Engagements Archives | Page 23 of 48

In Advice

An Art Deco masterpiece: Emerald cut engagement rings

August 20, 2020 No Comments

The celebrity go-to in the engagement ring world is the emerald cut. Notable names like Beyoncé, Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez and Demi Lovato all rock this cut on their ring finger.

It’s easy to see why this Art Deco-inspired shape is a celeb favourite. The elongated shape of the stone is incrediby flattering, makes a diamond appear much larger than other shapes and its mirrored edges give some serious drama. Sometimes, bigger is better.

If you’re on the market for an emerald-cut ring, here’s what you need to know.

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An emerald cut features a rectangular stone with trimmed corners and step-cut facets that often lay parallel to the girdle or thin perimeter of the stone. It typically has 50 to 58 facets, depending on the number of rows on the crown and the pavilion, and a length to width ratio of 1.5-1.7 to 1 is ideal.

The stone appears to have less brilliance than other cuts like a round or princess cut diamond, due to the step-cut facets. However, it’s just a different, more subtle sparkle.

Shimansky explains that the step-cut creates a ‘hall of mirrors’ effect because of its flashes of light.

“This illusion creates flashes of bright white light in stark contrast to the dark planes within each step. The emerald cut appears less fiery, but its long lines and dramatic flashes of light give it an elegant and sophisticated appeal,” writes Shimansky.

Its elongated shape makes fingers appear longer and slender, and of course makes the diamond itself appear larger. The emerald cut is believed to have a 5% greater surface area than a round cut diamond of the same weight.

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History:

This cut is one of the oldest diamond shapes, and has been been around for decades. The emerald cut was developed specifically for the emerald gem, but in time it became a popular cut for many gems, including diamonds. It was only in the 1920s that the term ’emerald cut’ was commonly used and began to gain popularity for its clean lines and symmetry.

The cut rose in popularity among jewellers because it required less pressure during the cutting process. This cut, however, is incredibly unforgiving as inclusions and other impurities are much more visible on this bold cut. You need a high quality diamond in terms of colour and clarity to pull this cut off. The higher the clarity, the better the appearance for this cut.

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Who does the style suit?

“The emerald cut shape of diamond is linked to organised, resourceful, disciplined and decisive personalities,” says Shimansky.

“It has a vintage appeal that is both beautiful and distinct and speaks to women who appreciate the beauty of antique-style jewellery. Because of the versatility of this cut, a number of shapes and settings work well with it. The emerald cut has been favoured by the likes of Grace Kelly, Elizabeth Taylor and Angelina Jolie.”

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Feature image: Pinterest

In Advice

Fit for royalty: Princess-cut diamonds

August 17, 2020 No Comments

Get your fairytale ending with a princess-cut engagement ring. This cut is incredibly popular, and graces the ring fingers of celebrities like Emily Ratajkowski, Cameron Diaz and Kate Bosworth.

The princess-cut is the most popular of the fancy cut diamond shapes, according to Shimansky. It is a timeless shape, with a geometric silhouette that makes the stone appear brighter and whiter.

If you’d like to join the ranks of the rich and famous, here’s what you need to know about the princess-cut.

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The shape:

A princess-cut diamond has a square-shaped stone with pointed corners, and can have up to 78 facets. From the side, it appears as if the stone is the shape of an inverted pyramid. This cut offers stunning sparkle thanks to its high levels of brilliance and fire.

About 80% of a rough stone’s radiance is retained when cutting a princess shape, compared to the 50% of a round brilliant shape. This makes a princess cut the more economical choice as well.

This cut requires master craftmanship. In the wrong hands, the stone’s delicate and intricate facets can appear chunky. It must have a deep cut, a relatively slim girdle and pointed corners. V-shaped prongs hold the body of the stone securely in place while also protecting the corners.

“The square shape of this cut is associated with the personality traits of independence, audacity and confidence. Thanks to its beauty, brilliance and striking appearance, it’s not difficult to understand why the princess cut diamond has become such a popular cut among modern-day brides,” says Shimansky.

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The origin:

This shape is one of the newer cuts on the market, and has had multiple precursors. It is believed its origins began back in the 1960s when diamond cutter Arpad Nagy created the ‘profile’ cut in 1961. This cut has 58 facets and was designed to allow less of the rough stone to be lost in the cutting process.

South African designer Basil Watermeyer then introduced the Barion cut in the 1970s, which was a stunning cut with 81 hard to replicate facets. Israeli diamond duo Betazel Ambar and Israel Itzkowitz followed up by creating the ‘quadrillion’ cut, which is the closest to the modern princess cut as we know it.

How it got its current name is not definite, but jewellers suspect it is because of its radiant sparkle that makes the stone appear fit for royalty.

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What to consider:

If you’re on the market for a princess-cut ring, there are a few things to keep in mind. Generally, this cut is priced lower per carat because more of the rough stone is saved during the cutting process. Due to their multiple facets, incusions or natural imperfections are hidden quite well in the stone.

However, because most of the weight is on the underside of the diamond or the pavilion, this cut may make the stone appear smaller than another diamond with the same carat weight.

As such, you get higher brilliance on this cut but may sacrifice size. Each customer must decide for themselves what they care about more.

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Feature image: Unsplash

In Accessories

Unique bridal bouquet inspiration

August 14, 2020 No Comments

The practice of carrying bouquets on a wedding day dates back to ancient times. Ancient Greeks, Romans and even Egyptians believed that carrying bunches of herbs and spices would ward off any bad luck during the wedding ceremony. Flowers were used to symbolise fidelity, happiness and new beginnings.

The modern wedding bouquet emerged during the Victorian age, and has become ornamental, as those marrying use specific flowers to communicate various romantic sentiments.

Here are some wedding bouquets that are made of unusual floral choices and other add-ons:

Feathers:

Pine cones:

Baby’s breath:

Lavender:

Paper flowers:

Bougainvillea:

Juniper berries:

Rosemary:

Cabbage:

Eucalyptus:

Blue hydrangea:

Succulents:

Picture/s: Pinterest

In Engagements

I’ve got you under my skin: Engagement ring piercings

August 13, 2020 No Comments

An engagement ring is so expected. Why not show off your love in a more permanent and unique way? This is the exact thought process behind the engagement ring piercing trend.

An engagement ring piercing is literally what it sounds like. Instead of a ring, the diamond or whatever gemstone you desire is embedded into the skin of the ring finger.

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It’s the same process as getting a dermal piercing, which is any single-entry piercing on a flat surface of your body like the collarbone, neck, cheeks or back.

Using a dermal punch, the piercing professional creates a hole in the epidermis of the finger then inserts an anchor into the skin layer below the dermis. The jewelled top, typicaly a diamond or gemstone, is fitted into the anchor.

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Like any other piercing, this one will come with some pain, the level will depend on your own pain tolerance. However, it shouldn’t hurt more than a piercing on any other part of the body. It takes several months to heal, during which you may experience some fluid secretions.

Tattoers do warn that this piercing comes with a high risk. Besides the risk of infection, the finger is a high traffic area as you use your hands a lot throughout the day. Constant friction against the piercing will irritate it.

Because a dermal piercing has a single entry point, meaning the piercing enters and exits from the same hole, the rejection rate is quite high, which can lead to bad scarring.

The actual process of getting the piercing is also quite risky, because the finger has so many muscles and nerves. If the piercing is in the dermis then it should not be an issue but any deeper and you run the risk of affecting vital structures in the finger. Considering fingers have little fat underneath the skin, the piercing may hit muscle or bone, which can result in nerve damage.

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If you do decide to go through with this piercing, there is a lot of aftercare. It is important to keep the finger covered as it heels to avoid it getting caught in anything. Piercers recommend twice-daily soaks in warm water and sea salt or warm water and vinegar. You can also use an antiseptic to wipe away any crusty secretions.

Feature image: Pinterest

In Engagements

Engagement ring accidentally thrown overboard during proposal

August 13, 2020 No Comments

A proposal is a special moment that you want to be absolutely perfect. Unfortunately, not everything always goes to plan. This man learned it the hard way when he went down on one knee recently.

Miles Sueharto popped the question to girlfriend Angelina Zalesova. He decided to do it in style by renting a boat off the Sarasota coast in Florida.

With the stunning sunset as a backdrop, it seemed like the perfect time for Sueharto to go down on one knee.

As the proposal continues, he turns to his friend to ask him to pass the ring. The friend then throws him the box so high that Sueharto fails to catch it, which causes the ring to fall in the ocean.

Luckily, another friend quickly jumps into the water to retrieve the ring, and the proposal continues. After all that, of course, she said yes.

Watch the memorable moment here:

When the video was first posted, many were wondering if it was staged. In an interview with ABC 7 News, Sueharto revealed he had planned the whole thing with his friend, but his girlfriend was completely in the dark about it. The box that ended up in the water was actually empty, and the ring was safe inside his best friend’s pocket the entire time.

Feature image: screenshot from video

In Accessories

Strange engagement rings that will make you do a double take

August 12, 2020 No Comments

An engagement ring is a promise of forever. In the quest to be unique, some may go far beyond expectations. Diamonds are predictable, and many have opted for statement jewellery pieces to proclaim their love.

Here are a few of the most… unique rings we have come across online:

Gotta catch ’em all:

Remember when Pokemon Go was huge? This couple must have been pretty swept up in the craze, and have the ring to prove it! The centre stone is encircled by a pokeball shape to prove that they have finally captured their love.

A piercing choice:

Piercing engagement rings have been popular among those who don’t want a traditional ring. Instead of wearing a band, the diamond is implanted into the skin of the ring finger.

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Dragon power:

Game of Thrones fans, we might just have the ring for you. If you’re still heartbroken over the deaths of Daenerys’s beloved winged children, your engagement ring can be the perfect tribute. This bride’s ring is shaped as a dragon in mid-flight, which we’re sure she thought was pretty fly. It even glows in the dark!

Polly want a cracker?

Parrots are beautiful birds, but they are never really associated with weddings. One unique couple, however, opted to showcase their love of birds. This custom-made ring features a mini sculpture of two parrots perched together on the band, and is definitely a scene-stealer.

Take a bite:

Parents often keep their children’s teeth once they’ve fallen out as a special memento. California couple Carlee Leifkes and Lucas Unger took this to the next level. Unger had his wisdom tooth embedded into the ring instead of a traditional diamond.

Strange engagement rings that will make you do a double take — Source: Pinterest

A hands-on jewel:

A Japanese man collected his fingernail clippings for a year, then ground it to a powder and baked it to create a “stone” for an engagement ring. The end result is a pitch-black, rock hard stone. If you didn’t know, you would probably never guess that’s it’s made from human nails.

Feature image: Facebook / That’s it I’m wedding shaming

In Engagements

South African diamond industry goes local for revival amid pandemic

August 6, 2020 No Comments

Diamond prices worldwide have been experiencing a decline in demand even before the COVID-19 pandemic halted weddings celebrations globally. Anglo American’s De Beers unit has seen a plunge in earning due to the global economic weakness.

As South African diamond companies lose out on international sales. they’ve begun focusing on customers closer to home. Many smaller jewellers and jewel producers have experienced an upsurge in sales. According to Reuters, lockdown has helped South African cutting and polishing firm Nungu Diamonds grow sales by 60% since March.

The Company’s founder Kealeboga Pule said that they have had customers opt for online consultations and many lined up to excitedly collect their purchases when their stores reopened in June. In fact, June was their best-performing month of the year, with many sales including engagement and wedding rings being made. The team has even expanded to include an in-house jewellery designer.

While jewellery prices have remained steady, the demand on uncut and unpolished rough stones from mines has decreased and thus profit margins have lowered.

This has led to South African company Thoko’s Diamonds pivoting from their main business of selling rough, polished stones to focusing on jewellery. Within the last year, their typical sales of 500 carats fell to less than 20 carats, and profits decreased by 65%.

Being a luxury commodity, diamonds will continue to lose demand as the effects of the pandemic worsens the economic status of citizens across the world.

Feature image: Unsplash

In Engagements

Man accidentally sets flat on fire during proposal

August 5, 2020 No Comments

When somebody plans out their proposal idea, they usually consider all things that could go wrong. Will it be interrupted? Will there be distractions? However, one would never envision their romantic proposal going up in flames; and we don’t mean that metaphorically.

A man from Sheffield, South Yorkshire, planned to propose to his girlfriend on Tuesday, August 3. He filled a room in his flat with hundreds of tea lights, balloons, and a nice bottle of wine.

After setting up his romantic gesture, he went to pick up his girlfriend to bring her to the flat. As they returned, their flat was on fire. According to the South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue, the cause of the fire was the tea lights.

The Fire and Rescue Department posted a series of Tweets, talking about the incident.

THREAD: Look closely. What do you see? That’s right, hundreds of tea light candles! ?️

Want to know what happened here? We thought you did. It involves a romantic proposal that didn’t quite go to plan, and includes an important lesson around candle use.

Lets go! ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/p8aU6pQAUF

— South Yorkshire Fire (@SYFR) August 4, 2020

“Last night three crews were mobilised to a flat fire in Sheffield. They dealt with it quickly, as ever, before trying to establish what caused it,” they said.

“So, a quick chat with the occupant revealed that this room had been filled with 100s of tea lights,” they said, adding “This was going to be the scene of a romantic proposal and the occupant, a chap who we shall not name, had really gone to town!”

After noting what was in the apartment and what had gone wrong, they said that the firefighters dealt with the fire quickly and nobody was injured.

Not to worry though, it’s not all doom and gloom! There is a silver lining.

“As a bonus, she said YES!” Fire and Rescue said.

However, the department noted that despite being sweet and romantic, candles can be quite dangerous. They urged that if people decide to make use of candles that they must ensure they are extinguished properly after, they are not placed near flammable items, and that they are most definitely not to be left unattended in an empty flat as you leave to fetch your girlfriend.

Image: Twitter / South Yorkshire Fire (@SYFR)

In Celebs

Glee star Jenna Ushkowitz is engaged

August 4, 2020 No Comments

Glee star Jenna Ushkowitz, who played Tina Coheng-Chang on the hit show, is engaged to boyfriend of two years, David Stanley.

Ushkowitz took to Instagram to announce the engagement, sharing a photo with her new fiancè and their french bulldog, Bear. Her sparkling engagement ring is also visible in the image.

“Yes, a million times, yes,” she captioned the image.

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The pair have been together since 2018, and recently celebrated their two-year anniversary on June 29.

“2 years of getting to know you, traveling, laughing. 2 years of growth, learning about each other, ourselves, our love and 2 years of creating our little family. Can’t wait for all the days, months, years to come. ?✨ Happy anniversary mi amor,” Ushkowitz wrote on Instagram.

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The engagement comes after much heartbreak for the Glee cast, who tragically lost co-star Naya Rivera in July.

When news of Rivera’s death broke, a devastated Ushkowitz wrote a meaningful message to her late friend.

“There are no words and yet so many things I want to say, I don’t believe I’ll ever be able to articulate exactly what I feel but… Naya, you were a ⚡️ force and everyone who got to be around you knew it and felt the light and joy you exuded when you walked into a room. You shined on stage and screen and radiated with love behind closed doors,” she wrote.

“I was lucky enough to share so many laughs, martinis and secrets with you. I can not believe I took for granted that you’d always be here. Our friendship went in waves as life happens and we grow, so I will not look back and regret but know I love you and promise to help the legacy of your talent, humor, light and loyalty live on.

“You are so loved. You deserved the world and we will make sure Josey and your family feel that everyday. I miss you already.”

Feature image: Instagram / Jenna Ushkowitz

In Announcements

House of CB releases first bridal collection

August 3, 2020 No Comments

Popular clothing retailer House of CB is entering the wedding world. The British luxury womenswear label, which has been worn by celebs like Beyonce, Rihanna and Jennifer Lopez, has released their first bridal collection.

The collection, called “The Modern Bride” features 10 stunning gowns in House of CB’s signature sultry styles. The dresses all feature luxurious satin, elegant detailing and feminine silhouettes.

“Fall for the dress of your dreams with our collection of breathtaking, timeless dresses for the confident, modern bride. In true House of CB style, our Bridal Collection embraces fresh, innovative, and sophisticated details paired with show-stopping styles to make you feel confident and look beautiful on your wedding day,” says the fashion house on their website.

“For our first collection we wanted to keep our shapes clean, chic and incredibly flattering; infusing our signature waist cinching corsetry with beautiful fabrics. Our aim was to create stunning pieces for your big day that are still affordable, whether it’s walking down the aisle, the reception or engagement party we hope you find something you love and are honored to be part of your wedding.”

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The gowns retail for between £349 – £649, and are already available for purchase on their website. Take a look at the breathtaking gowns: