Strathmore Living: Thou Shall Recycle: Engagement Rings

As part of my new year's resolution, I will be doing a series of blogs on recycling, "Thou Shall Recycle". As this is what some call the season of love (many people go into relationships or decide to propose during this period), my first blog of this series is about engagement rings.

I know it seems like taboo to be presenting to your loved one a used ring (unless it has been passed down the family line). I do think that recycling rings has its benefits. You will get a unique ring with a lot more character and style. Moreover, recycling diamonds also means that you are not encouraging mining of more diamonds which will lower the number of conflict/blood diamonds being mined. Having a vintage ring is also somewhat like preserving a piece of art for future generations to admire.

However, the most important thing is to have a ring that best represents you and your style. It is really sad seeing everyone have the same solitaire diamond ring. There is just no sense of individuality. We are all unique, there is no one in the world quite like any of us, why should we settle for a ring that every other girl has?

I love the art deco inspired jewellery the most. They are usually based on mathematical geometric shapes. Art Deco was popular during the 1920s and 1930s (the same era as swing and big band jazz). Art Deco slowly lost patronage in the West after reaching mass production, when it began to be derided as gaudy and presenting a false image of luxury.

One thing to note though, there are a lot of vintage rings out there with inferior quality diamonds. On the hind sight, you are likely to also get the centre stones in a vintage cutting which is so special because cuts like the rose, old european and peruzzi (to name a few) are not used anymore.

Rings from Hampton Estate Buyers

Estate Art Deco Platinum 1.9ct Diamond Ring. (USD$ 5975).

Art Deco 1920s Platinum 1.5ct Diamond Ring. (USD$ 4300).

1920s Art Deco Platinum Diamond Sapphire Filigree Ring. (USD$225)

Platinum 2ct Diamond Ring. (USD$ 6500)

Rings from RJG Fine Jewelry and Watches.

1.62ct E SI1 Centre Stone Diamond Platinum Ring. (USD$ 14, 500)

2.02ct Radiant cut H SI1 Diamond ring. (USD$ 25, 950)

2.98ct Emerald with 1.5ct Emerald cut Diamonds on a Platinum Ring. (USD$ 16,500)

1.61ct K VS1 Round Diamond Ring. (USD$ 11,000)

1.30ct H SI1 Cushion Cut centre stone with 2ct worth of side stones. (USD$ 12, 500)

4.34ct Trillion cut K I1 Diamond ring. (USD$ 16, 900)

6.25ct Blue Sapphire Oval Cut with 1.45ct diamonds around it on Platinum Ring. (USD$ 17, 500) By the way, this is similar to Princess Diana's Engagement ring (hers was a 18ct Sapphire and 14 round diamonds from Garrard).