Yep, we sell fine jewelry: vintage engagement rings, artisan wedding bands, awesome earrings and necklaces… but we can sometimes get distracted from one kind of eyecandy to another.

It’s a funny little secret that we get excited about our email newsletters from MyFonts.com. And by “excited” I mean that we holler between our offices about ligatures and shapes, devour the content, and develop minor (or sometimes full-blown) crushes on type designers we’ll never meet. The latest MyFonts email is super-interesting. Check it out!

Oh, and here’s another interesting MyFonts newsletter…

Do you receive awesome “junk emails” that you love?

Here at Turtle Love Co., we talk a lot about choosing wedding bands that are authentically yours - rings that match your lifestyle, your aesthetic, and your budget.

Lots of times, we’re talking about our collection of ornate vintage engagement rings, or the gallery of quirky artisan wedding rings. But you don’t need something super-unusual for your rings to be authentically YOU.

Lots of people (probably most people, if we’re being honest), like stuff that’s JUST PLAIN NORMAL. (You can call it classic, if you like. Or timeless, or simple… it’s hard to come up with a neutral word that means plain.)

For some people, the plain gold wedding band is a lovely connection to loved ones who’ve worn almost identical bands for generations.

Some people don’t want all the fuss. Or feel like a plain band or a classic diamond solitaire will be the most timeless for the long haul.

And some people just have a plan, and they wanna stick to it.

Don’t let anyone make you feel like you should get something that’s somehow “more awesome” than what feels authentic to your personality and your life.

Q: How much should you spend on an engagement ring?

A: Whatever makes sense in the context of YOUR LIFE, and YOUR RELATIONSHIP. Leave aside those crazy monthly salary calculations, and instead consider:

1. Do you have any money? Don’t put yourself in an awkward financial situation for a bit of bling.

2. Does your partner want to wear a ring? It’ll be kind of dumb to spend a lot of money on something your love won’t wear.

3. What kind of gift do you want to give? This is a lot about the person who’s going to wear the ring, but it’s also about the kind of gift you want to give. You don’t want to resent an expense that you didn’t care to incur in the first place, but you don’t want to feel like you don’t like the gift you gave.

4. How do you and your love see yourselves and your relationship in the larger societal context? This is not a right-wrong question. One of the main purposes of an engagement ring is to serve as a social signifier. We use these articles to show others our social position, without the use of words. A no-frills ring tells folks that you’re taken, but not fussy. In our conversations with bricks-and-mortar retail jewelers, it’s been interesting to hear about disconnects between partners, where one partner is really interested in outward demonstrations of affection/wealth/status, and the other isn’t. Figuring out how you each think about money and public image is a conversation that’ll prove useful down the road.

5. How much wear and tear will any such ring likely see? This can go two ways: if it’ll see a lot of wear, go for gold or platinum, with a flush or bezel-set stone. On the other hand, if your love is likely to lose it, and you think you’ll have to buy another one, maybe you shouldn’t spend too much. We’ve had customers who buy multiple wedding rings for a single person, just to make sure that there’s a backup when the first (or second) ring gets lost!

1. Vintage engagement rings are unique. Unlike most of what’s available in your typical jewelry store, a vintage engagement ring is not being churned out by the hundreds. This piece has its own history and its own composition. There may be similar rings out there, but each one is special.

2. Vintage engagement rings are REALLY pretty. Antique engagement rings tend to balance design and materials in a way that’s more balanced than the contemporary emphasis on materials. The workmanship is often more detailed than on contemporary pieces, and the decorative motifs are typically more fully-developed in a vintage piece than in jewelry made today.

3. A vintage engagement ring is a connection to the past. There’s no relationship that’s quite like yours. But people have been getting married for EONS, and it’s nice to be reminded that you’re not alone in this, you’re together with a long tradition of people experiencing joy and sadness, elation followed by some slogging through. It helps to keep things in context.

4. A vintage engagement ring is a good value. The labor involved in recreating most vintage pieces would be cost-prohibitive today. Also, vintage rings tend to do a great job of using details and design elements to highlight materials, so a vintage engagement ring with a small-ish stone tends to look more substantial than the same small-ish stone in a modern setting.

5. Vintage engagement rings are eco-friendly. Vintage engagement rings are the ultimate in stewardship. So if you’re thinking about seven generations ahead (or even just about your own self living on a nice planet), selecting a ring that’s already in existence instead of making and using more STUFF seems like a no-brainer.

We’ve added a few vintage necklaces to our collection of vintage jewelry. These pieces are pricey enough that you’ll need to really love them, but they’re the kind of pieces you’ll wear until you’re OLD.

In the collection now: Vintage Octagonal Sapphire Necklace, $1260; Vintage Diamond Necklace, $1140; and this amazing sapphire and diamond necklace, $900.

These two pairs of vintage earrings are identical - in white gold and yellow gold. We don’t know much about them, except that they were owned by the same person. Love the practicality - “I like these earrings, I want to wear them all the time, and I want them to look good with EVERYTHING.” A yellow gold person? You’ve met your match. A white gold person? Ditto. Not into commitment? These earrings are four kindred spirits.

Now at Turtle Love Co.: Vintage White Gold Diamond Earrings, $540; and Vintage Yellow Gold Diamond Earrings, $540.

Ordering an engagement ring online can sound weird and impersonal, but it can also be a really great way to support an independent business and get a ring that’s really YOU. Here’s what you need to know about ordering a ring online.

1. Check the ring’s measurements. Lots of times jewelry is measured in millimeters, which can be alien to someone used to thinking in inches. Get out your ruler so you can visualize how big the ring is. Look at all the pictures, including the model shots, so you can see what the ring will look like on. For lots of our products, you can even watch a product video to get a better idea of the product in space.

2. Talk to your partner. Make sure you’re buying something that your love will like! Many people talk very specifically about what the ring should be like. If you’d rather keep it more of a surprise, you can still talk to your partner. Knowing how your dearest feels about diamonds or vintage jewelry or appropriate size (dainty vs. bold) will help you get the right ring.

3. Figure out the right ring size. We can send you a ring sizer that works like a cable tie (except that it doesn’t lock onto your finger) to help you choose the right size. If you want to get the right size without asking your partner, check out our pdf ring sizer, where you can use a (non-stretchy) string to measure the diameter of the finger, or use an existing ring to determine the right size.

4. Email us! If you have any questions at all, don’t hesitate to email us. We field all sorts of questions about all different products. Every purchase is important, and we want to make sure that all of your questions are answered.

5. Call us! Most of our customers prefer to talk with us by email, but you can always pick up the phone to chat, too! It’s fun to hear from you and sort-of-almost meet you. We can also take orders over the phone, if that’s more comfortable for you. Our phone number is 207.699.4062.

6. Order a sample, if it’s available. We know that this can be a big financial commitment. If you want to see your ring in person before you put up the big bucks, let us know. We can often send a sample of the ring you want in less-expensive materials, so that you can check out the workmanship and feel and size. The samples ARE NOT for purchase. We’ll charge you for the sample, and when you return it, we’ll refund your credit card. Then, if you liked what you saw, you can purchase the real thing.

7. Place your order - we’ll take care of the rest! Our online ordering system is secure and easy-to-use. If you have any problems, or if you prefer to order over the phone, don’t hesitate to call us.

BUT WHAT IF THERE ARE PROBLEMS??

Of course, we all want to make sure that you don’t have problems, that the ring arrives, it’s exactly what you thought it would be. Following all of the advice above helps avoid mishaps. But if something isn’t right? Email us! We’ll help. We can help with resizing rings. If it’s just not the ring for you, you can return it within 30 days according to our friendly return policy.

Boy, these additions to our collection of vintage engagement rings are gorgeous, aren’t they?

Pictured: Vintage Engagement Ring with Cushion Cut Sapphire, circa 1900; $1755. Vintage Engagement Ring with Delicate Scrolls, circa 1960; $3670. Vintage Engagement Ring with Emerald, circa 1900, $1625.