Engaged With Color
I have a weakness for engagement rings. And by weakness, I mean that it’s not physically possible for me to walk by a jewelry store window without screeching to a halt when I see them on display, so I guess I’m putting it a bit mildly.
It’s not like I’m in the market for one—I’ve been married for almost seven years and have an emerald-cut diamond ring that I cherish—but I just can’t resist. (My obsession started long before I was engagement ring shopping, anyway.) As the editor of a wedding website I used to claim that looking at rings was a job requirement, but I stopped working there years ago so that excuse doesn’t fly anymore.
While white-diamond rings make me weak in the knees, especially those with giant rocks that cause me to alternate between thinking, “Who would actually wear that?!” and “I want one!” colored-stone rings have been and continue to make a statement in the marketplace. Generally less expensive, unless you’re dealing with colored diamonds, of course, they’re a chic choice for brides-to-be on the hunt for something different—and make fantastic right-hand rings for those of us without a wedding on the horizon!
With the popularity of colored stones on the rise, chances are you can find a single-stone ring in your favorite hue, no matter what it may be. On Delamina alone, I was able to run though the entire Roy G. Biv color spectrum. (You remember that from science class, don’t you?)
R is for red, and with red being the color of love, ruby rings, like those from Epsilon, have long been a popular choice for engagement rings. Orange fans can satisfy their cravings with a peachy coral cabochon ring by Sethi Couture. A less pricey option than a yellow diamond, though just as beautiful, is a yellow sapphire, as evidenced by Epsilon’s yellow sapphire and white-diamond-accented ring. (Just try to find a 1.5-carat yellow diamond for $1300!)
Moving on to the cooler colors of the spectrum, green enthusiasts have at least two envy-worthy options from which to choose—deep-hued emeralds and the lighter peridot, the latter used by Akiyo Matsuoka in her Caribbean Rain ring. Blue lovers have no shortage of stones to consider: aquamarine, blue topaz, even turquoise. Sapphires in shades of indigo, the oft forgotten color, rank second behind diamonds in hardness, making them a sturdy choice for everyday wear. And last, but certainly not least, comes violet, as exemplified by Dov Padeh’s stunning amethyst ring.
Don’t you think it’s time to taste the rainbow?
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