Does anybody ever get that slightly wacky, urge to be spontaneous feeling on Monday? I sure do. It’s most likely due to Monday being a fresh start, full of promise, and you want to make this week a bit more interesting than last week. So I thought we’d kick off the last week in March with a bit of a nod to a classically funky ring.
If you’re an avid reader of this blog, and if you aren’t you should be, you will remember that I briefly touched on the East-West style on our Halo blog a week or so ago. Now, I tend to be a big fan of the design so I thought it deserved its own post where we can take the time to really showcase how special and unique it is.
So, if you’re one of those people who are just now stumbling upon this blog, first welcome, and second you’re probably wondering what on earth I’m talking about. A ring just kind of sits on the north side of your finger and having it sit on the side is just weird right? Or perhaps you think you’ve stumbled on a food blog where we’ll be talking about an East meets West dish. However I’m not going to be discussing a Tex-Mex variation on the Spring Roll, although that would be pretty tasty. I’m actually referring to a style of engagement ring. And don’t worry if you have absolutely no idea what I’m talking about. Unless you’re an avid fan of Catherine Zeta Jones, The Bachelor, or the movie The Time Traveler’s Wife, there is a good chance that you have never seen this type of ring before. And if that’s the case, you’re in for a treat.
Even if you have seen East-West settings before, you might be interested to know that the design is not a modern one. In fact it found its first heyday all the way back in the Art Deco period during the roaring 20’s. During that era, women threw off the bonds of previous generation’s choices in fashion which included jewelry designs. Instead of fussy and delicate, they started gravitating towards pieces with clean lines and geometric patterns. One of these new designs was the East-West or horizontal design. I thought I’d include a few photos for the more visual among us.
If you look at the photo above you will see an Oval stone set into a diamond halo. The being an oval, the stone is not perfectly symmetrical being that it is longer on one axis than another. For example, a round brilliant stone will look the same no matter how many directions you twist it on your finger. This oval shape allows the wearer to make a choice as to how the stone will be set. Now, most people would assume that the longer axis of the stone should follow the shape of the finger and point towards the nail, and there is nothing wrong with this assumption as it is a very pretty and finger flattering choice. However, there is another option.
The photo above shows that second option, which is to set the same stone, in a halo, with one small variation. The longer axis is set perpendicular to the direction of your fingers, or pointing East to West. It’s uncanny how modern and fresh this look is nearly 100 years after its initial rise to popularity. And I think it’s a style that is primed for a comeback in a major way. Indeed there have been rumblings in recent years starting with one of the style’s most famous wearers, Catherine Zeta Jones. When Michael Douglas proposed, he did so in style with this massive 10 carat Marquise Cut Diamond set East-West. Isn’t it swoon-worthy? Seriously Catherine, if you’re reading this, it would be the highlight of my life to try on that bad boy.
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| Photo : Sheknows.com |
Sadly, not everyone out there has the budget of Hollywood royalty, and even The Bachelor has to settle for something a bit more normal sized. When Jason Mesnick was tasked with selecting the ring for his fiancé-to-be Melissa Rycroft, he also chose a 3ct East-West setting featuring a stunning Marquise Cut Diamond. And even though it turns out Jason was a bit of a jerk, the ring he chose was really beautiful and I would be proud to wear it.
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| Photo : Ringspotters.com |
So now that I’ve gotten you hooked on the idea, you’re probably all saying, ‘Now, Megan, those shapes were stunning, but what about other shapes’? I’m so glad you asked. East-West settings are by no means limited to brilliant cut stones. Really, any stone with a length to width ratio larger than 1:1 could be set this way. Although the more symmetrical the stone, the less you will notice its unique orientation. However, if a symmetrical stone like a princess cut or Asscher cut really floats your boat there is a modern day variation of the East-West is called the kite set which may strike your fancy. While most square shaped stones are set so that when you look down on the finger the stones appear square. But if you turn the stone slightly, the appearance will change to that of a kite with the corners facing like the points on a compass.
Truly, the only limits to what your ring can look like are the limits of your own imagination. Well, that and probably the laws of physics, but I’m sure there are people working on that. So what does your dream East-West design look like? Give us a call and let us help you make that dream a reality!
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