Wedding Sets

When looking at wedding rings, a gentleman recently asked me, "Why do some of the rings come with two pieces?"

It then dawned on me that most men do not realize that a wedding set usually consists of two pieces. I have found that most ladies already know this, but men only have to worry about a wedding band. Men engagement rings have not become popular (yet?). One ring for most men is already one more than normal for them, so adding another one would perhaps be pushing it.

For the ladies, however, the engagement ring traditionally has a diamond solitaire or single diamond as its center piece. I have been seeing a small but growing trend towards non-diamond engagement rings. The most popular so far have been blue sapphires or aquamarines with diamonds on the side. Shades of blue are much easier to wear daily than a pink or red gemstone, which requires more color/clothes coordination. Then again, if her favorite color is pink, perhaps most of her wardrobe would match a pink sapphire engagement ring?

Whatever it looks like, the engagement ring is given to the lady as a promise to get married. Here are some engagement rings:

Note: This simple solitaire diamond engagement ring has a 4mm band.

Note: The side diamonds consist of three tapered, baguette cut diamonds.

Note: This simple diamond engagement ring has five prong set, round diamonds.

The wedding band, however, usually does not have a single diamond. A wedding band could be plain metal (gold or platinum) OR it could have two or more diamonds. Here are some wedding bands:

Note: This 6mm 14 Karat white gold wedding band is "flat" inside.

Note: In this 2mm 14K white gold band is a comfort fit, which is slightly more rounded inside the band.
Note: These diamond wedding bands take it up a notch with more diamonds. The man's has seven princess cut diamonds while the lady's band has prong set, round diamonds. The lady's ring is comfort fit.

Note: These three wedding bands are called eternity bands because the diamonds go all the way around instead of only halfway. These eternity wedding bands are beautiful, and you do not have to worry about the band twisting to the non-diamond half of the band. Care, however, should be taken when wearing because the diamonds on the bottom could be damaged when the palm of the hand hits hard surfaces. One should also remember that eternity bands cannot be easily sized, and while we all do not want to gain or lose too much weight after marriage, sometimes it is hard to prevent (i.e. think about how great a cook your significant other is...)

And now when we put them together, we can call the two pieces a complete wedding set, like these:

Note: There are princess cut diamonds, channel set in these two pieces.

Note: The diamonds are pave set in three rows in this wedding set.

Comments or questions are always welcomed! After growing up in the jewelry industry (20+ years), we sometimes take for granted what is common knowledge.

Antique / Vintage Diamond Wedding Rings

Many of today's modern bridges are choosing antique or vintage wedding rings. It's the kind of ring you probably saw your grandmother wore, and if you were a girl, you probably admired it on her hands. At Handiwork we have a few that I would like to share with you:

This sapphire accented piece has a 1.01 Carat round brilliant diamond (SI-1, H) mounted in the center. There are 4 round diamonds bezel set around the prong set solitaire. A nice light antique filigree work is lightly etched into the mounting. This is a wonderful ring for a lady who loves blue or sapphires.
Cost: $2450

This wide band vintage diamond wedding ring has a 1.05 Carat princess cut diamond prong set. A total of 0.33 Carats in round and princess cut diamonds are pave set in the band. There are 3 princess cut diamonds channel set on each side, and one princess cut is oriented in a diamond shape on each side of the band. The ring is 18 Karat white gold.
Cost: $2350

This simple antique style ring has a 1.35 Carat diamond solitaire in the center, and two round diamonds accent each side, totaling 0.13 Carats. A unique scroll design can be seen on the side.
Cost: $2450

This 14 Karat white gold pave mounting has 0.40Carats of round cut diamonds. There is more of a beading texture down each side. This semi-mounting is available at Handiwork. If you have your own diamond or would like to purchase a loose stone, we are happy to assist in mounting.
Cost: $750

This split shank diamond wedding ring has 0.68 Carats in round pave diamonds. This 14 Karat white gold mounting is also available at Handiwork.
Cost: $875

This traditional 2 piece wedding set (engagement ring PLUS wedding band) has a 0.75 Carat round brilliant diamond solitaire as its center piece. A total of 0.50 Carats in round cut diamonds are mounted in the setting and band.
Cost: $1875

Here is another unique vintage wedding ring with colored stones. In this case, emeralds accent each side of the 0.81 Carat round brilliant cut diamond and 0.25 Carats in round diamonds are pave set in the mounting. There is a subtle scroll design on the side of the ring. This is a great wedding ring for someone who loves green or emeralds.
Cost: $1750

This antique style ring has the characteristic beading of vintage rings. A 0.46 Carat round brilliant cut diamond is mounted in a semi-bezel setting. A total of 0.20 Carats in round diamonds are prong set around the diamond solitaire. The band has a beautiful antique filigree design one each side.
Cost: $950

This dainty antique style ring has a 0.38 Carat round brilliant diamond mounted in 14 Karat white gold. Eight small round diamonds accent the ring in a low profile setting for carefree, everyday wear (minimal prongs means less snagging on clothes!).
Cost: $750

This platinum diamond ring is a dainty but beautiful vintage piece. A 0.40 Carat round brilliant diamond with an exceptional clarity of VS-1 and a color of H is prong set and surrounded by 10 round diamonds. The unique shape of this ring is sure to get many compliments.

Cost: $825

This diamond ring has a 0.72 Carat Old European Cut (OEC) diamond solitaire. A total of 0.40 Carats in round diamonds are prong set in this 14 Karat white gold ring. European cut diamonds are characterized by a smaller diamond table and a higher crown angle. The tip of the diamond on the bottom has also been slightly trimmed, allowing the light to reflect differently than a modern round brilliant cut diamond. You can read more about European cut diamonds and their more recent counterparts here.
Cost: $2450

This custom made vintage style ring has a 0.75 Carat round brilliant cut diamond bezel set as its centerpiece. The ring is 14 Karat yellow gold, but 14 Karat white gold accents the diamond solitaire. This is another great low profile, snag-free ring design.
Cost: $1650

This simple antique ring features a 1.0 Carat round brilliant cut diamond solitaire (SI-2, H/I). The antique filigree details in this 14 Karat yellow gold setting give it a delicate look.
$ 2765

A smaller version is also available at Handiwork. This ring has a 0.37 Carat round diamond and the filigree details on this piece are more floral in nature.
Cost: $475

This antique diamond ring has a total of 0.55 Carats in round cut diamonds. The 14 Karat yellow gold setting is accented by a rhodium white finish around the diamonds.
Cost: $450

This 14 Karat yellow gold ring features a 0.30 Carat round brilliant diamond. The six-sided shape of the ring and the details on the band give this ring a true antique feel.
Cost: $325

Please feel free to leave comments on what you think about these different rings, all of which are available for sale at Handiwork Jewelry.

Choosing an Engagement Ring

Whether you are a jewelry person or not, most people (especially gentlemen) will make at least one purchase from a jewelry store in their lifetime. You guessed it, the engagement ring. Sometimes people refer to it as a bridal set, wedding ring, or proposal ring. Whatever the name, it's the ring with a center diamond (usually) and accompanied by a kneeling man (usually). It is also, often times, the first jewelry purchase the gentleman has ever made.

There are 5 questions one should be able to answer:

1. What metal does she usually wear?

yellow gold, white gold or platinum, rose or pink gold

two-tone or tri-color

2. Which diamond shape or cut does she like best?

3. How would you describe her style?

simple and traditional

antique or vintage

modern


unique

4. What size is her wedding finger (left ring finger next to the pinky finger)?
Blue Nile, a leading online retailer of jewelry, offers this useful ring measurement guide. Besides asking her directly or taking her to a jewelry store, you can do the following:

a. Ask her mom, sister, or best friend. The "surprise" effect, however, might be lost if the ladies talk so mum is the word.

b. Steal or borrow one of her rings, preferably one worn on the left ring finger, next to the pinky. You can take it to a local jeweler for sizing or you can use the ring measurement guide above.

c. If she is a heavy sleeper, you can take a piece of string and measure her left ring finger, and convert according to this diamonds.com guide.

d. If you completely do not know, it is best to get a standard size 6.

*TIPS*
Rings with a wide band (5mm or larger) require 1/4 or 1/2 size larger than a thinner band (around 3mm). Another important consideration? Some people have hands that swell more than others depending on temperature or sodium intake. Be sure to measure hands at room temperature because fingers will swell in the summer heat and shrink in the winter or A/C cold.

5. How much do you want to spend?
Ah, so this is what it comes down to... In all honesty, it is best to have a budget because with emotional purchases, those strings can get tugged, especially if you have a very persuasive salesperson. Having a final figure in mind also helps you shop accordingly because $1,000 and $10,000 opens up different doors. The truth is that all doors have beautiful rings behind them. A good salesperson should be understanding, and if he or she pushes you too much, you should be comfortable telling them you would like to stay within your budget. If the jewelry store is willing to negotiate, a budget will also help with bargaining.

People often ask me what is the average amount. I would say most customers spend somewhere between $3,000 to $5,000. DeBeers recommends a figure equivalent to a three month salary. While a diamond is definitely an investment and can always be passed on to your children or grandchildren, the realities of a first home mortgage, wedding expenses, a honeymoon, etc will help you decide on the appropriate budget.

Any questions or thoughts would be wonderful!