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In Advice

The fiery king of gems: Romantic rubies

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Red is often considered the colour of love, so what’s more romantic than a ruby? This red-hued stone has been a favourite of royalty for centuries, earning the moniker ‘king of gems’.

Rubies make up one of the four main precious gemstones, joining emerald, sapphire and diamond. The word comes from the Latin “rubens”, meaning red. The stone is made up of corundum, a crystalline form of aluminium oxide containing traces of iron, titanium, vanadium and chromium. Technically, rubies and sapphires are the same stone as they are made up of the same chemical properties. However, a stone of this makeup in any colour besides red is considered a sapphire. The mineral chromium is what gives the stone its characteristic red tinge, differentiating it into a ruby.

Given its deep red colouring, rubies are often associated with love and desire. The stone can range in shades from pink to oxblood. The most desirable shade is called ‘pigeon-blood’, a deep red with a hint of blue.

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Rubies are found all over the world, from Myanmar (previously Burma), Africa, Australia to the USA. This precious gemstone has long been highly revered by Asian cultures. The first ruby was discovered in Myanmar back in 600AD and were worn as talismans by Burmese soldiers in battle as a form of protection. In Sankrit, rubies are called ratnaraj, or “king of precious stones”.

Popularity soon spread to Europe and rubies became one of the most sought-after gems for European royalty and the upper class after it was selected as the stone of choice for British coronation rings back in the 13th century. The stone was said to guarantee health, wealth, wisdom and success in love.

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As with other gemstones, rubies are graded on the four C’s: colour, cut, clarity and carat weight. The world’s most valuable ruby is the Sunrise Ruby, a 25.59-carat (5.1 g) “pigeon blood” ruby discovered in Myanmar. The stone was mounted by Cartier and set between heptagonal diamonds weighing 2.47 carats (0.49 g) and 2.70 carats. It sold for a record $30.42 million on May 12, 2015 at a Sotheby’s auction in Geneva, Switzerland to an anonymous buyer.

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Feature image: Unsplash

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In Engagements

The guilt-free gem: Lab-grown diamonds

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For those humanitarians and environmentalists out there, engagement ring shopping can be a struggle. Due to the carbon footprint – among other things – caused by diamond mining, younger people are attempting to take a step away from the traditional engagement ring. This has led to a fast growing trend – lab-grown diamond rings.

According to BBC Future, almost 70% of millennials have considered this guilt-free engagement ring alternative. An added bonus to lab-grown diamonds for your engagement ring is that they are much more affordable, meaning you won’t break the bank.

So what exactly is a lab-grown diamond?

Essentially, they are man-made diamonds. What’s interesting, however, is that while they are created in laboratories, they are chemically and physically identical to natural diamonds, and are just as hard.

There are two main methods used to grow these diamonds: The CVD (chemical vapor deposition) method and The HPHT (high pressure high temperature) method. Lightbox, a company who lab-grows diamonds describes these methods:

CVD – “Lab grown diamond seeds are loaded into a CVD reactor. Then, a mix of gasses containing carbon is added at a very low pressure. Microwaves are added to heat the gases and generate a plasma. When the temperatures climb over several thousand degrees, the gas molecules break apart and carbon atoms bond to the seeds, growing them one layer at a time,” says Lightbox.

HPHT – “This method mimics the conditions under which diamonds naturally form. Large mechanical presses are used to apply extreme pressure and high temperature to carbon in the presence of a diamond seed. The seeds act as a template for a lattice of carbon to grow layer by layer over the course of a few days,” they said.

Because of their man-made nature, they only take a few weeks to make whereas a real diamond takes billions of years to grow.

So if you’re looking to live a more eco-friendly, sustainable and conscious life then lab-grown diamonds are the way to go!

Here are some lab-grown diamond engagement rings to inspire you:

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Image: Unsplash 

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In Engagements

The Queen of the gems: Opulent opals

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Those wanting a unique engagement ring, look no further. An opal may be an unconventional choice to centre your engagement ring, but wow is it stunning. This unique gemstone is much loved by many for its mesmerising pattern and kaleidoscope colours.

Birthstone for the month of October, opals can be dated back to 4000 B.C. The gemstone is made up of a solution of silicon dioxide and water. As water runs down the Earth, it collects particles of silica from sandstone. This mixture falls into cracks and voids and as the water evaporates, it leaves behind a silica deposit that will eventually turn into an opal. This, however, is an incredibly slow process, and takes an estimated 5 million years to solidify just one centimetre of opal.

The name is said to be derived from the Roman word ‘Opalus’ which translates into ‘precious stone’, and the Greek derivative ‘Opallios’, meaning ‘to see a change of colour’. The ancient Greeks believed that the gemstone was formed by tears wept by Zeus, God of the sky and thunder, when he defeated the titans. As such, the gemstone was believed to have prophetic powers. The stone is symbolic of purity and hope, protecting the wearer from harm.

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Opals can be sorted into two classes: precious and common. Precious opals are iridescent, common opals are not. Precious opals traditionally display two colours: the background colour and their play-of-colour (iridescence). The impurities within the silica determine the stones background colour, and the play-in-colour is created by the way the silica settles together. Those colourful flecks you see in the stone are made up of tiny silica-spheres that reflect light. As a result, opals can come in most colours from red to blue and even black – the rarest form.

There are a multitude of natural opals, such as black opal, white opal, crystal opal and jelly opal. Boulder opals are the most unique and are able to reflect the entire rainbow.

The majority of the world’s opals come from Australia, although other popular countries include Ethiopia, Brazil, and Mexico. Wildly enough, opals have even been discovered on Mars!

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The opal market was almost destroyed by author Sir Walter Scott’s 1829 bestselling novel, Anne of Geuerstein, which told the story of a woman accused of being a demoness who died when holy water touched her opal and destroyed it. Opal sales plummeted after the book was published as readers believed the book was warning of the opals bad luck. In 1877 a black opal was discovered in New South Wales, Australia, helping this precious gemstone lose its bad reputation.

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Since then, opals have continued to be popular among many. It was Queen Victoria’s favourite stone, and was even dubbed ‘the Queen of Gems’. Other royal icons that shared a love for this precious stone include Cleopatra and Empress Josephine. Millennial brides are loving this one-of-a-kind gemstone for its vintage feel and unique look.

Feature image: Unsplash

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In Advice

The royal touch: Sophisticated sapphire rings

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Deep blue is the colour of royalty, so it is no surprise a rich sapphire stone would centre Kate Middleton’s engagement ring. Once belonging to Princess Diana, this iconic ring caused sapphire sales to skyrocket in 2010 following the royal engagement announcement. Even before this proposal, however, sapphires have been adored and coveted for their intense colouring.

The name of this precious gemstone comes from the Greek word ‘sappheiros’ and the Latin word ‘saphirus’, both of which translate to mean blue. Despite the name, however, sapphires come in a range of colours from blue to yellow to pink. The only colour is cannot present as is red as it would then be considered a ruby. Naturally, blue is the most coveted colour variant.

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Sapphire is one of the four main precious gemstones, including diamonds, rubies and emeralds. While found all over the world, the highest-quality and most prestigious sapphires come from Kashmir, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Australia, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, and Montana.

The stone is believed to have healing properties, and is regarded as the stone of mental focus and order, inner vision and psychic awareness. Chakra theory also believes that sapphires help open one’s third eye, thus allowing wisdom and insight to enter.

This stone is much loved by celebrities such as Princess Diana, Penelope Cruz and Elizabeth Taylor.

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Coloured stones have been trending in the engagement world for the past few years, and sapphire makes an excellent choice because it can double up as your ‘something blue’. When picking one out, always refer to the four Cs: colour, cut, clarity and carat.

Feature image: Pexels

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In Announcements

An out-of-this-world space proposal

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In today’s times, you have to be creative with your proposal. This guy decided to go over-the-top, literally, with his proposal and sent an engagement ring to space.

Capt. Stuart Shippee of the 393rd Bomb Squadron at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, popped the big question to his girlfriend Marie Lisman in a very creative way by launching a weather balloon into space with a decoy engagement ring attached to it. Lisman thought they were sending a military challenge coin up with the balloon, but Shippee swopped it for a ring at the last moment.

The ring travelled a far distance, reaching a height of over 90 000 feet, about three times the cruising altitude of a 747, before bursting and plummeting back to Earth. The balloon landed in a nearby cornfield and once the group found the ring, Shippee went down on one knee with the real ring. Of course, Lisman said yes!

“When I first picked up the balloon payload, I did not see the imitation ring until I looked down and [Shippee] was on his knee,” Lisman told Military.com. “I was speechless! After the long day and difficult search for the payload I was very happy to have the ending be so special.”

Watch the video of this amazing proposal below:

Feature image: Youtube

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In Celebs

Anna Faris shows off yellow diamond engagement ring

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House Bunny star Anna Faris is showing off her new sparkler. In an Instagram picture, the actress officially announced her engagement to cinematographer Michael Barrett by showcasing her giant yellow diamond ring.

Faris and Barrett have been dating since 2017, a few months after she split from ex-husband Chris Pratt. In late 2019, Faris was spotted wearing an engagement ring, and her Mom co-star Allison Janney accidentally confirmed the engagement.

The actress recently shared an image with fellow actor Jason Biggs, who was a guest on her podcast Unqualified. Her cushion-cut yellow diamond ring, however, was the star of the show.

Speaking to Us Weekly, Kathryn Money, VP of Strategy & Merchandising for Brilliant Earth says, “Anna’s beautiful ring features an estimated 3-carat yellow cushion-cut diamond surrounded by a diamond halo and set on a white gold or platinum diamond-adorned band with a subtle split shank.”

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Congrats to the happy couple!

Feature image: Instagram / Anna Faris

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In Accessories

Enchanting emerald engagement rings

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Coloured stones are trending for engagement rings in 2020, and it’s clear to see why. From tanzanite to rubies, these brightly-hued stones offer a unique edge that is perfect for a bride wanting to be different.

Brides have been loving emerald stones to centre their engagement rings in recent years. Brilliant and bright, emeralds are among the most popular gemstones in the world.

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Emeralds are a variety of the mineral beryl and get their colouring from trace amounts of chromium and/or vanadium. The first known emerald was found in Egypt around 1500 BC.  What makes this gemstone so special is its deep, rich green hue. Interestingly, this stone can range in tone from deep to pale green.

Dubbed the “Stone of Successful Love,” emeralds are particularly symbolic for romance. The stone is said to open and nurture the heart and embody unity, compassion and unconditional love.

Emeralds have been found in Africa, Asia, and South America. Columbia yields the largest amount of this gemstone, producing more than 50% worldwide.

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Brides and celebrities alike have coveted this gemstone for years, including Kate Middleton, Jackie O, Elizabeth Taylor and Victoria Beckham. Even Cleopatra favoured this stone.

No matter the cut, this stone will look incredible. Most popular, however, is the emerald cut.

Feature image: Instagram

 

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In Accessories

Domino’s unveils R130k pizza engagement ring

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Talk about a cheesy proposal! Popular restaurant chain Domino’s is giving one lucky Australian patron the chance to win a pizza-shaped engagement ring to the value of $9,000 (R133 398).

Domino’s Australia recognises that pizza is such a big part of relationships, so it makes sense this Italian treat would feature in an engagement.

“How many great love stories have started over a slice? How many awkward dates have been saved by the arrival of the pizza delivery?” Domino’s Chief Marketing Officer Allan Collins explains. “Pizza is made to be shared with the ones we love, so this year we want to honour that with something really special and help create the greatest, if not the cheesiest, proposal ever.”

The ring up for grabs is made of 18-carat yellow and white gold and features a pizza slice on top of it made out of ‘cheese’ and ‘pepperoni’ rubies.

To stand the chance to win the ring, customers must submit a 30-second video on their official contest page explaining how they would involve pizza in their proposal.

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Would you wear this ring?

Feature image:  Twitter / Domino’s Australia

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In Engagements

Say ‘I do’ to tantalising Tanzanite

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Those wanting to bring a little colour to their life are skipping the traditional diamond in favour of a unique stone to centre their engagement ring. With so many stones to choose from, one stands above the rest.

Tanzanite is a variety of the mineral zoisite and varies in hues from blue, to violet, or purple. According to Shimansky, this gemstone is a ‘geological phenomenon’, making it 1000 times more valuable than a diamond.

One of the world’s rarest gemstones comes from a 4km strip of land at the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro. It is estimated to have been created more than 550 million years ago when Mount Kilimanjaro was first formed. However, it was only discovered in 1967 by a prospector named Manuel d’Souza and a Maasai tribesman named Ali Juuyawatu whilst hunting for sapphire.

Tanzanite has only ever been found in Tanzania.  The gem is believed to have been created in a unique process called regional metamorphism, in which tectonic plates collide with one another and the igneous rocks morph into one another through extreme pressure. These rocks reach near melting-point and result in beautiful crystal structures. As tectonic plates contain a variety of different minerals, the crystal structures will vary in appearance. This particular mix has never been discovered anywhere else in the world.

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Scientists believe the chances of these conditions being replicated to produce another batch of tanzanite is about one in a million. Once the mines have been emptied, there will be no more tanzanite unless a new source is found.  It is predicted that within 10-15 years, gem-quality tanzanite stones will no longer exist. As such, as the years progress, this stone will continue to become more and more valuable.

Tanzanite rose in popularity when Tiffany & Co. founder Louis Comfort Tiffany’s great grandson, Henry Platt, fell in love with the precious gem. Platt renamed the stone ‘tanzanite’ after its country of origin, and considered it to be the most important gemstone discovery in over 2 000 years. Tanzanite quickly became one of the most coveted gems in the world.

Tanzanite is the official birthstone of December, and is considered to symbolise good luck and prosperity, typically associated with celebrations of new life and new beginnings. This stone is particularly meaningful for the Maasai, who believe the colour blue is sacred and spiritual. The Maasai even have a tradition in which they gift new mothers a tanzanite as an offering of health, positivity and prosperity for the child.

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Being extremely valuable and rare, tanzanite jewellery is in high demand. As such, they are considered investment pieces. Celebrities like Kate Middleton, Beyonce and and Cate Blanchett have all turned heads in this gorgeous gem.

Feature image: Instagram / @patonsplacejewellers_

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In Accessories

How to choose the right diamond for you

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If you’re recently, or about to get engaged, and choosing your own ring, it’s important to know what to look for. Of course, not all engagement or wedding rings have diamonds. You can choose any stone, crystal or gem you want!

If, however, if you’re leaning towards a girl’s best friend, we share some advice from experts on how to make sure your diamond is of good quality, suits your style and band, and is the best value for its price.

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has created a universally used system called the Four Cs of Diamond Quality. These categories are your go-to method for assessing your sparkly rock.

Cut

The shape of your diamond is a personal choice, and refers to the way a stone is hand- chiselled to reveal its proportions, symmetry and polish. In fact, the cut is the only way a jeweller can make a diamond unique and stand out. Cutting diamonds is a great skill, and the quality of the cut determines how the stone’s facets will interact with light and ultimately how much it sparkles. Choose a cut that catches your eye. Trends come and go, so don’t just go with the current most fashionable shape. Go for the one that shimmers its way into your heart.

Here are the most common options:

Credit: Shiny Rock Polished

 

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Clarity

All diamonds bear ‘birthmarks’ – small imperfections inside the diamond, called inclusions. The number of these imperfections determine a diamond’s clarity and more flaws mean a less brilliant stone.

The GIA’s 11 point diamond clarity scale ranges from flawless to heavily included. Stones that are flawless or very slightly included are virtually perfect to the naked eye. However, diamonds with inclusions can be just as radiant, beautiful and perfect for you.

Here’s a spectrum on which you can find the clarity of your diamond:

Credit: Shiny Rock Polished

Colour

Diamonds naturally occur in various different colours. However, in the traditional white diamond, white is highly sought after. The presence of other hues, especially yellow, lowers a white diamond’s value.

The GIA grades white diamonds on a scale of D (colourless) to Z (darkest). All D-Z diamonds are considered white, even though they contain varying degrees of colour, while coloured diamonds are graded on a separate scale. Do bear in mind that the colour of the band can also influence the stone’s appearance. If you’re going for the ‘pure’ look, choose the whitest rock you can find (budget allowing). However, don’t shy away from yellow diamonds, as they posses a beauty of their own.

Take a look at the scale for colour grading:

Carat

Most people think of carat as a stone’s size, but it actually refers to weight, with a metric carat equalling 0.2 grams. Diamonds are measured meticulously using 100 ‘points’. Very large stones are incredibly rare, as fewer than one in a million mined rough stones are large enough to produce a finished 1 carat diamond. As the weight of a stone increases, its value therefore increases exponentially, with a 3 carat stone potentially costing 9 times as much as a 1 carat equal stone.

Take a look here:

Credit: Shin Rock Polished

When going ring shopping, bear in mind that no one factor can determine a diamond’s value and that more expensive isn’t necessarily more you.

Source: Shiny Rock Polished

Image: Instagram/Weddingplannermontreal

 

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