| The Fashion Ring |
| Written by Nicola Hyland | |
|
Don't be fooled by the rocks I got. To find the perfect ring, you have to battle a few trolls, molls and bank managers. AskBronny puts the sparkle in engagement rings.
I've just got me some major bling. In fact it is almost the most important fashion accessory a girl can have: an engagement ring. I've actually been engaged for sixteen weeks now, but the quest for "the one ring" has been a perilous journey not unlike the one undertaken by Frodo and Co. Who'd have thought a little thing could cause so much trouble? The Proposal While it may seem to many as being awfully untraditional, my boy proposed with just a smile. Yup, the clever clogs knew that his picky wee soon-to-be-fiancée would much prefer to choose my own ring [That's why I'm marrying him.] Some men are now proposing with 'interim rings', a kind of precursor to the real ring, to be chosen together. One of my girlfriends was proposed to with a beautiful bracelet (ten points – lads, take note!). I know of a man who designed his ideal ring for his girlfriend and now his lady is stuck with the ugliest ring in the kingdom FOREVER. Unless it is something you have discussed at intricate length, men should be a little wary about forking out for a ring to surprise their [hopefully] future bride. Particularly when they are not one hundred percent sure of the answer to the big question! Research Of course, the very minute the question was popped I started musing over my fantasy ring. I knew I wanted to have something beautiful, original, and suitable for wearing everyday for the rest of my life. I started checking out stranger's fingers for inspiration. [Women on the train still think I'm insane.] I gazed in the windows of exclusive jewellers who possibly would not have let me in anyway. But the most important avenue of the research was the ever-faithful internet. I looked up jewellers' websites, scanning through thousands of rings and adding the best to my 'dream ring' file. I looked up antiques auctions and estate jewellery sites. I researched certain eras and styles of rings through history. I looked up sites detailing diamond quality (remember the four C's: cut, clarity and carat and colour). I researched how to ensure "ethical" stones. I even researched traditional family Maori designs and came up with simple koru (spiral) pattern to incorporate in the design to honour my heritage. Finally, armed with pages of sample rings and sketches, we headed to investigate the ring makers. The Jewellers Remember when Julia Roberts' character in Pretty Woman went into that exclusive boutique and the proprietor turned down her nose at her? I know how that feels. But unlike the swanky nature of the Pretty Woman boutique, the places who were too snooty to serve us were the kind of trashy chain-store jewellery outlets that women wearing crimson velour jumpsuits take their gangster boyfriends to get ugly zodiac pendants. The best and most rewarding jeweller experiences we had were in places where the pieces are lovingly designed and crafted on site. We decided early on that we were going to go custom made. Not only do you get exactly what you want, but can also potentially save money. Plus you will be the only person in the world with the exact same design. Unless your jeweller is evil and makes thousands of replicas which sell for half the price you brought it for (I know someone for whom this actually happened!) The Design The best advice to know where to go with a potential design is to talk to someone who both designs and makes the rings. While I thought I had my exact design down pat, one jeweller pointed out simple flaws that would have proven impossible to make and wear. For starters, I had no idea what was going on underneath the stone. It also pays to get a visual suggestion. I tried on lots of different styles of rings and realised that my ideal ring would not actually suit my finger at all: my ideal ring was actually a man's ring. Yup, my ideal ring would probably only suit the Pope or a Mafia don! So many questions: Which metal? A flat band or a curving band? Wide or narrow? Room for a wedding band? Clasps or a bezel setting? One big stone or ten small ones? The engagement ring was turning into the enragement ring. Finally we had the perfect design plotted out. Next we had to choose the stone. While I know that diamonds are supposed to be a girl's best friend, I decided I wanted to further thwart tradition and went instead for my birthstone: a sapphire. A lot of women are now opting for other stones for a more original ring. I have even heard of someone who had a pearl set in hers. I had no idea how many different types and shades of sapphires there were until the jeweller brought out the tray. A pink stone? Who am I, J Lo? I eventually chose a beautiful princess-cut Ceylonese Sapphire – just gorgeous. The Ring It had taken ten weeks, after all of the research and price tennis, until we had finally confirmed the design. Then there was the long, long wait for the finished product. There was another delay (it was too sharp) and then even on the morning we went to pick it up, we had to go away for an hour so they could polish it. "You can't rush perfection" said the long-suffering jeweller. If I had my ring then, I would have knuckle-dusted her with it. Finally, ta da! I got to put on my beautiful, much-anticipated ring: Just perfect. So the quest for the one ring is finally complete. Now on to my next bridal fashion challenge: the dress! Top tips for choosing an engagement ring. 1. Go classic Remember that this is a design that you have to look at for the rest of your married life. A friend of mine has already melted down her formerly uber-trendy engagement ring into something a little more timeless. 2. Be practical Very big rings get caught on everything. Choose a design that will suit your lifestyle. A ring with lots of nooks and crannies also attracts a lot of dirt and constantly needs cleaning. 3. Match it well Choose a design that doesn’t demand a complete change of wardrobe. Try to find a piece that will suit the style of jewellery you normally wear, along with all your hottest outfits. 4. Have your own ideas Jewellers are used to turning the vaguest ideas into the dream ring. It pays to think about what you want before you head into the sparkly halls of Tiffany's. 5. Have fun! This MIGHT be the only time in your life you get to choose an engagement ring. Unless of course you are planning to be like J Lo or indeed any other modern woman who realises liquorice all sorts are just as fun as freddo frogs. |
Share AskBronny
Favorite Online Store
 Loving this Aussie staple! Become a Witchery card member and get a $30 Reward. |
Ask a Question
|
Ask away: the fashion fearful, fashionista's, glamourista's, guys, girls, kids, teens! We love all your questions and work very hard to give the best answer for you. So ask Bronny a question now - she's got all the fashion answers for you! Ask Now |
Product of the Week
|
Loving a shoulder pad right now! Get a basic with this hot Epic Shoulder Jacket by Living Doll. $89AUD. Buy Now... |
MyShopping.com
|
|
Advertisement
 Do you love your clothes vintage? Then make sure you visit Born Too Late Vintage for all their fabulous finds! Shop now... |
Famous Fashion Quotes
| "Money has nothing to do with being stylish. It's about being born with that inner eye and having the confidence to convey a sense of yourself outwardly. You can't buy that. It's genetic." Sarah Mower, Fashion Journalist |
Recent Blog Updates
 Street Style with the Contessa was out and about at LMFF! did you get papped by AskBronny? Check now!  The girls from the Events and Marketing Department the LMFF really know how to make a fashion statement. Here is Megan in a Sportsgirl skirt teamed with a sheer blouse and booties and Caroline in her Mother's 1973 Vintage dress teamed with Country Road Sandals.
|
AskBronny for Men
| Are you a guy and need some fashion advice? Then don't be shy! AskBronny - she's got all the fashion answers for you. AskBronny today. |