New York Times: Rings to Propose With, From $12 to $625,000
Rings to Propose With, From $12 to $625,000 by Marianne Rohrlich
Diamonds aren’t the only options. How to show love, from plastic to rubies
“Will you marry me” are some of the most magical words any time of year, especially around Valentine’s Day. “Put a ring on it,” as Beyoncé sings it, doesn’t necessarily mean a diamond.
Wallis Simpson, Jackie Kennedy and Princess Diana (whose ring was given to Kate Middleton) each wore an engagement ring that included colored gemstones. In 1796, Napoleon, then a young army officer, gave his future wife, Josephine, a ring of blue sapphires and diamonds.
Today anything goes, depending on the circumstances (perhaps financial) and the couple’s aesthetics and priorities. For the design crowd, there is a plastic ring in the shape of a classic Tiffany setting that could be given as either a place holder or the real thing. After all, it is truly the thought that counts.
The designer Alissia Melka-Teichroew said she put a “playful spin” on the classic Tiffany set diamond solitaire. The pink plastic ring, also comes in other colors and finishes.
