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A heavenly finish: The halo engagement ring setting

November 2, 2020 No Comments

With its angelic look, it’s easy to see why the halo setting is one of the most sought-after engagement ring styles. Classic yet glamorous, it flatters anyone who wears it.

Halo engagement rings are versatile and easily customisable, perfect for the bride who wants to add a personal touch to their jewelry.

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The halo setting features a central diamond encircled by smaller, typically pavé or micro pavé set accent diamonds. With all the smaller diamonds, it adds a stunning flashing look that draws attention to the centre diamond.

The setting can be the same shape as the centre stone or a different one entirely like a cushion cut halo around a round diamond. However, symmetry is often the best option.

Halo settings can easily be personalised with different diamond shapes, metals, and setting styles for the accent diamonds.

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An advantage of this setting is that it makes the centre diamond appear larger. It’s dazzling setting also helps enhance the appearance of a slightly flawed centre diamond.

The halo also helps hide the prongs that hold the centre stone in place, which is a plus for those that don’t like the look of prongs.

Another benefit is that the smaller pavé diamonds are often less expensive than purchasing one diamond of the same weight.

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On the other hand, however, wedding bands only work with some halo setting engagement rings so you will have to plan ahead. You would ideally need to have your wedding band made to fit around or under the engagement ring, otherwise, you run the risk of them rubbing against one another and wearing away over time.

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In Advice

What not to do on your wedding day

October 28, 2020 No Comments

Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life. Your wedding day is not the time to try new things, make new plans and additions or risky activities that may lead to any sort of disaster and drama, you are most likely to be already stressed. Do not do anything that will aggravate that feeling.

Facial beauty treatment

You want to look radiant on your big day but you don’t want to do it on the day you are supposed to get married. You might not know the reactions you will get from the treatment. Rather book the treatment a few days before the wedding to avoid funny things.

The lingerie

You’re most likely going to need to use the bathroom regularly on the wedding day, especially with all the drinks at the reception and it’s going to be hard enough to use the bathroom with your couture gown; don’t add extra difficulties by wearing complex lingerie that takes four assistants and science to remove.

Avoid over drinking

After months of stress and planning, you want to thank yourself by downing all the goodness of that champagne but… You probably shouldn’t. You do not want to be remembered as the bride that danced on top of tables on her wedding day. A few glasses of bubbly is fine, you can go ham on your honeymoon rather.

Being anti-social

Do not have your phone in your hand unless it is for emergencies ( something your maid honour should take care of) but take a break from social media for the day. The people you want to share that moment with are already seeing it live with you, your followers can wait 24 hours. Leave the photos and moments to the photographers.

Your wedding shoes

It is best to wear your shoes prior to the wedding, walk around the house with them so that you can be comfortable wearing them on the day. You do not want to look like a drunk bride trying to find balance. Also, if they are not comfortable then you still have time to return them and pick a more comfortable pair.

Packing in a rush

You should have a todo list and it should include your honeymoon and the dates. If you are leaving right after the ceremony then do not pack on the day of the wedding because you are most likely to forget a lot of things, your passports being the biggest possibility. Take your time with packing.

Packing

Wake up and eat, the saying that breakfast is the most important meal of the day is most important today. Weddings are generally stressful and skipping meals may be dangerous. You need all the energy you can get on the day.

Being a control freak

It is natural that you want to take care of everything on that day but just for the day, relax. You need to leave everything to everyone else to others and just enjoy your day. Try to go with the flow and delegate as much as possible, what will work out will and what doesn’t won’t, you did your best.

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Don’t get married before asking your partner these questions

October 26, 2020 No Comments

Marriage is a big step, one not to be taken lightly. Before making this commitment, its important to spend time with your partner to discuss major topics that could affect your future.

While love and mutual respect is considered the most important aspects of a relationship, there are many other external factors that could affect your journey. Making sure you and your partner are open and honest with each other about various topics will help alleviate future issues.

Here are some topics to bring up before your big day:

Debt

If you have debt, it is important that your partner knows about it and how much it is. South Africans automatically marry in community of property, which means that the estates of the married couple are combined and thus debt is inherited. Property and debts acquired prior to or during the marriage are shared equally in undivided shares (50%) and spouses are jointly liable to creditors.

Children

Do you and your partner want children? If yes, how many? It is incredibly important to be on the same page with this, as bringing a child into the world is a major life decision that should not be made lightly. Some people don’t want to have kids at all, and it is unfair to persuade an unwilling partner to change their mind later on in life.

Career/education

If your partner gets an amazing job or learning opportunity that requires relocation, how will you deal with that? Are you committed to moving with them or will you be long-distance?

Religion

While you and your partner do not need to practice the same religion, the core beliefs could cause conflict if they are incredibly different. For example, if one of you is Catholic and therefore oppose abortion while the other is pro-choice, this could be an issue in the future if an unwanted pregnancy were to occur.

Sexual compatibility

Sex is a part of marriage, and when and how you choose to do it is an important discussion. Consent needs to be defined, and both partners must be aware that it is necessary every time you have sex as marital rape is illegal in the country. It is also important to have an open and honest conversation on sexual fantasies and expectations, so that partners feel comfortable expressing their desires.

Finances

Money is one of the major issues in a relationship. How will you pay for things once you are married? Will you split bills equally, or divide based on salaries? How will you save and spend your money?

Gender roles

This will impact on household duties and who does what in the relationship. For example, if one person believes women should do all the cooking and cleaning while the other believes the work should be equally divided, this could cause major resentment.

Boundaries with others

What is your partner comfortable with in regards to how you interact with people of the sex you are attracted to? For example, if they are the jealous type, you being touchy-feely with someone, even in a non-romantic way, might create tension with your partner. It is important to know what your partner’s boundaries are and to discuss it if it conflicts with your own.

Social media activity is also connected here. Some are more private than others, and don’t like to share details about their personal life on the internet while others post everything and anything.

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In Advice

Is it appropriate to propose at someone else’s wedding?

October 19, 2020 No Comments

With all the love in the air on a wedding day, it’s impossible to not get swept up in it. The stunning venue, the moody lighting, and the delicious food are enough to put anyone in the right mood. Given all the above, it’s easy to see why some people may take this opportunity to pop the big question.

Proposing during someone else’s wedding has been a controversial topic for decades, and continues to polarise the masses.

I give you my blessing

If you are particularly close to the bridal party, it might make the day extra special for them to see you get engaged to your love. Another bonus is that many of your closest friends and family are likely to also be in attendance, which allows them all to share at the moment with you.

Some couples are happy to have someone else get engaged during their wedding, but the key is to have their blessing. It could be quite cute to even have them get involved in the proposal somehow, like having the bride toss her bouquet as a distraction while their partner gets down on one knee behind them.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CGP9w-HDk9-/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Hijacking someone else’s special day

On the other hand, however, the day is not about you. When a couple gets married, their wedding day is a celebration of their love. You were invited to honour their love and commitment to one another. The bridal couple likely spent a lot of money to make the day perfect, and their hard work should not be taken advantage of and used as a free stage for your proposal.

The only time a proposal during someone else’s wedding is appropriate is if you’ve been given permission by the couple getting married. If you don’t have their blessing for the proposal, do not do it as you risk upsetting them on their special day. No matter how close you are or how chilled a person may seem, you don’t know how they will react.

You could also create tension with the bridal couple if they are not happy with you hijacking their big day, which could affect your friendship in the long run.

While it’s not pleasant to think about, your partner could still say no to your proposal. Getting turned down in front of everyone during a wedding will definitely ruin the mood.

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In Advice

The thrilling tension setting: A mesmering finish

October 16, 2020 No Comments

While the shape of the diamond is often the key focus in an engagement ring, the setting is just as important. How your ring is set can make or break it, so it is best to choose wisely.

A less popular yet still stylish choice is the tension setting. This unique setting has the central stone floating in between two metal bands that hold it securely, and is an unusual look for the unique bride.

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The tension setting is designed in a way that the diamond is tightly held in place by the pressure of the metal bands on either side. Usually, there are two tiny grooves carved into the metal where the diamond’s girdle comes into contact with it to keep the stone in place. This setting allows the diamond to appear to be floating between the two sides of the shank, which creates a mesmerising appearance.

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Along with the floating appearnace, the entire profile of the diamond is on show with this setting. Thus, the diamond is more visible than with other settings. The minimal metal surrounding the diamond further enhances its light reflection, making it appear more radiant.

Another benefit to this setting is that is much less maintenance than other diamond setting types, like the prong setting for example.

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However, it is important to note that this tension only works for hard stones like diamonds, rubies and sapphires. The stone must also be of very high quality, as any imperfections will be made even more visible through this setting. It is also an extremely specialised skill to make this setting, so jewellers charge a pretty penny for it.

Another downside to this setting is that it is difficult to resize, and having this done can actually increase the chances of the stone coming loose.

With the diamond being so exposed in this setting, it is not ideal for those that lead an active lifestyle.

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This setting is the perfect choice for those desiring a more modern and minimalist finish for their engagement ring. It is an unusual look that is sure to stand out from the rest.

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In Advice

The stylish choice: Salt-and-pepper diamonds

October 12, 2020 No Comments

A classic white diamond is the traditional go-to for engagement rings, but in recent years, alternative colours have become all the rage. From pink to yellow, diamonds come in all hues.

Salt-and-pepper diamonds are trending as a unique alternative stone choice for an engagement ring. Here is everything you need to know.

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A salt-and-pepper diamond is a diamond with inclusions that appear black and white. This type of diamond can appear in a variety of shades, from light to dark grey. Some may have more inclusions than others, which will affect the colouring of the stone.

This diamond is the exact same as a normal diamond, just with a bit more character. As always, the 4 C’s apply when grading a diamond: cut, colour, clarity and carat. The 4 C’s will determine the final price your diamond will fetch.

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Eco-conscious shoppers will love this stone, as it takes fewer resources to mine than regular diamonds. They are also less expensive because they of their carbon inclusions, so they are the more budget-friendly option.

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Like any other diamond, it can be fashioned into any shape you want. Given its alternative nature, we suggest going with the aesthetic and opting for a unique setting like a bezel setting. Go for an unusual cut by shaping your diamond into a pentagon or a diamond-shaped diamond.

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Picture: Pinterest

In Advice

5 things to consider when planning your wedding registry

October 8, 2020 No Comments

It is very frustrating to receive three of the same thing from different people as a wedding gift. This is because people think in similar ways and they normally don’t know what to get you and so they resort to common gifting. As the bride, you can avoid this and the admin that comes with it. Here’s how:

Don’t wait until the last minute

Start planning and send out your registry ahead of time, you want your wedding registry to be one of the things you do at the beginning of your wedding planning.

Making and setting up a registry takes more time than you might expect it and deserves your attention because you won’t have time to redo it.

Be realistic and practical

In your wedding registry, you should already be thinking ‘home’ and because of that, your gifts should be practical items that will make the transition of starting a new life easy.

Make a list of things you want in your house but won’t be able to get soon, these should be the gifts your friends and family get you.

Also be mindful of the people buying, you don’t want to make them pay exorbitant amounts but you don’t want cheap gifts, so get a few quotations on each item.

Share your registry

Once you’ve created your wedding registry, make sure you share it with your guests.

This includes coming up with easy ways to access your registry. It could be online where a person can click and get it or share a link with your guests.

Make sure to have a checklist option available for you and the people buying gifts, this makes it easy to see what has been bought and what is left.

Make it a joint project

Put aside some quality couple time to contemplate your future life together and think about what kinds of gifts would make you happy.Your partner must have input on the registry because this is the beginning of your life together, you don’t want anyone feeling left out.

Look for great deals

Before choosing where to register, find out what kinds of perks and discounts you might get.Approach your desired shops for a registry, they usually give discounts for bulk registry purchases.This option helps get expert advice from someone who’s knowledgeable.

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Unique wedding rings designed by local jewellers

October 8, 2020 No Comments

As the piece of jewellery you’ll (hopefully) always have and wear, your engagement ring is highly personal. It is important to match the ring to you, and not the other way around.

While shopping from big, established brands is great and often the easiest option, South Africa has a wealth of talented jewellery designers that create incredible custom pieces.

Now more than ever, it is important to support local. Here are a few fantastic jewellers from across the country designing unique engagement rings with personality and flair.

Lorean Jewellery:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CF1l_-OJtv-/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/CF7EtmLp14y/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/CE9VYJGp7k6/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Famke Jewellery:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CFwuZotgt1z/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/B6NtU5NpJ74/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/CCLRroNJrzR/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Black Betty Design:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBxSYb4HjQ0/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Merakije Jewellery Design:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7N1ggepng0/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/CFo2U-8pc_g/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Botanica Jewellery:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CF1glLIp8pR/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/B62nTN_ptUR/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

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In Advice

Pretty in a pavé setting

October 5, 2020 No Comments

An engagement ring is a highly treasured jewellery item, one you’ll (hopefully) have forever. It’s thus important to have your ring match your own personal style and taste. With so many designs, settings and stones to choose from, ring shopping can be overwhelming. Luckily, we’re here to help.

While the setting, or the way the stone is secured into the ring, may not be the most important thing one thinks of, it is crucial to the anatomy of the ring. It helps determine the overall design of the ring and its durability.

A pavé setting, also known as a bead setting, is perfect for the bride wanting something a little more sparkly. It is french for ‘paved’ and it is a jewellery technique in which small diamonds are studded along the band of the ring, making it appear like a paved or cobblestoned road.

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Diamonds are closely set together in this setting, and sparkle brilliantly under the light. Typically, diamonds used for this setting must be 0.01 to 0.02 carats to be technically characterised as ‘pavé’, anything smaller falls under a ‘micro-pavé’ setting.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CFh714Bn8AT/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

An advantage of this setting is that it enhances a centre diamond that has a lower brilliance, cut or clarity grade. It adds extra sparkle and is technically the more economical choice, as smaller diamonds are less expensive than one diamond of the exact same weight.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CE1hIsagbN_/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

However, it is important to note that this setting is more susceptible to stone loss, and offers more small spaces for dirt to accumulate. This setting also requires more inspection and maintenance than most other ring settings.

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In Advice

Most popular songs to propose to

October 5, 2020 No Comments

Going down on one knee to pop the question is a special moment, one that requires the perfect setting and atmosphere. Music is an easy way to amplify the romantic spirit, and many opt to play their favourite love songs to serenade the scene.

It turns out there are some love songs that stand above the rest. Learningjewelry.com analysed the top 60 Spotify playlists dedicated proposals and engagements. Here are the sweet songs that appeared most often.

All of Me – John Legend