Giving people engagement rings is hard.

Posted on December 8, 2012 by Adrianne

TurtleLove.com celebrating marriage equality the day after the election

The day after election day this year, we were ECSTATIC about the advances in legal recognition of same-sex marriage in our home state of Maine, and in Washington and Maryland.

We wanted to do SOMETHING to celebrate, and we wanted it to be clear that we weren’t just trying to “make a buck” off a new wedding market. (I’ve written here about why marriage equality isn’t about the money for us.) We decided to do a giveaway of TWO engagement rings to one couple, leaving a month for people to tell us their stories and send us their pictures explaining why they should win.

Judging the entries submitted turned out to be A LOT more difficult than we’d anticipated. There were so many super-convincing candidates that it was heart-wrenching to choose among them. And there were so many sympathetic stories of loss and heartache that it hurt to know that we couldn’t add a “win” to those stories. It was a relief to remind ourselves that the vintage engagement rings that we are giving away aren’t something that any of the entrants actually NEEDS.

The TurtleLove.com staff carefully combed each story and discussed. We ended up talking about what marriage equality means, about freedom of religion, about the goals of TurtleLove.com as an organization, and about the incredible breadth and diversity of human experience. It was a growing experience for each of us, and it was A LOT harder than we expected. We are grateful to each of the entrants for sharing their stories with us and allowing us to view the world through their eyes for a period.

Currently Loving: Ashley Vintage Diamond Engagement Ring

Posted on November 5, 2012 by Aubin

What’s better than a classic diamond solitaire? A classic diamond solitaire with a twist! Our Ashley Diamond Engagement Ring has a subtle swirl detail on either side of a prong-set .46ct diamond. This ring is named after Vintage Style Council member Ashley of Sweet William, whose style is a similar blend of the best of classic and modern.

We asked Ashley to create a pinboard built around our Ashley Vintage Diamond Engagement Ring and she chose images that reflected the classic style of Jean Shrimpton and Grace Kelly.

“For this ring, I wanted to feature some classic beauties that matched the classic beauty of this ring,” Ashley explains. “The setting and stone in this ring are, to me, traditional, but elegant. It is simple, without being boring. It is for the girl who is tailored, but loves a pop of color. Who puts a modern twist on old Hollywood glamour.”

Check out Ashley’s pin board, and learn more about the Ashley Vintage Diamond Engagement Ring.

(Photo from BHLDN)

Engagement Rings for Men

Posted on November 4, 2012 by Alicia

Many people wonder if it’s okay to have an engagement ring for men. Though it’s not conventional, men can wear engagement rings. If you’re a frequent reader of the Turtle Love Co blog, you know we favor personal choice and expression over convention. Whether you’re a same-sex couple or a heterosexual couple, popping the question to your man and slipping a ring on his finger is more than okay in our book.

Or perhaps you’re part of an engaged or soon-to-be-engaged couple and both of you want to wear engagement rings as a symbol of your commitment. That’s great! Having just one person wear an engagement ring is considered antiquated by some, and a beloved tradition by others. It’s up to you! Turtle Love co offers a diverse collection of wedding and engagement rings for men.

If you have questions about engagement and wedding rings, or if you need help finding just the right one for that special person in your life, contact us any time!

How much should an engagement ring cost?

Posted on October 30, 2012 by Alicia

There are a lot of theories about how much an engagement ring should cost. Convention says 2 months’ salary. Some people say 3 months’. Some say 1 month.

I say it doesn’t matter. As long as the ring is special to the person giving it and the person receiving it, it can cost $1 to $10,000,000. The monetary value of an engagement ring is probably the least important thing about it, so my advice to engagement ring purchasers is to spend whatever feels right and whatever can get you a ring you are happy with - whether it be an hour’s salary or 3 months’ pay.

I personally really dislike the “____ months” rule because for me, and most other people I know, a month’s worth of pay is not expendable. Hell, even a week’s worth can be a lot to spend if you’re a 20-something paying back student loans, a car loan, rent and utilities - not to mention credit cards, gas, food, etc.

Your relationship (and the roof over your head) is more important than the ring, so it helps to have some perspective when you’re shopping.

On the TLC site, we have rings that range from under $100 up to almost $7,000. Each one is gorgeous in its own way, and each one is meant for a different person, a different relationship, and a different budget. I can say with the utmost honesty that most of my favorite engagement rings on the site right now are well under $1,000. For example, the Clementine Vintage Diamond Engagement Ring, the Silver Disc Garnet Engagement Ring, the Rose Cut Sapphire Engagement Ring, and the Carmella Vintage Diamond Engagement Ring.

Does your engagement ring have to have a diamond?

Posted on October 21, 2012 by Alicia

There is no denying that diamonds are the standard for engagement and wedding rings, but does your engagement ring have to have a diamond?

The answer is no, as you may have guessed. Here at Turtle Love Co., we pride ourselves on offering a wide range of diamond engagement rings that can fit any budget - but we also offer an array of rings with diamond alternative stones to fit any style. We offer sterling silver as well as gold rings, and we have a plethora alternative gemstones.

It’s raining rings - sapphires, pearls, and white topaz (oh my!) among others!

Some people like a little color in their engagement ring - we offer lots of colorful options, such as sapphires (both blue and pink), amethyst, iolite, blue topaz, garnet, kyanite and tourmaline. We also offer some beautiful pearl engagement rings.

Some people like the look of a diamond, but worry about the price or the ethics of such a precious stone. While many of our artists only work with conflict free diamonds and other stones, white topaz is a beautiful diamond alternative.

If you have questions about our diamond alternative options, conflict-free diamonds, or if you are looking for a ring with a particular gemstone, feel free to email [email protected] - we’re here to help!

Pearl engagement rings

Posted on October 16, 2012 by Aubin

Pearl jewelry is classic, whether it’s an heirloom pair of pearl earrings or one of Jacqueline Kennedy’s iconic pearl necklaces. The timeless beauty of the pearl also works well in an engagement ring and Turtle Love Co. offers a few different variations of pearl engagement rings that will appeal to pearl lovers everywhere. Here are three of the options:

Nested White Pearl Engagement Ring

A modern, organic-inspired take on a traditional engagement ring, the Nested White Pearl Engagement Ring features a round, white freshwater pearl bezel-set in a nest of sterling silver. This ring is created using recycled silver by Jen Burrall in Portland, Maine and is also available in a set with a matching wedding ring.

Nested White Pearl Engagement Ring with Gold Nest

The Nested White Pearl Engagement Ring with Gold Nest is a colorful twist on the previously mentioned nested pearl ring. Also created by Jen Burrall, the 6mm white pearl in this ring is wrapped in a nest of 18K gold. It also makes a lovely set with either our Hammered Silver Ring or Hammered Gold Ring.

Alivia Vintage Pearl and Diamond Engagement Ring, circa 1950

Our collection of vintage rings at Turtle Love Co. is constantly being added to and every so often we add to it a gorgeous ring like our Alivia Vintage Pearl and Diamond Engagement Ring. The stunning 7mm Akoya half pearl at the center of this ring is surrounded by a halo of 11 European cut diamonds and sits atop a band of 14K yellow gold.

What should I know before I shop for an engagement ring?

Posted on October 11, 2012 by Emily

Many people wonder what they should know before shopping for an engagement ring. It can be an overwhelming task with so many choices. We put together a list of a few things to consider before you begin this journey:

1: Consider your budget. This sounds obvious, but a good thing to think about is how much you want to spend, and what kind of options are in your price range. Before you get worried about having to spend thousands of dollars, take a look at some of our artisan wedding and engagement ring sets that are under $500 a set! There are many beautiful artisan engagement and wedding rings available in any price range.

2:Stone Preferences. Many people believe that a diamond is the only acceptable stone for an engagement or wedding ring, but we like to encourage personal choice. Sapphire and Tourmaline are popular options that come in a range of colors from pink to blue or green. Pearls can also be a lovely alternative to a diamond for engagement rings. But if it’s the sparkle of a diamond that you most adore, there are several diamond look-alikes that are fairly common for engagement rings (but cost much less): White Sapphire and White Topaz both have a crystal clear sparkle that is simply mesmerizing.

3: Wear and Tear: Some people wear their engagement and wedding ring everyday, others pull it out for occasions. The size and profile of your ring will probably have some baring on this. A large, sculpted ring might not be as easy for everyday wear as a low-profile, bezel set gem. Your personal style should be your guide on this one, because you’ll be the best judge of what kind of ring will suit your daily life. Another concern in the Wear & Tear department is how scratch resistant the surface of the ring is. Scratches are more difficult to see on shiny or textured metal, while they tend to stand out more on satiny or matte surfaces.

After considering these points you will be well on your way to finding the engagement or wedding ring that is perfect for you and your love! You can find all of the rings you see above by visiting TurtleLoveCo.com

Engagement rings and wedding bands - which hand is best?

Posted on October 7, 2012 by Alicia

The Horizon Solitaire - White Gold with Princess Cut Diamond

I have a general rule for inquiries I receive at Turtle Love Co. about which thing is the right thing to do with wedding jewelry: outline convention, and encourage personal choice. In other words: most people do it this way, but you should do it however you want. If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you’ll notice the pattern as I answer frequently asked questions every weekend.

So here’s the deal with engagement rings and wedding bands. In western culture, the rings are traditionally worn on the “ring finger” of the left hand - the next to last finger, shown above. Generally, once married, the engagement ring and wedding band are worn together on that same finger every day thereafter. It’s also popular to wear just the wedding ring without the engagement ring after the marriage, and some people choose to wear the wedding band on the left ring finger and the engagement ring on the right hand, or vice versa. Some people get their rings soldered together.

Hammered Gold Ring from Turtle Love Co.

But - and here’s where I encourage personal choice - you should do whatever you want! If you like the tradition of wearing your ring on the left right finger, and want an easy way to signify to others that you’re ‘taken’, then that’s probably the hand and finger you should go with. Some people rarely wear their rings, saving them just for special occasions. People who work with their hands a lot might never wear their rings. You could Carrie Bradshaw it and wear the ring on a necklace (as long as you’re able to ignore how THAT engagement ended up), or you could wear the rings on your other hand. At the end of the day, you should do what feels most comfortable for you whether it adheres to convention or not.

Do you have a question for Turtle Love Co.? Email us at [email protected]

For ladies and gentlemen - Engagement and Wedding rings that walk the line.

Posted on September 26, 2012 by Alicia

I love when personal style challenges common gender binaries. It’s a feminist thing, I think. It’s rad to pick out clothes, shoes, accessories, even engagement and wedding rings with masculine AND feminine overtones, regardless of your gender. The more you mix and match, the more fun you can have.

I was thinking about this when responding to customer service emails and looking through the Turtle Love Co site. Someone wrote in recently about she and her partner were looking for rings that aren’t too masculine or feminine - something that walks the line between the two. Because love and style should have no limitations or constraints, we aim to make our site friendly to every person and every style. So, without further ado, I’ve put a list together of some of my favorite artists who create engagement and wedding rings that walk the line between feminine and masculine and strike what I think is a perfect balance.

Midori Ferris Wayne creates beautiful pieces with organic inspiration. They look stunning on men and women alike.

Heather Perry‘s Dryad rings mix bold, masculine shapes and textures with delicate stones. These are engagement and wedding rings for those who like to stand out.

Jeannie Hwang‘s rings feature modern, bold shapes in a variety of widths and designs. Some have diamonds in a straight, linear pattern, and some have more organic, curved shapes that hold the stones. The classic shapes of these engagement and wedding rings make them a great choice to match any style.

Rose gold is the word: a look at two different types of rose gold rings at Turtle Love Co.

Posted on September 25, 2012 by Aubin

A recent article in the New York Times declared that rose gold is the new preferred metal for high fashion jewelers, who find it a more discrete and softer alternative to traditional yellow gold. Turtle Love Co. has been an admirer of rose gold’s warm color for a while now and we offer a number of items in rose gold on our website. The color of rose gold is created by it being alloyed (mixed) with copper. In the case of 18K rose gold, the content usually equals 75% pure gold and 25% copper to create a pleasant slightly pink hue. Because of this mixing of metals, rose gold has a unique feeling of being both modern and traditional. With that idea in mind, we’ve put together a selection of wedding and engagement rings from our website that embody both the new and old feeling of this beautiful metal.

The rings that most exemplify the modern side of rose gold are made for us by San Francisco artist Jeannie Hwang. These rose gold wedding rings draw inspiration from the structures found in our solar system and use diamonds to conjure scenes of a solar flare or a constellation just starting to shine through a cloudless sky at sunset. The minimalist aesthetic of these pieces helps to highlight the beauty of the materials.

Constellation Wedding Band - Rose Gold with Diamonds

Solar Flare Wedding Band - Rose Gold with Diamonds

The softer side of rose gold taps into the natural shapes here on earth. When paired with specific textures, the gold can help turn a ring into a gently twisted tree branch or a swift river reflecting the morning sun’s rays. Our Diamond Vine Engagement Ring (seen here with our Rose Gold Vine Ring with Diamonds) is created by California artist Midori Ferris Wayne. Our Rose Gold Diamond Bouquet Engagement Ring is handcrafted by Dahlia Kanner in her studio in Rhode Island.

Diamond Vine Engagement Ring and Rose Gold Vine with Diamonds

Rose Gold Diamond Bouquet Engagement Ring

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