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    How to choose the perfect engagement ring shape
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    How to choose the perfect engagement ring shape

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    There are many popular diamond shapes to choose from when it comes to engagement rings. The top ten are: round, princess, oval, marquise, pear, cushion, emerald, asscher, radiant and heart.

    The shape of the diamond refers the basic outline when viewed face up. The cut of a diamond refers to how the diamond’s facets are arranged and its ability to reflect light. The most common cutting style is brilliant (cut with 57 or 58 facets to maximise sparkle) and then there is also the step cut which is generally used when cutting square and rectangular shapes (used for cutting emerald and asscher shapes).

    Considering the 4 C’s — cut, colour, clarity and carat weight — alongside your budget is important when deciding on a diamond shape. Ultimately, though, it comes down to personal preference, as each shape offers its own unique charm and character.

    Round

    A round shaped diamond is the most popular choice for an engagement ring as it looks good on most hands and in most settings. Almost all round diamonds are cut brilliant which maximises the potential brightness. However, due to the high demand of this shape, the cost per carat is higher than other shapes.

    Princess

    This shape is also very popular due to the fact that it has a unique shape and has a slightly lower price per carat than the round shape. It also works in most ring setting styles, although it should be set with 4 prongs to protect all four corners. A brilliant cut princess diamond rivals the brilliant round because it offers that sparkle at a lower price. Its square shape also easily disguises imperfections meaning that you can choose pretty much any carat size.

    Oval

    This shape is becoming more popular and it is an adaptation of the brilliant cut round shape so it is perfect for those who like the sparkle of the round but want something a bit more unique. The elongated shape creates the illusion of a larger size and makes the finger appear longer and slimmer. It is also flexible in terms of setting styles and hides small imperfections.

     

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    Marquise

    This long and narrow shape has one of the largest surface areas in the upper part of the diamond of all the shapes. It makes the size appear larger than it is and makes the finger seem longer and slimmer, like the oval. Symmetry is important when cutting this shape as the two end points should align and the right and left sides should form a mirror image. It should be set with 2 prongs to protect the two points.

    Pear

    This shape is a combination of the round and marquise shapes with a tapered point on the one end. It also has the lengthening and slimming effect on the finger due to its asymmetry. It is feminine, unique and elegant. This shape also needs to be symmetrical and set with a prong at the point for protection. You can decide which direction you would like the point to face but positioning the point to face the fingernails is more flattering on the hand.

    Cushion

    Cushion cut is a square shape with rounded corners. This style shows clarity (imperfections) well which is something to take into consideration when deciding which of the 4 c’s is most important to you – high clarity in this case. This shape works well in vintage settings.

     

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    Emerald

    This shape was originally for cutting emeralds, hence the name. Due to the way it’s cut, it produces a hall of mirrors effect rather than the sparkle that comes with brilliant cuts. It also emphasises the symmetry that comes with this shape. It is flattering on the hand and the long lines and flashes of light that come with this shape bring a sense of elegance. It is not such a common choice for an engagement ring meaning that you can find more affordable options in higher quality than other shapes. However, this shape does not hide imperfections as well as shapes that are cut brilliant.

     

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    Asscher

    This shape has an antique feel to it and is similar to the square emerald but with larger facets. The more facets, the more sparkle. But like the emerald and because of the open and square cut corners, it does not hide imperfections well and so a high clarity is necessary.

     

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    Radiant

    This shape is the first square shape to be cut brilliant, the second being princess. A square radiant shape is similar to princess but with cropped corners. It will often look the same as princess if it is set with four prongs covering each corner. A rectangular radiant shape is perfect for those who like the look of the emerald shape but want the shine that comes with the brilliant cut. Clarity is less of a concern with this shape as the many facets hide imperfections.

     

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    A post shared by Ralph Jacobs (@ralphjacobssa)

    Heart

    This shape is a classic symbol of love but carat weight is important as the shape is difficult to achieve in diamonds smaller than 0.50 carats. Symmetry is also important in this shape. The irregular shape of a heart cut means it will need to be set with more prongs to protect the stone. The many facets that come with the cutting of this shape will ensure a lot of sparkle.

    Ultimately, choosing a diamond shape comes down to balancing personal style, practicality and budget. Some shapes maximise sparkle, others create the illusion of a larger stone, while certain cuts highlight clarity and symmetry more than others.

    If you love brilliance and shine, opt for a brilliant-cut shape like round, princess or radiant. If you prefer elegance and finger-lengthening silhouettes, oval, marquise and emerald cuts are timeless choices. And if vintage-inspired or distinctive styles appeal to you, cushion, asscher or pear shapes offer plenty of character.

    The best way to decide? Narrow your favourites down to two or three shapes and try them on in person. Seeing how each shape looks and feels on your hand will ultimately tell you more than any guide can.

    ALSO SEE: Unique wedding rings designed by local jewellers

    Unique wedding rings designed by local jewellers

    Featured image: Pinterest

     

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    In Accessories

    What to consider when resetting your engagement ring

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    Do you sometimes wish to have a different ring on your ring finger? Look no further. Here are FAQs and all you need to know when thinking of resetting your engagement ring.

    A ring makeover does not have to cost you an arm and a leg, and you don’t have to buy a completely new ring either. You can rearrange your stones and make them brand new.

    1. Why reset your ring
    There are many reasons to reset your ring and those may include a divorce, feeling your ring is worn out, or just wanting a new look. However, when you reset your ring, its value changes and it will no longer be the original price.

    2. Cost to reset
    Resetting your ring may cost from R5000 to R20 000, depending on the design and the type of stone it is. The cost is less expensive than buying a new ring. However, adding new diamonds might cost more so you need to do your maths before taking your ring for a new look.

    3. How long will it take
    The waiting period depends on what you want to be done on your ring and it also depends on where you take it. Adding more diamonds might take longer. If you take your ring to a local jeweler it might take up to six weeks to finish it but private jewelers may have it done faster.

    4. Know your stone
    Do your research about your stone. It will make it easy for you to decide what to do with it if you know a little more about it. This way, you know what to expect from reconstruction and the risks.

    5. Insurance
    Mistakes happen all the time and you want to avoid them happening to your stone but you can never be a 100% sure, the best thing to do is make sure your ring is insured and ask your jeweler what is their policy if they mess or break the stone, have that written down to protect yourself. Normally, jewelers have a free repair policy but asking won’t hurt.

    6. Ask
    Jewelry is an important piece in anyone’s life because there is always a story behind it. When you take your ring for resetting, ask as many questions as you possibly can. Do your research prior and go prepared. This will save you.

    ALSO SEE: Alternative engagement ring stones

    Alternative engagement ring stones

    Picture: Pexels

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    In Celebs

    How P!nk and Carey Hart got the party started

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    It’s not many celebrities who can maintain long-lasting,  successful marriages in the spotlight. In fact, Hollywood is notorious for having countless marriages end in sensational divorces splashed across tabloids.

    Some couples do however make it work amidst the pressures and high roller lifestyles of being famous. One rock star couple we all know and love is singer Pink and her husband Carey Hart.

    Pink, (real name Alecia Beth Moore) met former professional motocross rider and current off-road truck racer Carey Hart at an extreme sports event in 2001. He was a contestant and piqued her interest.

    The non-traditional rockstar honoured her ‘rebel’ persona by proposing to Hart during a motocross competition in 2005.

    She painted a sign saying “Will you marry me?” and showed it to him on the course during the race. When he didn’t respond, she added “Serious!” at the bottom and showed it to him again. Of course, he said yes!

    https://www.instagram.com/p/Bp-L9tCFWNL/

    They tied the knot in 2006 at the luxurious Four Seasons resort in Costa Rica. The Walk me home singer wore a tiered halter neck with a black bow belt and headband.

    Credit: Pinterest
    Credit: Pinterest

    The power couple has not been without their fair share of marriage problems, however. The pair are as notorious for their ups and downs as they are for sticking together.

    According to Goalcast, the two had a major split during their first two years of marriage but never got divorced. During this break, in 2008, Hart asked her to perform at his Las Vegas club on New Year’s Eve and she agreed. She had planned quite a theatrical surprise for him in the meantime.

    “After soundcheck, I told him that he needed to come to my room,” she told Redbook. “I had made him a photo album of all the cards he had ever given me, of all the photos of our entire relationship. I spent months on this album. On the last page, I pasted a photo of me from a really bad movie I made years ago with my neck slit and blood everywhere. Next to it I wrote, ‘This is me without you.’”

    They reconciled, went for marriage councelling after that, and seemed stronger together ever since.

    “Both of us came from broken homes, yet we made the choice to work hard at our relationship. And look at us now! Two misfits when we met, we have grown together and now have an amazing family,” Hart posted on Instagram on their 14th anniversary earlier this year.

    The couple have a daughter, Willow Sage, and a son, Jameson Moon.

    Instagram/pinkfan.page

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    In Celebs

    Jeannie Mai announces engagement to Jeezy

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    Love conquers all, even a world wide pandemic, self-isolation, and quarantines. “The Real” presenter Jeannie Mai and rapper Jeezy (Jay Jenkins) are proving it with their engagement in the time of the coronavirus.

    Mai took to instagram on April 7 to officially announce their engagement and share her good news. “I want nothing more than to spend the rest of my life loving you….YES,” she said in her caption.

    “Thank you, everyone, for celebrating this journey with us. We are praying love over everyone from here,” she added.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B-qBAc1hFvm/

    The couple have been together since November 2018, but only made their relationship public last year.

    People reported that Jenkins proposed at their “quarantine date night” in his Los Angeles home. Mai’s rep told People that Jenkins planned to propose on their trip to Vietnam in April this year. However, due to travel restrictions and self-isolation orders on account of the coronavirus, Jenkins had to come up with a new plan.

    “Instead, Jay decided to bring Vietman to Jeannie with a surprise quarantine date night in his home filled with Vietnamese food and decor,” said Mai’s rep.

    Of course, people are tremendously happy for them and congratulations flooded in on her Instagram post. Co-hosts at The Real were also ecstatic for Mai. The Real congratuated Mai on their Instagram page too, posting a picture of the happy couple.

    “OUR HEARTS, HUNNAY!!!” they said. “Screaming all the contratulatory wishes from the rooftops for our very own @TheJeannieMai and her new FIANCE. @Jeezy!!!! We are so thrilled and over the moon for the both of you.”

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    Congrats to the happy couple!

    Image: Twitter / Complex

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    Man takes the last flight during global pandemic to propose

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    In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, this man had to make a decision of vital importance: to stay in Cairo or take the last available flight to Canada to be with his girlfriend. He chose the latter.

    Eihab Boraie was in Cairo when the covid-19 broke out. His Italian-American girlfriend, Francesca Brunndisini, is in Quebec City. As the global health crises deepened and became increasingly serious, Boraie realised he had to act fast.

    Soon things became more tense, as Egpyt announced that airports would shut down on March 19. This meant that the very few left over tickets were much more expensive than usual. But Boraie took his chances anyway. He didn’t expect things to work out.

    “I assumed the only way I would be travelling home was if the Canadian government sent a plane to retrieve stranded Canadians,” he wrote on CNN.

    Miraculously, he secured a seat on the very last flight to Canada. So he set off  to be with his girlfriend, leaving behind his loving parents who’s health he worried about.

    Once he arrived in Quebec City, he couldn’t wait any longer. The first thing he did when he saw Brunndisini was to get down on one knee and propose.

    Credit: Facebook / Eihab Boraie

    “She was completely caught off guard as less than 48 hours before she didn’t know when and if she would ever see me again, let alone predict that I would ask her to marry me,” he said.

    “She accepted my proposal, we removed our masks and made it official with a long kiss,” he added.

    Boraie joked that they sealed the deal with a ring and the possibility that he could have passed her the virus in that moment.

    “When the world is healed, our plan is to get married in Italy on the island of Giglio, but it’s hard to imagine when that will be. Until that day the only couple goals we set in stone is to stay isolated and survive the quarantine,” he said.

    Image: Facebook / Eihab Boraie

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    In Engagements

    Agent E helps men find the perfect ring

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    Finding the perfect engagement ring is a tough task! If you’re a groom-to-be, or have experienced the ring shopping rush then you know a bit about this. We bet a one-stop-shop for finding the dream ring is exactly what soon-to-be-husbands are yearning for.

    Rowena Cumner, a 34-year-old Londoner, launched her engagement business, Agent Engagement, in 2015. The business helps men find the perfect engagement ring, assisting them in the full process including sourcing the ring and transporting it through airport security.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B7isPFlgi6H/

    Cumner offers the service at no cost at all, with her income coming from commission from jewelers. According to Daily Mail, Cumner thought up this business idea when her friend requested that she assist in bringing a ring across London.

    About her business she said: “I started being Agent E to help people save time, hassle or money when searching the engagement ring market and it just became really fun. From teachers to doctors, builders to bankers, my clients seemed to find it fun too, pretending to be 007 running around creating the perfect ring.

    “The best part is that my clients never tell their partners that I’ve helped them. They want them to think they did it all by themselves,” she added.

    Included in her job description is ensuring that brides don’t catch on to the upcoming proposal. She claims that at times she speaks to clients more than 30 times a day, if they’re working with a deadline.

    Apparently, getting rings through airport security is the most difficult part. “Usually we get around this with a giant post-it note on the ring box alerting airport staff that it’s a surprise engagement ring and not to be opened carelessly,” she said.

    “Sometimes the rings are so precious we can’t risk a problem in security, so I once booked a £1 EasyJet flight to Dublin, just so I can get the ring through airport security slowly, in order to pass it over to my client outside Pret a Manger in Gatwick while his girlfriend was in the loo,” she added.

    Cumner takes pride in her business and is tremendously happy helping clients create the perfect proposal. “I will stop at nothing to help my clients pop the question with complete peace of mind – as long as it’s legal,” she said.

    Here are some of her happy clients:

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    https://www.instagram.com/p/B9ebxm_Ax4E/

    Image: Instagram / Agent Engagement

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    In Destination

    Get married for free in this luxury department store

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    Take your love of shopping to new heights by literally getting married in a luxury London-based department store.

    Luxury department store Fortnum & Mason is one of London’s most iconic landmarks. After its 313 years of business, they are now offering couples the chance to say their ‘I do’s’ in their store.

    The exclusive offer is running for the month of February only in honour of Valentines Day. Couples can get married in their newly erected pop-up ‘Chapel of Love’ for free. The chapel instillation will feature the iconic Fortnum’s clock, illuminated stained-glass windows and a chiming wedding bell, as well as a neon pink ‘Chapel of Love’ sign.

    The 14-metre installation will be on the lower ground floor of the department store, and is also a perfect place to propose.

    “For us, Valentine’s Day isn’t just about romance – we want all of our customers to share in the joy-giving gifts and unforgettable experiences that Fortnum’s has become synonymous with,” explains Fortnum & Mason’s customer experience director Zia Zareem-Slade. “That’s why, this year, we are celebrating our friends, loved ones and everything in-between by launching The Chapel of Love.”

    “We hope this will bring joy to all of our customers, no matter who they love this February.”

    Those wanting to get married here will have to book ahead of time and will have to obtain a marriage licence and a registrar beforehand.

    The chapel is also open to the public, so anyone may swing by and capture some cute images.

    Feature image: Instagram / Fortnum & Mason

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    In Advice

    Bride invites strangers to plan her wedding

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    There are few things in life people will not give unsolicited advice on. From the way you should wear your hair to how to raise a child, strangers are always willing to offload their opinions on someone listening with half an ear. Anyone who has been a bride has experienced the earache of such opinions. This bride decided to give all these strangers what they so deeply want by letting them plan her wedding to the last detail.

    Jen Glantz is no stranger to the wedding world. She is a professional bridesmaid and founder of Bridesmaid for Hire, the world’s first and only company where strangers can hire a bridesmaid to fulfill all necessary wedding-related duties. After being the bridesmaid in countless weddings, her time has finally come to walk down the aisle as a bride.

    Glantz was inspired to put her wedding in the public’s hands whilst getting a manicure. Her manicurist noticed her engagement ring and immediately began listing wedding advice. A few days later, Glantz’s new website, Finally the Bride, was born, inviting strangers the world over to vote in polls categorised to represent every aspect of her wedding.

    “Finally the Bride is an interactive book, released chapter-by-chapter, where you’re a part of the story,” reads the site. “You can vote on Jen’s biggest wedding decisions, share tips that can end up in the book, perhaps even find yourself as a main character in one of the stories (cough, cough, become her bridesmaid).

    Credit: Finally the Bride

    On the 15th of every month, new polls will open up in which strangers can decide how Glantz should go about planning her big day. From where to go for her bachelorette to how much she can spend on her dress, every aspect of her wedding is open for debate.

    She has even invited people to vote on what her biggest wedding challenge should be. Options include “get a celebrity who she’s never met before to come to the wedding” and “invite all the people she’s been a bridesmaid for in the past and get them to come to the wedding wearing the bridesmaid dress they made her wear”.

    Credit: Finally the bride

    Thus far, the public have decided that Glantz’s wedding budget must be between $15 000 – $30 000 and that she must get married in either July or October.

    “When I check in on the results, I kind of panic a little bit, but then I think back to my commitment to this process,” Glantz told Insider. “I might have the most outrageous and most out-of-the-box wedding ever, and maybe the world is telling me, ‘Jen, this is what’s best for you.'”

    Glantz hopes that this project encourages people to not sweat the small stuff and remember that a wedding does not make a marriage.

    “In the end, our weddings signify two people coming together, plotting their future and everyone else around them, celebrating. That could be done in a warehouse. That can be done in a hotel banquet room. That can be done in your backyard. The meaning and the purpose still stay intact.”

    Image: Instagram / Jen Glantz

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    In Celebs

    William and Kate’s pre-wedding marriage pact

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    It’s a storybook romance for the ages. A commoner caught a Prince’s eye, they fell in love and married in an elaborate fairytale wedding.  Prince William and Duchess Kate’s relationship has had its ups and downs over the years. However, this story of their pre-wedding marriage pact might just restore your faith in love.

    In her 2013 royal biography, Kate: The Future Queen, royal expert Katie Nicholl details a touching story in which the royals made a promise to each other years before their wedding.

    According to Nicholl, the pair made the pact back in 2007, four years before their April 29, 2011 wedding date. Following their short-lived breakup, the couple flew to the island of Desroches in the Seychelles for some alone time. Nicholl writes that Kate was feeling insecure about their relationship, and William wanted to prove his commitment to her.

    “There on the paradise island, William promised Kate that he was in the relationship for the long term,” Nicholls wrote in her book. “For the very first time, they talked seriously about marriage, and with the ocean before them and beneath the night sky, they made a pact to marry.”

    And the pact held true. In 2010, the couple announced their engagement to the world after Prince William proposed to Kate in Kenya. Who can forget that iconic 12-carat sapphire engagement ring that once belonged to Princess Diana? They then married in 2011 in a grand ceremony broadcast all over the world. In the years after their wedding, they became parents to Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

    Maybe there is magic in a pact.

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    Image: Instagram / Kensington Royal

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    Why we propose on bended knee

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    You know the picture. The proposer suddenly lowers the knee to the ground, both hands clutching a tiny box. “Will you marry me?” they ask. It’s a picturesque moment, one we’ve seen reproduced time and time again. But why do we do it?

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    While proposing has actually been around for centuries, proposing on bended knee specifically has not always been the tradition. In the olden days, wedding engagements were seen more as business arrangements than the romantic, heartfelt scenes we know today.

    Proposing on bended knee has no specific historical origin, and largely seems to be a more modern invention.

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    Most reports link the tradition to practices observed during medieval times.

    According to engagementringbible.com, the tradition “dates back to the days of knighthood, chivalry and formal courtship (i.e. medieval times and beyond).” In these days, knights would bend the knee in front of their lord as a sign of respect and loyalty. Courtly love was the formal practice of romance. Knights would perform various deeds of service to prove their love for certain women. They would also kneel before the women as a sign of servitude.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B4J6NLtpVqh/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    Kneeling was and is a common occurrence across many religions. Much Christian iconography depict figures kneeling before their Lord as a symbol of service. For many entering their places of worship, they will kneel before the altar in a sign of love and reverence.

    The argument goes that these two occurrences blended together and became a way for people to express their love, thus evolving into the modern day proposal. The bended knee became a symbolic way to prove your undying love and respect.

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    Nowadays, of course, people are not so strict about upholding this tradition. Many propose without kneeling, and the amount of women proposing to men has largely risen. Whether you kneel or not, at the end of the day it is about what feels right for you and your partner.

    Image: Unsplash

     

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