Month: <span>January 2024</span>
Month: January 2024

Month: January 2024

JEWELRY

How to Insure an Engagement Ring

The winter holidays are a popular time to get engaged, according to wedding planning website The Knot, which reports that 20% of US couples choose to put a ring on it between November and February.

If you’re among the recently engaged, you probably have a lot of things on your mind — the date, the ceremony, the honeymoon. But insuring your engagement ring should be one of them.  

In a 2021 survey from Jewelers Mutual Group, 70% of respondents said their engagement ring was one of the three most expensive items they owned and half revealed they’d be hard-pressed to replace it if it was lost, stolen or damaged.  

Jewelry insurance can ensure you have a keepsake of your commitment and an heirloom to pass down. Here’s what you need to know about insuring your engagement ring, including how it costs, how to pick the right company and how to get an appraisal.  

Do I need to insure my engagement ring? 

Some people assume their engagement ring is covered under their homeowners insurance. The reality is most policies have a pretty low limit for jewelry — usually about $1,500. The average price of an engagement ring in 2023 was $5,500, according to The Knot. 

That leaves you with several options. You can purchase a rider for the ring on your homeowners policy, also known as “scheduling.” If you don’t have homeowners insurance — or the value of your ring is more than your limit for scheduled personal property — you should consider a separate jewelry insurance policy.

Like scheduling a ring, jewelry insurance typically requires you to get an appraisal and you’ll pay roughly the same in premiums — about 1% to 2% of your ring’s value per year.

But the coverage limits on jewelry

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JEWELRY

See All the Bachelor Nation Engagement Rings Through the Years

Charity Lawson and Dotun Olubeko

As many fans of The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, and now The Golden Bachelor well know, true love isn’t always found on TV in front of millions of viewers. For every Trista and Ryan, there are dozens of couples that shoot their shot on the shows and don’t make it.

Still, that doesn’t mean that the details of their engagements—including their rings—aren’t fascinating to fans of the franchise. Here is a look at engagement rings from The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, and The Golden Bachelor through the years.

‘Bachelor,’ ‘Bachelorette’ and ‘Golden Bachelor’ Engagement Rings Through the Years

Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist (The Golden Bachelor Season 1)

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Turner proposed to Nist with a princess cut Neil Lane ring during the Season 1 finale of The Golden Bachelor. The pair will get married live on ABC on Jan. 4, 2024.

Charity Lawson and Dotun Olubeko (The Bachelorette Season 20

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Lawson and Olubeko got engaged after the Bachelorette contestant gave the medical specialist her final rose. Olubeko proposed with an oval-cut diamond ring on April 30, 2023. According to Olubeko’s Instagram account, the two were still together as of December of the same year.

Zach Shallcross and Kaity Biggar (The Bachelor Season 27)

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Shallcross and Biggar got engaged during the finale of Season 27 of The Bachelor in March 2023. Shallcross proposed to Biggar with a 3.10-carat Neil Lane ring made up of more than 150 diamonds. Biggar later told People of the ring, “It’s like a huge disco ball.”

Gabby Windey and Erich Schwer (The Bachelorette Season 19)

Windey and Schwer got

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JEWELRY

9 Engagement Ring Trends Taking Over The 2024 Bridal Market

In the era of individuality and personal style, the wedding industry has seen a shift; brides-to-be now have more ring options that traverse well beyond the diamond halo. I would know — I married the love of my life in September 2023 and reviewed dozens of rings in the process.

Similar to your personalized daily wardrobe, the proper engagement ring depends on your lifestyle, aesthetic, and budget. For me, a fashion writer who tied the knot in an airy Brooklyn loft, finding a ring that complemented my fashion ethos was crucial. I wanted a piece that embodied me.

When searching for my ideal ring, my now-husband and I scoured New York City’s beloved jewelers, shops, and boutiques for an unusual gray diamond, also known as “fancy gray.” The stone color had been growing in popularity among Instagram-famous jewelry designers and was at the top of my list.

I almost went with a simple pear cut on a cigar band — two engagement ring trends on the rise — but it didn’t look right on my bony finger. And my saved Instagram folder was brimming with chunky silver bands, but gold was more flattering against my deep brown skin. The moment I slid my gray, three-stone, hazeline ring onto my finger, I knew the classic-meets-individual style was a perfect choice.

The above design details are just a few trends taking hold in today’s bridal scene. From horizontal stones, nostalgic cigar bands, and salt and pepper diamonds, to “quiet luxury” emerald cuts à la Sofia Richie, these (and more) engagement ring trends are making waves.

2024 Engagement Ring Trends

Courtesy of David Yurman, Jessica McCormack, Frank Darling

Traditionally shaped stones like ovals, pears, and cushion cuts are being given the “east-west” antidote for a decidedly renewed feel. Ideal for the bride

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JEWELRY

Not So Mellow Yellow Engagement Rings

It’s the time of year for anyone planning to pop the question on Valentine’s day or scheduling a June wedding to find a ring. Most couples today choose together which makes it a lot easier to find “the one’ that represents everything they desire and will speak to the individual aspect of their relationship. Although platinum is on its way to making a comeback in all categories of jewelry , yellow gold has been the metal of choice for all styles of engagement rings for several years , and even as the price for gold continues to soar, it continues to be the popular metal among of a variety of demographics.

Here, a variety of styles from nostaligic and romantic to clean lined and ultra modern:

Berlinger Emerald Shape Calibre Diamond Mosaic Ring with handcut diamonds in 18K gold

Eva Fehren 18K gold portrait cut diamond ring with diamond meleet Undercover ring.

Retrouvaí one-of-a-kind Cushion Brilliant Diamond Heirloom Bezel Ring

18k yellow gold with diamond

White Space toi et moi ring with emerald cut and pear shaped diamonds.

Rachael Boston 18K yellow gold an champagne diamond ring

KATKIM 18K gold pear-shaped diamond Diamond Infinity Pave Ring

K8 Jewelry Vive Canadian diamond Bridal Set in 18K yellow gold

Jillian Abboud 18K yellow gold ring with antique cushion cut diamond centerstone and antique cognac diamond side stone.s

Estate Diamond Jewelry crown-style solitaire engagement ring that centers an antique old European cut diamond The 18K yellow gold mounting is decorated with hand-engravings and adorned with diamonds along the shoulders and under-gallery.

Grace Lee 18K gold baguette and pear-shaped diamond Helix Ring

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JEWELRY

How to Create a Bespoke Engagement Ring

Olivia Landau, founder and CEO of The Clear Cut notes that close to 90% of her customers work on designing a bespoke ring as a team. “Most of the time during the first phone consultation or while picking out the diamonds, both people will work together and then one person will drop out for an element of surprise,” she shares. “A lot of couples collaborate financially, too. It’s a very involved process and something that’s super personal. You’re going to wear it on your hand forever, so you want to make sure that you love it and that you’re making the right investment.”

Start With Ring Education

Before you begin the process of designing a custom ring, you should educate yourself on the ins and outs of engagement rings. If you plan to have a diamond engagement ring, learning about the 4Cs (cut, color, clarity, and carat) is essential. This can give you a scope of the quality, size, style, and, ultimately, cost of your center stone.

“I think budget is the biggest piece that influences what the ring inevitably looks like,” notes Gottlieb. “We always want to manage expectations for a couple, we would never want them to be trying on rings that don’t suit their budget. Upfront, have a conversation about that and then figure out what that means from a carat size perspective and what types of compromises you’re willing to make on quality to get to a certain size.”

You also should consider whether you want to purchase a natural or lab-grown diamond. Some couples prefer ethically sourced natural diamonds for their time-tested value and ability to support local mining communities, while others prefer lab-grown stones due to their lower costs and more sustainable production. Certain designers work exclusively with one type of stone,

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JEWELRY

Engagement ring lost at Denver’s Ruby Hill Park

A couple who went out searching for the best hill to sled on wound up searching for a lost engagement ring.

DENVER — Families are taking advantage of what’s left of this week’s snow to go sledding at Ruby Hill Park in Denver. One couple who went out searching for the best run wound up searching for a lost engagement ring.

Shamar Dozier proposed to Keisha Thurber the day before Christmas Eve.

“There he is on his knee with a bouquet of roses and the ring out, and he proposed to me,” said Thurber.

“She said, ‘Yes’ right away,” said Dozier. “It was a beautiful moment.”

Dozier, Thurber, and Thurber’s 11-year-old daughter drove up from Houston to spend Christmas in Denver.

The day after Christmas, Dozier took his future bride and stepdaughter to Ruby Hill Park to play in the snow. They went sledding, threw snowballs, and made a snowman.

“Right before we were leaving, we started to build a snowman,” said Thurber. “It was my daughter’s first snowman, and I took my gloves off to help her.”

“That’s when things took a turn,” said Dozier.

Thurber lost her engagement ring while playing in the snow. She noticed it was missing later that night while they were out to dinner.


“I look down at my hand, and it’s gone,” said Thurber.

“She was just like, ‘Babe,’ and then showed me her hand,” said Dozier. “I did a double take and we just started running toward the car.”

“Looked in the gloves, looked everywhere,” said Thurber. “Couldn’t find it.”

The couple drove back to the park where they began searching for the ring in the dark.

“That night was pretty tough because it kept snowing,” said Dozier.

“Unfortunately, we couldn’t find it,” said Thurber. “I was devastated. I probably cried the

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JEWELRY

Kelowna RCMP seek owners of Rolex and engagement ring


Two high-value accessories were recently turned in to the Kelowna RCMP detachment, and Mounties are hoping the bling can be reunited with their rightful owners.


The first item being held is “what appears to be a genuine Rolex watch,” police said. Someone found the watch outside a “popular restaurant” in the 1300 block of Water Street in downtown Kelowna on Dec. 22, and brought it to the police station.


“Rolex watches are known for their high value, and the Kelowna RCMP would like to reunite this watch with its rightful owner,” said Cst. Mike Della-Paolera in a Thursday news release. “It appears this one was well cared for and the owner may not be aware it’s missing.”


Then on Dec. 27, a Good Samaritan handed in a “multi-diamond engagement ring” after attempts to find its owner on social media were unsuccessful, police said. The ring was found in the 1600 block of Betram Street.


“This ring obviously has great meaning to its owner and appears to be well worn and valuable. The Kelowna RCMP would like to reunite this ring with its rightful home,” said Della-Paolera in a Friday news release. “The ring is very distinct and has a word stamped on the inside.”


The owners of the Rolex and engagement ring can pick up their missing valuables at the Kelowna RCMP detachment on Richter Street. Police said anyone coming to claim the items will have to provide evidence of ownership or positively identify them.


Mounties said both items will be held for 90 days.

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JEWELRY

As engagements rise, Herrin jeweler offers advice on ring selection

HERRIN — As people gradually return to pre-pandemic lifestyles, jewelry experts predict an increase engagements in 2024. Amid the projected increase, a Herrin jeweler is offering advice for couples looking to purchase diamond engagement rings.

Don Asbury has been making jewelry for 50 years. He owns Asbury Custom Jewelry & Repair with his son.

Asbury said the store gets more calls for engagement rings now than in recent years, and more often people are choosing alternate stones.

With diamonds, however, he advises buyers to keep two things in mind — whether the ring is hand-made or lab-made, and whether it is sold by an independent jeweler or not.

Asbury said while lab-made diamonds have been around for a long time, they have become much more prominent recently. He thinks 2024 will be the first big year for lab grown diamonds, especially because of the price difference.

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Asbury said he could sell a man-made three-carat diamond for around $10,000, and a natural diamond for $85,000. “There’s no way you would know [the difference],” he explained.

Asbury said he believes people should be cautious when purchasing lab-grown, because, according to him, there is more room for error when assembling small stones and delicate designs.

“All you have to do is polish it and it’s ready to go ” He said about lab-made diamond sellers. “They don’t have to sit there and set the stones. It takes hours to do this.”

Oftentimes, lab-made diamonds fall out after a few years, he said, and depending on the design and assembly, he can’t always fix rings when that happens.

“I have to turn people away and say ‘sorry, nothing I can do,’ ” he explained.

He also said buying independently can help ensure a knowledgeable, honest

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