That of course, led me down the rabbit hole of finding jewelry that had a similar color palette of dark and light with a stark sense of contrast. The engagement trend that no one is talking about, but frankly everyone should be talking about is rutilated quartz. 

Rutilated quartz contains needle-like inclusions that can look black, golden, or copper-like. While often in the gem world, inclusions mean that the price of the stone plummets…with this stone the inverse is true. The more beautiful the inclusions, the higher the stone can sell for. With a score of 7 on the Mohs Hardness Scale, it’s hard enough for daily wear, and also the stone is super unique.

I want to talk about price versus value with this stone as well. The naysayers can say, “oh, he got you a quartz ring? I guess he was too cheap for a diamond.” And let me give an emphatic no to the haters. While rutilated quartz itself may be considered a bargain stone, expert craftsmanship from a luxury jeweler is nothing to sniff at. Also speaking of haters, rutilated quartz is known for having properties of blocking negative energy, so really you’re killing two birds with one stone. So do you want a typical boring diamond so your ring can look “expensive” and your insipid relatives can approve of it or do you want the kind of stone that would make your little emo heart flutter? It’s a no brainer. 

These are my favorite picks for rutilated quartz rings that are oozing with alternative engagement ring goodness.

Bea Halo Ring with Black Rutilated Quartz – Anna Sheffield, $3800

I am obsessed with this ring. There, I said it. This ring reminds me deeply of my teenage self: Tim Burton-esque with a penchant for alternative rock and garage punk bands. And just because this ring reminds me of my emo screamo days doesn’t mean that it’s not refined, elegant, and fit for a modern-day bride. I mean who wouldn’t want to wear a Jackson Pollock painting on their finger? And I love the halo of white diamonds, it gives the ring just enough glamour without crossing the line into gaudy and high profile. This is a “say yes” ring for sure and any woman with a taste for unique and artistic jewelry would swoon over this ring. 

Florence Rutilated Quartz Ring – PeneliBelle, $1443

I have one word for this treat of a ring. Steampunk. How can you go wrong with gorgeous geometric shapes and a bit of mystery? I absolutely love the labyrinth of inclusions in the stone. The black rhodium plating makes it edgy and adds to the one of a kind antique factor. This ring makes me think of 1920’s flappers wearing fringe dresses with feather headdresses. It looks like it was yanked right out of the art deco era and given a home in modernity. Wearing a ring like this toes the line between the sophisticated styles of the past and the current pulse of the jewelry industry. The “Florence” ring tips its hat to the rings that came before it and boldly sets the stage for new rings to come. 

Petite Crossover Ring – Natalie Marie, $1876

When the abstract becomes tangible that’s when you know your design has achieved complete symbiosis. I love that the little scribbles and darting lines in the quartz are mirrored with the design of the band. I like the delicacy of the four claw setting and how the yellow gold makes a bold statement. This ring is decadent, delicate, and damn beautiful. Also to take this in another direction, the circular interwoven band reminds me of Jupiter’s rings. This ring is giving me strong outer space vibes but not in a Star Trek way. In a this-stone-looks-like-it-has-a-whole-universe-in-it kind of way. This ring is Alice in Wonderland wacky with the added bonus of being wallet-friendly. What’s not to love?

Let me know in the comments below, have I made you a believer? Could you commit to a rutilated quartz engagement ring or are you a die-hard diamond fan?

The post Quintessential Quartz Engagement Rings appeared first on handfulofmia.

Having a budget doesn’t mean your future fiancée has to look busted. The average cost of an engagement ring in 2018 was just over $7800. I am going to show you freakishly beautiful engagement rings for less than half of that budget. And what’s greater still, is that most of these rings feature non-diamond center stones, for all my #alternativebrides looking to stand out and show out.

Vampire Squid Ring – Eily O’Connell, $3079

This ring is unusual and I mean that in the best way possible. I love the luster of the 14 carat rose gold and how freeform and natural the design is. Eily cast the shape of this ring using crab claws found along the Irish coast to add texture and visual interest to the band. One of my favorite things about this ring other than the huge dazzling citrine is the fact that vampire squids are real creatures! Perhaps the pretty color of the rose gold is modeled after the red color of wild vampire squids, which makes the ring that much cooler! Your bride is guaranteed to be asked about this one-of-a-kind sparkler all the way from Ireland! 

Fault Line Diamond Ring – Jennifer Dawes, $3075

Ever since I wrote my article on brown diamonds, I have been liking colored diamonds more and more. This ring is bohemian, imperfect, and cast in rich 18k yellow gold. The salt and pepper diamond is full of dark inclusions that make it that much more unique and gorgeous to me. I love that the 1 carat center stone is emerald cut because it adds a geometric flair that contrasts with how organic the milgrain detail looks. One thing is for sure, no one else will have a ring that’s identical to the one you purchase. Cheers to not looking the same!

Giselle White Sapphire Ring – Emily Gil, $2500

I love that this piece isn’t your average cookie-cutter solitaire. I have seen scalloped edges before, but I’ve never seen them included quite like this. The hunter green pairs expertly with the 1.22 carat white sapphire center stone creating a lush sense of contrast. With a 9 on the Mohs hardness scale, sapphires are a durable stone that can last a lifetime. 

This ring is all about the small details from the small round white diamonds as accent stones to the milgrain border for the pear cut sapphire. This would be an ideal ring for a detail-oriented woman who loves sapphires and a sense of originality. 

Let me know in the comments below, which one was your favorite? Are citrines the new diamonds or do white sapphires steal the spotlight? 

The post Blissfully Blinged Out Engagement Rings Under $3100 appeared first on handfulofmia.

Naga Ring with Diamonds – John Hardy, $1695

This ring reminds me of a cartoon I watched as a kid called “Xiaolin Showdown.” I think it’s because one of the lead characters Kimiko had blue eyes. I really love the blue sapphire eyes on the double-headed dragon. I love that the dragons have scales as well, I feel like that makes the ring that much more playful and unique. The design itself is not altogether dissimilar from an ouroboros (or a dragon eating its own tail) but instead the dragons share a diamond accented disk. I like that the ring features 18k yellow gold and I also appreciate that the scrolls motifs are hand carved. I think that this engagement ring would be a conversation starter to say the least and that is why I had to include it on my list of uncommonly beautiful sculptural engagement rings. Currently, if you sign up for their email newsletter you can get 10% off of your next online order!

Pear Sapphire Twine Ring – Fraser Hamilton, $2070

I love the hue of pear-shaped center stone and the matte finish of the gold. (It’s no secret that I love blue sapphire engagement rings.) It seems topsy-turvy that the designer put the sapphire sideways, but in a way I really like it. What’s super eye catching about this ring is the spiralized band, and how the ring seems to be frozen in a state of motion. In Fraser Hamilton’s signature style, this ring contains two hands that delicately hold the green sapphire. My favorite view of this ring is the back view, I feel like you can see how everything comes together and you also get a greater idea of the intricacy of the ring. Oddly, I like how you see the fleshiness of the palms from the back view, I appreciate the level of painstaking detail the artist put into the ring and it would be a lovely addition to any jewelry box.

 Madame Roland Ring – Anissa Kermiche, $2314

When I was a child I loved Susan B. Anthony coins. Something about the weight of them in my small hands and the golden color seemed opulent and rare. This ring reminds me of a Susan B. Anthony coin in the best possible way. The Madame Roland ring is from the Liberté, Égalité, Feminité collection and is named after the French salonnière, Madame Roland. I like that the sculptural part of the ring depicts a woman who altered history. According to the designer, the diamonds that border the ring represent “the seeds planted by Madame Roland for the growth of the French Revolution.” You can learn more about Madame Roland here. As a person who loves history and loves yellow gold, this ring speaks to me personally as a beautiful mixture of museum quality artwork and modern style. I could spend all afternoon marveling at it’s uncommon beauty and if you love this ring as much as I do, pre-order it here. 

Let me know what you think in the comments below, would you opt for a sculptural engagement ring instead of a traditional one? What’s your unique engagement ring style?

The post The Untapped Gold Mine of Uncommon Engagement Rings appeared first on handfulofmia.

If you’re like me, you adore fancy jewelry. The question that plagues most of us is how to afford it. In a perfect world, we could get beautiful jewelry for a fraction of the original cost and wear it on every limb, earlobe and orifice. Affordable jewelry that looks decadent is not an easy find. Unfortunately, more often than not, the middle ground is cheap looking costume jewelry that may or may not stay its original color. 

It is generally agreed upon that a janky engagement ring is a no-no. But who wants to live out of their car or in their parent’s basement to afford a high caliber ring? 

You’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t. Your ring can be drab and droll or you can be utterly destitute and #housepoor.

But there is a third option, you can purchase a look-alike engagement ring for a fraction of the cost of the original. Here are my favorites picks for truly marvelous and affordable rings that will still leave funds for you to pay your mortgage.

Oval Hexagon Gatsby Petite – Heidi Gibson, $4500

This ring is absolutely dripping with diamonds and has a .46 carat white diamond center stone that is further embellished with a diamond halo. The halo interestingly is made of white tapered baguettes, which isn’t something that I commonly see when viewing engagement rings. I love the delicacy of this ring and I daresay that there are allusions to nature? This ring to me is reminiscent of the sun when it’s drawn. The baguettes look like elongated rays of sunlight beaming from the oval diamond center. This ring is customizable and comes with other center stone options such as morganite and moissanite.

Vintage Moissanite Engagement Ring – NYFineJewelry, $622

If you want the same look without the hefty price tag, look no further than this ring. There is nothing that looks counterfeit or corny about this ring. The metal is virtually the same as the Heidi Gibson Gatsby ring. They both are set in 14k rose gold. This ring however can be customized to feature cubic zirconia, bringing the price down to less than $700. This ring is just as dramatic and illuminating but boasts affordability as well as shiny baguettes. 

Theresa Blush Sapphire Engagement Ring – Capucinne, $3820

Aren’t blush sapphires an absolute dream? I’ve talked before about Elle Woods being a childhood role model before and I think she would approve of this beauty. I love the trillion cut diamonds as side stones. But the real showstopper in this ring is the radiant cut 1.95 carat ceylon peach pink sapphire. This sapphire has everything I want in a stone. Cut, quality, charisma. The way the light bounces off of this stone is nearly blinding. I like the shape of this stone and also the size and I love the metal choice of 14k yellow gold. The Theresa ring can also be customized with 18k white, yellow or rose gold as well as platinum.

Soft Pink Sapphire Engagement Ring – Aurora Designer, $882

This look-alike ring features an emerald cut sapphire which differs from the radiant cut of the center stone of the Theresa ring. However, both sapphires are completely eye clean and the trillion cut white diamond side stones are nearly identical. The sapphire is a little more conservative at 1.25 carats but contains the exact same metal choice of 14k gold. This ring is just shy of $900 but is a strong competitor for the Theresa ring. As far as beauty they are neck and neck. 

Reyna Peach Sapphire Ring – Kristin Coffin Jewelry, $3275

I love the bold nature of this ring and the way that the peach champagne sapphire glitters as the center stone. This ring oozes brilliance and is absolutely saturated with vibrant color. The way the accent stones start robust and full and then taper to triangular points is floral to me. I feel like this ring looks like a flower fully in bloom. The Reyna ring is available with either conflict-free mined diamonds or lab grown diamonds as accent stones. You can choose from 14k white, rose or yellow gold as well as platinum and 18k yellow gold for the band. You can also customize the band with or without diamonds.

Mundo Ring (Pink) – Ruta Reifen, $1320

This ring has a 1.0 tcw or total carat weight. It features a 0.5 carat morganite that is surrounded with 0.5 carat halo of pink sapphires. It is worth noting that the Reyna ring features a 2.25 carat center sapphire, which makes the Mundo ring the more understated option. The Mundo ring has the same 14k yellow gold as the Reyna ring but of course offers an entirely different color scheme. I actually like the departure from the peachy-pink sapphire. I think that the morganite is an excellent alternative. It actually makes the ring look more chic and suitable for everyday wear. This ring is priced at just below $1400 which makes it nearly $2000 less than the Reyna ring.

Let me know in the comments below, is your attitude “go big or go home” or would you buy a look-alike engagement ring? What’s your opinion, are engagement ring dupes devious or genius?

The post Engagement Ring Dupes That Rival the Originals appeared first on handfulofmia.

Well here are my top picks for engagement rings that are pretty but won’t cost you a pretty penny.

Aquamarine Floating Ring – Misa Jewelry, $995

You know the dazzling way that sunlight bounces off of water? You get all of that and more when you pair yellow gold with a stone as striking as aquamarine. In my opinion, the perfect size for a solitaire engagement ring is between 1.5 and 2 carats. This 1.74 carat aquamarine ring is smack dab in the middle and I love how it’s evoking water.

The pale blue tones make me think of laying poolside with a mojito and a bottle of sunblock. I think it’s very serene how the ring is peppered with white round brilliant diamonds. There’s something dreamy about this ring, it’s untraditional in its setting and really does appear to float. This ring is striking the right balance between affordability and affluence and I’m here for it. There’s something transfixing and visceral about staring into a calm body of water and getting lost in your thoughts. This ring is like a portable lake that you can just stare into and be soothed by.

Winter Forest Blue Topaz Ring – Vasa New York, $985

I love the cool elegance of this blue topaz ring and it’s aptly named. The first time I saw it, it made me think of Frozone from “The Incredibles” and his different ice creations throughout the film. This ring makes me think of a snowflake under a microscope. (One of the few enjoyable parts of advanced chemistry was viewing the intricacy and delicacy of ice crystals under a magnifying lens.)

This 8×6 mm blue topaz stone is set on a band paved with champagne diamonds and honestly I can’t look away from it. This ring is beautiful enough to be a family heirloom and is petite both in stature in price. This ring doesn’t look inexpensive and I adore the unexpected color combination of ice blue and rose gold. And last but not least, you don’t have to sacrifice durability for affordability. Blue topaz is graded at an 8 out of 10 on the Mohs hardness scale, making it a jewel that won’t be easily scratched. You can wear this ring with confidence!

Let me know what you think in the comments below. If you had a spare thousand dollars, would either of these rings tickle your fancy?

The post Engagement Rings for the Broke and Bougie appeared first on handfulofmia.

Asymmetrical Blue Sapphire Ring – Jennifer Dawes Design

I like rings that look like they were formed with love and this one is no exception. The blue sapphire is one-of-a-kind and while each ring will have a similar shape and color, no one will have a ring exactly like yours. I love that the .75 carat center stone is not cookie-cutter and that it seems organic, if that makes sense. Asymmetrical rings are catching style with celebrities as well. My introduction to Emily Ratajkowski was in the movie “Gone Girl” but she is also a model and her engagement ring is beautiful and asymmetrical. Unlike Emily Ratajkowski’s ring which is reportedly between $50,000-$90,000 you can purchase this ring for $2595.

Emerald Cut Blue Sapphire Secret Garden Ring – Rosedale

If I had a piece of jewelry this beautiful in high school maybe I would’ve had a deeper appreciation for Geometry class. I loathed the subject and to this day the idea of isosceles triangles and sine and cosine give me a light headache. But this ring takes me to a really serene place when I look at it. It’s a perfect octagon and it’s geometric and classic with a matte finish. I love the yellow gold and also for me this emerald cut blue sapphire is about the perfect size at 1.54 carats. Celebrities like Rooney Mara from “Her” (and a lesbian drama with Cate Blanchett I forget the name of) also have geometric rings. You can see Rooney Mara’s hexagon shaped portrait diamond ring here. This ring is a steal, priced at only $3438.

Sapphire Cluster Ring with Diamonds – Ruth Tomlinson

I love Ruth Tomlinson and in my eyes she can do no wrong, this 1.93 carat asymmetric cluster ring is no exception. Personally, I love the vaguely floral nature of a cluster ring. I think that it gives you the size of a larger stone but the daintiness of something smaller. Looking at this ring, it makes me think of Seamus Heaney’s poem “Blackberry Picking.” A ring like this would catch my eye, just like ripe juicy blackberries hanging off of a bush. Also, I can’t forget to mention how complementary the yellow gold granulation is. I think that colored stones look particularly beautiful in cluster rings, as you can see with Katy Perry’s ruby engagement ring here. Also, having a blue sapphire cluster engagement ring would put you in good company. Princess Diana’s ceylon sapphire engagement ring cost about $37,000 back in 1981 but you can get a similar look for a fraction of the cost, this ring is priced at $3117.

Let me know your thoughts in the comments below, could your “something blue” for your wedding day be your engagement ring? Would you accept a blue sapphire ring or would you prefer a white diamond ring? 

The post Glitzy and Glamorous Blue Sapphire Engagement Rings Under $3500 appeared first on handfulofmia.

My mind is such a rich resource for curating jewelry. I absolutely love “collecting” jewelry designs mentally and noting which ones would look best on my hand.  

Today, I would like to give you guys an intimate look at engagement rings that I have liked over the years.

Vena Amoris Nesting Ring – Blanca Monrós Gómez

I adore this ring because of the way it transcends time. I feel like it exists in two places. The way that the white diamonds are arranged seems like a nod to the Jazz Age and an ode to the 1930s. However, it is a double banded ring and that is very much a 21st century design feature. Both retro and contemporary, this ring has enough class and sparkle to make waves at any social gathering. This ring is available in 18k yellow or rose gold and is priced at $2950.

ROSA Peach Tourmaline and Diamond Ring – Michelle Oh

I’ve mentioned before that watermelon tourmaline is one of my favorite stones. This ring features a 1.4 carat bi-color tourmaline that transitions from pink to yellow and I can’t stop looking at it. I love the claw detail in the setting of the ring and how the flashes of yellow in the stone complement the 14k yellow gold of the ring. There is something airy and feminine about this ring that I think is largely drawn from the color palette of the feature stone. This charming ring is priced at $3614.

18k Blue Sapphire Picture Frame Ring – Megan Thorne

When it comes to blue sapphires, I have always been humbled by their natural and graceful beauty. This ring features a 1.25 carat radiant cut deep blue sapphire. The hue kind of reminds me of Cookie Monster from Sesame Street but obviously chicer. This ring is regal and having it on your hand would make you feel like a monarch. I adore the brightness of the yellow gold and the fine miligrain detail around the edges. This show stopping ring is priced at $3245.

Pick a favorite in the comments below! Do you have a penchant for the peach tourmaline ring or a yearning for the blue sapphire one? Or is the white diamond ring stealing the spotlight? Let me know what you think!

The post My Picks for Unconventionally Gorgeous Engagement Rings appeared first on handfulofmia.