Stories, guides and honest advice.
Everything we know about lab-grown diamonds, engagement rings and fine jewelry, written to help you choose with confidence.
Solitaire engagement rings: choosing the shape, prongs and band
A practical guide to the solitaire engagement ring: how shape, prongs, setting height, band width, carat size and metal color change the way one center diamond looks on the hand.
Do lab-grown diamonds pass a diamond tester?
Lab-grown diamonds pass standard diamond testers because they are diamond. This guide explains how testers work, why moissanite and some HPHT stones can confuse them, and how to confirm a lab-grown diamond...
Engagement ring insurance: how it works and what to ask
A neutral, US-focused guide to engagement ring insurance: how homeowners sublimits, scheduled riders and standalone jewelry policies differ, what key terms mean, which documents to keep and which questions to ask.
Pear engagement rings: how to choose the shape, ratio and setting
A practical guide to pear-shaped engagement rings: how to judge symmetry and the bow-tie, which length-to-width ratio suits your hand, which way to wear the point, and the settings and bands that...
Engagement rings in Worcester, MA: seeing lab-grown diamonds in person
A local guide for Worcester and Central Massachusetts couples: what a private appointment at The Raul Studio covers, how it compares with a virtual consultation, and six well-known places nearby to propose.
Lab-grown diamond gifts for her: a considered holiday guide
A considered guide to lab-grown diamond gifts for her, from stud earrings and hoops to pendants and tennis bracelets, organized by her style and by price, with timing for holiday orders.
Hidden halo engagement rings: sparkle you see from the side
A hidden halo sets a row of small diamonds beneath the center stone, so the ring looks like a solitaire from above and sparkles from the side. Here is how it compares...
How to find her ring size without her knowing
Eight discreet ways to find her ring size before a surprise proposal, ranked from most to least accurate, with a US ring size chart in millimeters and advice for when you are...
Are lab-grown diamonds real? What they are, and how to tell
A lab-grown diamond has the same carbon crystal, hardness and sparkle as a mined diamond; only its origin differs. Here is how it compares to mined diamonds and simulants, how labs identify...
Bezel engagement rings: the modern setting, explained
A guide to bezel engagement rings: how the setting works, full versus half bezel, how it compares with prongs, which shapes suit it, and how it stacks with a wedding band.
Toi et moi engagement rings: how to choose two stones that belong together
A guide to toi et moi engagement rings: the meaning, how to pair shapes and sizes, how carat weight is listed, and how a two stone ring wears with a wedding band.
Christmas proposal ideas, and the ring timeline that makes them work
Twelve Christmas proposal ideas that feel personal, and a week-by-week timeline for ordering a made-to-order engagement ring in time for the holidays.
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