you don’t have to worry about anything.
What you will need to clean diamond jewelry at home:
– Soft toothbrush
– Dish soap
How to clean diamond jewelry at home:
- Pour a drop or two of soap brush in Luke warm water, and mix it together.
- Some people like to soak the diamond jewelry for a minute or two before they start cleaning it.
- Using the soft toothbrush, clean the diamond brush.
- Dry it very well with a soft piece of cloth, preferably the one that came with your jewelry.
- Your jewelry is now shining just like the day you bought it!
Industry News
Engagement Ring 101
For women who aren’t accustomed to wearing fine jewelry on the regular (which, let’s be honest, is most of us), rocking a pricey diamond ring for the first time is a bit like babysitting a newborn. You’ll emerge from post-proposal euphoria, glance down at your sparkly new addition, and think: How do I take care of this thing? And then the questions keep coming: Should I wear it to sleep? Take it off when I shower? Can I really clean it with dish soap?
All valid questions! Since an engagement ring will likely be the most expensive piece of jewelry you’ve ever owned, it’s no wonder that many newly engaged women feel clueless about how to incorporate it into their daily lives. Here, a few insightful tips from industry experts.
Clean your ring regularly.
“Buildup of dirt or oil will block the light interactions in the stone, so there’s no point in having a beautifully cut diamond if it’s going to be dirty,” says Tom Burstein, Christie’s international jewelry director. “If you’re not cleaning it, then you’re not doing the stone justice because it’s not living up to its potential.” Luckily, cleaning your ring isn’t a labor-intensive process—just drop it into a mug of warm water mixed with a few drops of soap or mild dishwashing detergent. Let it sit for a few minutes (or even overnight), then gently scrub the stone and basket with a soft-bristled baby toothbrush, rinse, and pat dry. Burstein recommends cleaning it at least once every few weeks, and when you do, “make sure you cover the drain!”
Diamonds are tough—but not invincible.
Perhaps you’ve heard that it’s impossible to damage a diamond? Not true, says Burstein. While the stones are considered the hardest naturally occurring metal in the world, they can still fracture, bruise, and chip. And Burstein explains that it’s not a function of time either: “Prong mountings are very secure and it takes a pretty aggressive knock, but it happens. I’ve seen a month-old ring with a big chip in it,” he says. “It’s like driving a new car off the lot and getting rear-ended.”
Know when to leave it on and take it off.
Sure, it’s tempting to slip your ring off every time you wash your hands, but try and resist the urge, says Daniela Balzano-Hull, the New York store director for De Beers. “It takes a while to get used to having this beautiful ring, and you want to protect it as much as you can, but so many brides end up washing their hands in a restaurant and leaving the ring behind.” Still, there are other occasions that experts recommend going ringless—like a day at the beach. Balzano-Hull warns that swimming can greatly affect your body temperature, causing your finger to shrink in size. The rules for when you should and shouldn’t wear your diamond also depend on the type of stones you have, adds Burstein. “If you have a more delicate ring with micro pavé stones, don’t wear it to play tennis or golf or during rigorous exercise. The stones tend to pop out more easily than others,” he says. As for sleeping? Both Burstein and Balzano-Hull agree the decision is strictly a matter of comfort and personal preference.
Get the rock insured as soon as possible.
“We highly recommend it is insured the moment it leaves the store,” says Balzano-Hull. Most companies—either homeowners insurance or renters insurance—will add the ring to their existing policy with a rider that includes a valuation of all the characteristics. “The valuation comes from the jeweler and goes above and beyond just the purchase receipt,” explains Balzano-Hull. “Some men will buy the ring, leave it, and not propose for a few months, so it’s important that document goes to the insurance company right away.”
Be cautious when it comes to resizing.
Seasonal changes in temperature, weight fluctuations, and traveling can all affect the fit of your ring—so keep that in mind before jumping to have yours resized. At De Beers, Balzano-Hull prefers to size buyers in the late afternoon (2:30 p.m. specifically) or after they’ve exercised, to accommodate for swelling. “We also always ask clients where they live. If they’re from somewhere tropical and they’re trying the ring on in New York, we suggest going one size larger,” she says, adding, “I never recommend making any changes during pregnancies. Most women will just wear a wedding band or not wear anything at all.”
However, if you notice that your ring is consistently loose year-round, size down. “The looser it is, the more wear your diamond is going to have and the more your setting is going to become out of shape,” says Burstein. Another crucial tidbit to keep in mind: If the ring is from one of the major jewelry houses—like Cartier, Harry Winston, or Graff—make sure that resizing it doesn’t disrupt the signature. “We see beautiful pieces from the ’30s and an unknowing jeweler just cut the signature out,” says Burstein. “The signature is one of the most important things.”
Keep a close eye—and ear—on it.
Some jewelers, like De Beers, advise buyers to come in for a “prong check” once a year, which allows the jeweler to examine the ring and make sure it’s in perfect condition. But Burstein says that if you have a classic setting—such as a solitaire set in platinum—having the ring checked isn’t entirely necessary, so long as you keep an eye on it. “Look at the prongs yourself. Are any shorter than the others? Put the ring between two fingers, hold it up to your ear, and shake it a little bit. If you hear anything, then you have to get it tightened,” he says.
Think before you upgrade.
The idea of “upgrading” to a larger stone is one way for couples to celebrate major milestones or life events. But before you pull the trigger, “make sure it’s large enough to make a difference,” warns Burstein. Which is to say, a larger carat size doesn’t always equate to a larger-looking stone. “Remember that karat is simply a weight—not a size. Make sure that the stone appears physically larger. Or if you’re looking for an upgrade in color or clarity, it should be noticeable. Otherwise, it’s not worth the money.” Another thing to keep in mind? “It’s good to rely on people and the Internet for information, but too much technical information can hurt the process. If you find the stone or the ring you love and it fits your criteria, get it,” he says. “And never forget what the ring was meant to symbolize in the first place.”