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A lady with a love for literature and shiny things discusses books & bling.

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4.36 carat pink diamond ring.

This 4.36 carat pink diamond ring is 5-year-old me’s idea of perfection. And you know what? 5-year-old me still has a pretty powerful voice when I’m confronted with something pink and sparkly. Especially when it’s something this good.

4.36 carat pink diamond ring with an additional 1.08 carats of colorless and pink full cut round diamonds. Via Diamonds in the Library.

That stone you’re drooling over right now is a 4.36 carat cushion cut natural pink diamond.
Side view of a 4.36 carat pink diamond ring with an additional 1.08 carats of colorless and pink full cut round diamonds. Via Diamonds in the Library.

The glorious pink center stone is accentuated by further bling; 1.08 carats total weight of colorless and pink full cut round diamonds. This would be quite an engagement ring.

Back view of a 4.36 carat pink diamond ring with an additional 1.08 carats of colorless and pink full cut round diamonds. Via Diamonds in the Library.

This 4.36 carat pink diamond ring also has some thoughtful and surprising details in unexpected places, which means I love it even more. And how lovely are the mixed metals in this piece? A big pink ring that is much more than just a big pink ring.

This 4.36 carat pink diamond ring is for sale at Shreve, Crump & Low, listing available via 1stdibs. All images and info are thanks to Shreve, Crump & Low and 1stdibs.

 An incredible 4.36 carat pink diamond ring in white and yellow gold, set all over with tiny glittering white diamonds.

Ring roundup: contemporary diamond rings.

My love for antique jewelry is well established, but I want to be sure I don’t ignore the plethora of beautiful contemporary diamond rings that the world has to offer.

Twist Shank Diamond Engagement Ring by Michael M.

This regal princess of a contemporary diamond ring is by Michael M.

A very high profile – I’d be worried it would always be getting snagged on things in my purse – but it’s so pretty it’s probably worth it. I know that halos are very big right now, but I think this kind of design can encompass the same ornate feel in a more unique way. Not that I don’t like halos, but there’s something to be said for variety. This versatile setting can hold almost any cut of diamond.

2.49 carat cushion cut diamond (color and clarity of H/SI1) halo engagement ring.
This beauty is pretty straightforward, but in a glorious way. It features a  2.49 carat cushion cut diamond (color and clarity of H/SI1) within a halo of small white diamonds. Please note how the shoulders taper slightly as they move inwards – I think that’s a really lovely detail. It lends a sense of delicacy and elegance to the ring.

Coast Diamond split shank diamond engagement ring.
Don’t you love a split shank? I do. I think it gives a ring such a feeling of delicacy and elegance. This setting, by Coast Diamonds, has pave all along the split shank and a six-prong head that can hold almost kind of diamond (shown here with a round brilliant cut stone).

De Beers Adonis Rose pink gold engagement ring.
De Beers Adonis Rose Pink Gold ring with bezel-set marquise diamonds, pavé round brilliants and a claw-set center solitaire. This one’s a little different and it wouldn’t be right for everyone – but I suspect that the people this is right for would utterly flip out over it.

Petite tapered baguette pave diamond engagement ring.
This contemporary diamond ring is a bit different from the others – even the website description calls it “petite.” A dainty, well-balanced and extremely lovely setting. I believe this one would look as beautiful with a smaller diamond as with a larger one. The center stone is flanked by two tapered diamond baguettes, which lead to round brilliant cut diamonds and millegraining along the shank. Subtle and enchanting.

Graff signature pink diamond engagement ring, set with a 5.03ct cushion-cut diamond on a pink diamond rose gold band.

Graff signature pink diamond engagement ring, set with a 5.03ct cushion-cut diamond on a pink diamond rose gold band. I mean…look at it. So fabulous.

Michael M. twist shank diamond engagement ring.
Isn’t this one lovely? So lyrical and delicate, with the gently twisting band of pave. It’s also by Michael M, and is shown here with a round brilliant cut center stone, although the website says that it can be set with almost any diamond shape.

Which of these contemporary diamond rings is your favorite? A hard choice, I know.

Please see the links in each description for original sources. All images and info are thanks to the source at the link.

 

Store profile: Brilliant Earth.

Brilliant Earth’s mission is to create beautiful, sustainable, and ethical jewelry. As their website says, “Brilliant Earth believes that high quality, fine jewelry need not come at a great human or environmental cost.”

They have free shipping, free return shipping, a 30-day refund policy, numerous payment plans, and offer a lifetime warranty. They also make some very pretty things, and have an informative, straightforward guide to diamond ring buying. And:

Brilliant Earth engagement rings.

They let you make your own! You choose your diamond, and then you choose a setting (or vice versa). They have diamonds of various cut, size, and quality – they show you an image of the actual diamond you’re looking at and then shows you what it would look like in the different settings. Many of the settings are customizable as well. It is dangerously fun. Do not look at this feature of the website if there is anything else in life that you need to accomplish.

Here’s a pretty, twisty one in white gold with an Asscher-cut stone:

An Asscher cut diamond engagement ring

That’s the main image, in which Brilliant Earth puts the diamond you’ve chosen. You also get a video, a side view, two images of the ring on a hand, and photos and sometimes even videos of recent rings that have been ordered in the setting. This setting has tons of recent ring photos, so you get to see it with all kinds of diamonds and in several types of metal. Check it out in rose gold with a cushion-cut diamond:

Rose gold cushion cut diamond engagement ring

Brilliant Earth also has a small vintage selection and other kinds of fine jewelry as well, much of it customizable. That’s not what we’re here to talk about today.

Ready for all the pictures? Let’s go.

18K White Gold Victorian Halo Diamond Ring
I have rather a crush on this vintage-inspired setting, which I’m sure will be surprising to approximately nobody. This is the 18K White Gold Victorian Halo Diamond Ring. The center stone is wreathed by an octagonal border, and the majority of the setting is embellished with pavé-set diamond accents and millegrain details. The octagonal setting is slightly elevated, leaving room for a wedding band to tuck underneath it.

Emerald-cut diamond engagement in an 18K white gold delicate antique scroll setting.

Doesn’t this 18K White Gold Delicate Antique Scroll setting look lovely with an emerald-cut center stone? I really like this setting, especially with an emerald, Asscher, or cushion-cut diamond. I like the contrast of a squarish diamond with the fluidity of the scrolling pattern on the setting. It also has 3 accent diamonds on either side of the center stone.

A round brilliant cut diamond in an 18K white gold Seacrest engagement ring setting with diamond accents

This is the 18K White Gold Seacrest Ring with Diamond Accents – a fun, modern ring. Not my personal style, but I do admire it in an objective way. The asymmetrical band adds visual interest without distracting from the beauty of the stones or feeling overworked.

 

An Asscher-cut diamond in an 18k white gold diamond-set halo setting.

I have halo fatigue – they’re everywhere. That doesn’t make them not pretty, but they’re rather ubiquitous at the moment as a design detail. This one though…so sparkly and such a great shape. It doesn’t hurt that I stuck a giant 2.5 ct ($30,000) Asscher in this 18K White Gold Fancy Diamond Halo Ring for demonstration purposes.

 

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