The Perfect Ring



The Perfect Ring | Three local jewelers share advice on finding a one-of-a-kind engagement ring
Vintage marquise brilliant-cut diamond (.50 carat) with emeralds in platinum from Sandler’s Diamonds & Time ($4,600) 
 
 
Single Stone repurposes antique diamonds and recycled metal into vintage-inspired settings, like the “Caroline Ring” (middle) featuring an emerald-cut diamond (2.08 carats) with baguette accents set in yellow gold ($32,500) 
 
Single Stone
 
For those who love the idea of an heirloom piece but appreciate the durability of a new setting, a Single Stone ring may be the ticket. Los Angeles husband-and-wife team Ari and Corina Madilian started the line 15 years ago using repurposed diamonds in vintage-inspired modern designs. “There’s more consideration with an old piece,” says Kathleen Hay of Croghan’s Jewel Box, where Single Stone is the jeweler’s best-selling brand. “The great thing about the line is that the integrity of the metal is new. So you get the peace of mind of a new ring with the look and feel of an antique.” And while the brand’s collection is always expanding, customizing a ring is an option as well (allow up to 12 weeks for delivery). Another idea: Have Single Stone reimagine your own heirloom stones into a new setting. Visit Croghan’s March 3&4 for an in-store event with the Madilians to find out more. 
 
 
Emerald-cut diamond (1.5 carats) in custom white and rose gold halo setting (price upon request) from John Marmo Diamonds
 
Custom
 
A surefire way to get exactly the ring you want is to have it custom-made. Not sure if you’re leaning emerald or cushion cut? Jeweler John Marmo suggests bringing in three or four photos of rings you love. No pictures? No problem. “I show them a selection of 25 different rings, and they can pick the design elements they like.”  But it never hurts to consider the stone shape, setting, and carat range before your appointment with a jeweler. Most importantly, a couple should be on the same page budget-wise before they sit down with a jeweler to avoid what could be a very uncomfortable discussion (he’s been there). While more and more couples choose engagement rings together, if you’re planning a surprise, be sure to get your intended’s ring size as well. “I haven’t had any instance where the girl doesn’t like what the guy selected,” Marmo says. “That’s my favorite part of my job.”
 
 
(From left to right) Estate European-cut diamond (approximately .50 carat) set in platinum ($1,899); antique Russian radiant-cut diamond (3.05 carats) set in platinum and 18k gold with single cut diamond accents ($49,650); Art Deco European-cut diamond (1.40 carats) in platinum ($13,998) from Sandler’s Diamonds & Time 
 
Estate 
 
While the craze for heirloom rings is nothing new, the criteria for what constitutes an engagement piece has evolved. “There’s no defined parameters,” says Greg Sandler of Sandler’s Diamonds & Time. “These days, what was a cocktail ring has transitioned into being an engagement ring.” He adds that couples tend to look for a design they like among the jeweler’s collection of estate (up to 50 years old), vintage (50 to 100 years old), or antique (more than 100 years old), but many are struck by a connection to a piece. “Most people are buying a feeling,” he says. Indeed, estate and older rings were often made custom for whoever was buying them. “Diamonds now are all cut with [specific] cuts in mind. Back then, they were cut for the weight, and they would craft the ring around the stones available,” Sandler explains. As a result, he says, “No two vintage or antique rings look the same, that’s what makes them unique.”
 
From this day forward: CARE Jewelers recommend having an engagement ring professionally cleaned and inspected annually. In between checkups, Hay suggests cleaning it with a special solution sold by jewelers or with warm soapy water and a toothbrush. For older rings, Sandler recommends having them checked at least twice a year. “Maintenance is important. That’s why these pieces can survive 50 to 100 years,” he says. And be sure to take your ring off if you’re doing anything active, like gardening or playing golf, lest a diamond escape from a loosened prong. “These rings were made for people who didn’t do these things,” Sandler says. “In the early 1910s, they weren’t going to the gym.” 

The Wedding Row

February 14 2022
Written By Melissa Reardon Photographs By Lucy Cuneo A transplant from Virginia, Weston “Wes” McAfee vividly remembers the first time he saw his future bride-to-be. Charleston native Dana Elaine...

December 29 2021
An Elegant Affair Proves New Year’s Eve Might Just Be The Perfect Time To Start A New Life Together By Joanne O’Sullivan | Images by Brandon Lata Photography Few people anywhere in the...

December 16 2021
A Match Made in Heaven Classic white blooms, greenery, and wooden elements set off this stunning Charleston wedding under the oaks When it comes to love and marriage, couples who pair well...

December 2 2021
A Charleston Winter Wedding Embraces the Season with Sophistication and Glamour Just a few hours before sunset in mid-winter, Charleston takes on a certain golden glow, unparalleled at any other...

November 17 2021
Take Cues from this Intimate Dreamy Blue “I Do” Amy Bronston and Trevor Pittman’s love story reads like a romantic movie. It was during the 2019 holiday season in Washington DC, where...

October 28 2021
This Halloween matrimony perfectly plays up the holiday—with a dash of fun and plenty of class in a scenic coastal Charleston setting By Joanne O’Sullivan | Images by Anne Rhett Photography...

October 11 2021
By Melissa Reardon | Images by Kelsey Halm Photo Expert Advice for a Beautiful Fall Bouquet With seasonal change comes an exciting rich color palette and tons of texture with which to design....

September 29 2021
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work Photos by Dana Cubbage Weddings | Written by Melissa Reardon They say the greatest marriages are built on teamwork. And indeed, it’s one of the marital building blocks...