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Rings

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A large diamond is stunning, but it is also costly. If you want the look without the price tag, why not consider composite diamonds?

A composite diamond is made of of many small diamonds placed together to create the appearance of one large diamond. Thanks to its setting, they often offer the same glitz and glam of a large single stone at a much cheaper cost.

Since they are made of an array of smaller stones, composite diamonds are much more affordable than one large diamond. You also do not have to be concerned with the four Cs when purchasing these diamonds, since they are quite small so lower grade stones will work perfectly. They also allow for much more intricate detail.

 

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However, composite diamonds may become costly in time due to maintenance and repairs. If a stone dislodges and goes missing, it may be a struggle to find another one of the appropriate size to replace it. Replacing stones is even more difficult with an invisible setting, as they can only be replaced with notched diamonds, which are not kept in bulk at diamond wholesalers so they may need to be ordered externally.

When shopping for a composite diamond ring, make sure to speak to your jeweller about possible future repair costs so that you know what to expect.

 

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Not even a global pandemic can stop love. It’s engagement season at the minute, and if it seems like your social media pages are inundated with engagement announcements, you’re not alone.

It’s a new year, and with it comes new trends in the wedding world. While classic styles will always reign supreme, those wanting to be a bit more unique and current should keep an eye on these trends.

Trend 1: personal details

2020 was a crazy year, one that truly highlighted the importance of family and love. We predict couples will want to emphasise their love by incorporating personal details into their engagement rings. There are so many ways you could do this, from using a family stone to having a secret message inscribed on the band.

Trend 2: side stones

It’s not all about the centre stone. Since Megan Markle debuted her engagement ring, people have been in love with the three-stone engagement ring. For 2021, jewellers have already had requests for a more paired down style featuring two petite stones to flank the centre stone.

Trend 3: Pretty in pastel

Coloured stones are always a popular choice for those wanting something different. While emerald is the most popular choice, jewellers predict pastel-hued diamonds and gemstones will be big in 2021. Pink and yellow diamonds are the more expensive option, but you could find great options with aquamarine, citrine or amethyst.

 

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Trend 4: Tradition with a twist

Classic styles like the round, oval and cushion cut are being given modern updates with unique metal choices and settings. For example, opting for a bezel setting is an unusual touch for a round ring, blending the old and the new.

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If you’re newly engaged, you may be so in love with your ring that you never want to take it off. While fully understandable, an engagement ring is not a typical piece of jewellery.

While an engagement ring is designed to be durable, certain activities can cause it to lose its lustre over time. There are obvious moments in time you shouldn’t wear your engagement ring, like while exercising or doing the dishes or any other type of cleaning that involves detergents. But what about when you rest your head at night?

Sleeping is the least active thing you could do, and for some wearing an engagement ring while closing their eyes won’t cause too much of an issue. Experts are divided on whether it helps or harms.

Some experts argue that an engagement ring is a fine piece of jewellery, and should thus be treated as such and not be worn during activities that could affect it. Others, however, believe sleeping in your engagement ring is a smart way to ensure you don’t lose your jewellery because where else would it be but your finger?

However, there is an argument to be made for rough sleepers. Beyond it being precious, your ring can easily get caught in things like your hair or on your sheets if you’re a particularly wild sleeper. This can create friction and may cause the stone to loosen in the setting. If your stone is lower on the Mohs scale of hardness and thus more fragile, sleeping in it could make it more prone to damage.

The best thing to do is to have a dedicated place on your nightstand where you leave your jewellery. Before you go to bed, just pop the ring off and it will be safe for the night. This will also guarantee that you won’t lose or misplace your jewellery.

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Actress Megan Markle shocked the world when she announced her engagement to Prince Harry. The style icon opted for an unusal ring design that stands in stark contrast to sister-in-law Kate Middleton’s sapphire sparkler.

The couple announced their engagement at the Sunken Gardens of Kensington Palace on November 27, 2017, about a year after they went public with their relationship.

Wearing a white overcoat and nude heels, the actress went understated with her outfit to allow the focus to be on her engagement ring. The design did not disappoint.

Decorating her ring finger was a three-stone stunner, set on a gold band featuring a cushion-cut centre diamond from Botswana, a country close to Prince Harry’s heart.  Surrounding the centre stone are two round diamonds that once belonged to his mother, the late Princess Diana. The ring was made by royal jeweler Cleave and Company.

Come wedding day, the Duchess of Sessex was presented with her wedding ring, an elegant yellow gold band. The ring was a gift from Queen Elizabeth and, following tradition, was made from rare Welsh gold.

Queen Elizabeth I, Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Margaret, Princess Anne, and Princess Diana’s wedding rings were all fashioned from the same nugget of Welsh gold which came from a Welsh mine, Clogau St David’s at Bontddu. This gold is more valuable than gold from Australia or South Africa.

While there is only a sliver of the original gold left over, the Queen owns a large nugget of 21 carat Welsh gold which is held by the Crown Jewellers to be used for the royal wedding rings of today. Sarah, Duchess of York, Duchess Kate, and Duchess Meghan Markle all sport wedding bands made from this nugget.

Markle’s marvelous ring underwent a redesign during her pregnancy. Celebrity jeweler Lorraine Schwartz resized and reset the ring to replace the gold band with a thin, yellow gold band set with micro-pavè diamonds.

After son Archie was born, Prince Harry gifted Megan with an eternity ring designed by Lorraine Schwartz. It features a channel setting with gold trim flanking each side of the ring. In another sweet addition, the birthstones of the young family (peridot, emerald, and sapphire) are inlaid on the underside of the ring.

Picture: Instagram / Sussex Royals

Kate Middleton became the world’s envy on November 16, 2010 when Clarence House announced that she and Prince William were engaged to be wed. Besides the obvious excitement of a royal wedding, fans could not get over her unique sapphire engagement ring that carries a sweet story.

The world’s most famous blue sapphire ring once belonged to Prince William’s mother, Princess Diana. Here are some facts about this deeply personal ring.

 

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Prince Charles first proposed to Princess Diana with a selection of rings from crown jeweller Garrard, and she chose the blue sapphire. At the time, it caused a scandal and many called her decision to go with a ready-made ring ‘common’.

Upon Charles and Diana’s divorce, she returned the ring to her ex-husband and it remained in storage in Kensington Palace. After her untimely passing in 1997, however, sons William and Harry were allowed to choose mementoes to remember her by. Harry chose the engagement ring while William picked a gold Cartier watch.

When William was really to propose, the brothers agreed to exchange mementoes so that he could do so with their mother’s ring. He chose this ring to be symbolic of his mother being a part of her wedding and marriage in general.

The ring consists of a 12-carat oval blue sapphire cut into facets, which is surrounded by fourteen solitaire diamonds. The setting is crafted from 18K white gold.

 

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Immediately after their engagement announcement, sapphire engagement rings sales went through the roof and jewellers rushed to supply customers with this trendy item.

Her wedding band was fashioned from a piece of Welsh gold that was given to Prince William by The Queen shortly after the engagement was announced.

 

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Picture: Instagram / Kengington Royal

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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A setting can make of break your engagement ring, so it is important to choose one wisely. One of the most popular choices in the wedding world is the prong setting.

Classic and elegant, the prong setting is one of the most famous diamond ring settings. This setting is perfect for the timeless bride.

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A prong setting typically features four to six thin metal claws that are placed on the diamond’s surface to secure its position. This setting is designed to perfectly highlight the diamond’s brilliance by giving maximum exposure to the stone.

This particular range of settings can be shaped in different ways – prongs can be rounded, squared, V-shaped, elongated or even pointed.

Ideally, the prongs should end on the diamond’s surface. If the claws extend too high, the diamond’s top portion will be less visible, thus reducing its brilliance.

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This setting has been in style for decades, and first grew in popularity in the 19th century as more dramatic and larger stones were being unearthed. Jewellers wanted to showcase these stones, and thus needed a setting that would allow it to shine.

The advantage of this setting is that it allows the diamond to take centre stage. It is also easy to clean and maintain. For those wanting to customise their ring, this setting is versatile enough to complement all diamond shapes, and is easy to adjust for different sizes of stones.

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On the other hand, because the diamond’s girdle is only partially covered, it is quite prone to chipping. The claws of the setting are also more prone to get caught on clothing.

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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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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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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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