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88 Reasons to Reimagine "Trendy" Engagement Rings

3/29/2016

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Just kidding. There's really only one reason to avoid "trendy" engagement rings: because you should have something you love that represents your unique style. The point of an engagement ring is that it's here to stay, and the point of trends is that they aren't. Trends are fleeting. So what do you do if you've fallen in love with a majorly re-pinned ring from Pinterest? The fact that your favorite ring is on Pinterest means two things: it's probably a lot of other people's favorite ring, too, AND it's probably not available from the original retailer any longer. Sad story getting sadder. ​
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Guys, we have an idea. What if you recreated that popular setting you love, but with a unique center gemstone? Enter the Eighty-Eight Diamond Cut. This diamond cut looks like something from a bygone era, but it's actually a newer and pretty rare cut. Note: this means you won't see it all over the place. Instead of recreating/straight-up-copying a ring you see on Pinterest, consider what it would be like to look at that ring design with a kaleidoscope and bring some more interest into the design. Make it yours. Creating a setting with an Eighty-Eight cut diamond center is a slick way to accomplish this. This diamond has 88 facets, which is about 30 more facets than your basic round brilliant (learn more here). ALSO, eight sides. We are into it. ​
So we took the top 8 rings people bring us and we are reimagining them set with an Eight-Eight diamond in the center. Imagine with us...

perfect for an Art Deco-inspired piece

Art Deco Ring - Little Bird Blog

the ultimate no-brainer for an 8-sided diamond

Fave Rings www.littlebirdtoldyou.com

this, but with an 88. can you see it? we can see it.

Fave Rings www.littlebirdtoldyou.com

for a twist on the simple solitaire

Fave Rings www.littlebirdtoldyou.com

a ring with eight prongs = a diamond with eight sides!

Fave Rings www.littlebirdtoldyou.com

would look super cool with compass point prongs

Fave Rings www.littlebirdtoldyou.com

octagonal halos are made for 88 cuts

Fave Rings www.littlebirdtoldyou.com

octagonal solitaire settings work, too

Fave Rings www.littlebirdtoldyou.com
​From our experience, you guys (all ya'll engagement ring shoppers) don't want to be trendy. In fact, one of the biggest trends these days is to avoid trends. For such a personal piece of jewelry, most people ask us how they can personalize a ring they've seen that they really liked. Check out the Eight-Eight and drop us a line if you need help reimagining your ideal setting!
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The 5 Steps to Nailing the "Classic Solitaire-with-a-Twist" Design

3/21/2016

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"When I first decided to buy my now fiancé an engagement ring, I searched far and wide for advice as I was definitely a novice. The ring I decided on was a solitaire setting with a few subtle details which were unique to me and my fiancé.  Due to the solitaire setting, the majority of the process was dedicated to finding the perfect diamond, with ideal specifications, and at a great value." - Jordan
Emerald Cut Diamond Solitaire - Little Bird
Emerald Cut Diamond Solitaire with Pavé Gallery & Champagne Diamond Peek-a-boo Accent, by Scout Mandolin
​​How did we pull it off? Enter the recipe for The Perfect Personalized Solitaire Engagement Ring:

1. Commit to a classic solitaire silhouette in the top view. (The definition of a solitaire: a plain band and a single center gemstone.) 

2. Pick a unique diamond cut such as an emerald cut (shown here), oval cut, or elongated radiant cut.

3. Work with a top notch tastemaker, such as Julie Simpson of Scout Mandolin, to stealthily sneak in a row of ultra tiny pavé set diamonds under the center diamond in the gallery.

4. Pop a champagne diamond in the peek-a-boo seat (see tiny diamond where the setting meets the top of the band).

​5. Toast the occasion with your friends and family on a kickass rooftop in NYC!!!

There are many ways to personalize a simple ring. Reach out to the engagement ring whisperers here at Little Bird, and we will be happy to help you bring out something special in a clean, classic and streamlined design. 

A Champagne Toast to Jordan & Mariya!

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"Once I found Little Bird and spoke to Danielle, I immediately became more confident and calm.  She guided me through every step of the engagement ring process and worked closely with jewelers from across the country to find my perfect fit. Danielle personally advised me and called jewelry stores before I visited them to explain the exact diamonds we were interested in and at what price range.  I cannot give higher marks to Danielle and Little Bird and feel they are worth every penny for their service. Highly recommend the service!!!"  
​- Jordan, Brooklyn, NY 
Good job, Jordan. And congratulations on landing such a major fox. Here's looking at you, Mariya! We loved working with you. Lots of love from the Little Birds! xoxo
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Michael Ian Black interviews the co-founder of Reddit, Alexis Ohanian - Little Bird Receives a Stellar Plug!

3/15/2016

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​"Sometimes it's a good idea to get expert advice, like when you're buying a house, or a car (and I so wished I had listened before buying that Pinto...), OR AN ENGAGEMENT RING that will be handed down to your grandkids. Enter: LittleBirdToldYou.com." 
​-MIchael Ian Black, How to Be Amazing
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Thanks for the rad partnership, MIB!

Oh, and enjoy this great cast with 
Alexis Ohanian of Reddit. This podcast has really taken off over the last 12 episodes, but this single episode remains a fave. Michael Ian Black interviews Alexis Ohanian on the revolution happening on the internet over the past few years, and how we can keep the internet the open playing field that allows everyday people to become entrepreneurs. It's about being able support ourselves doing the things we are passionate about. SOLD to these Little Birds. 

Favorite lines:

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"you really have to make something people want"

​"know that it is a numbers game"
​
"failure is not an option"

"
...spend more of your best years working on what you really love..."

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Solitaires Engagement Rings: The Whole Story

3/9/2016

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there are solitaires and then there are rings with simple accents. We'll explain...

Solitairy Refinement

How to Pick a SOLITAIRE Engagement Ring! A quick guide by Little Bird Engagement Ring Consultants, www.littlebirdtoldyou.com
So what do I need to know about basic solitaires?

​A SOLITAIRE consists of a plain band and a single gemstone. There are no tiny diamond accents in the band of a true solitaire.

Pretty simple! From there, the sky is the limit. Even though the solitaire silhouette is fairly basic, it’s basic in the way that a tailored suit is basic, or a perfect white t-shirt is basic. The devil is in the details. Here’s what to look for when browsing for your ultimate solitaire ring:

  • Look for integrated designs. The setting should look like it was cast in one piece.
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  • Avoid die struck heads or peg heads - this is where prongs are soldered to a band. You see these all the time and they aren’t terrible, but they are more likely to catch on your sweater. And honestly, they are less inspired from a design perspective.
  • Opt for low-set center diamonds with “cathedral shoulders.” This will make the solitaire far more comfortable to wear
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  • Ask if the ring will sit flush with a future wedding band! This step often gets missed.

In total, there are 7 areas where you’ll have to make careful and informed choices when building your solitaire ring: 
​

1. Metal type, 2. Band style, 3. Setting type, 4. Gem shape, 5. Gem type, 6. Wearability & 7. Personalization, such as engravings or inscriptions. If you're going simple, then every part of this ring should be flawlessly selected to match your tastes. If you are feeling stuck at any of these seven areas, then feel free to reach out. We can usually iron these things out pretty quickly!

Solitaires with Diamond Accents

Now that you’ve got the solitaire down you can up level your knowledge. 
Solitaires with diamond accents present even more options. Technically a ring with accents is no longer “just a solitaire” but the silhouette of the ring will remain very similar to a solitaire in the end.  If you want little diamonds in the band of the ring then use the term: “solitaire with diamonds accents.”  This is a really great touch for those of us that want a little extra sparkle, but there are some important things to know:

  • Starting with lingo: the main ways to add accents are in the style of pave, channel, or flush settings.

  • The size of the diamond accents will control the width of the bands. Currently very thin pave bands are popular. We like it all.

  • Rings with diamond accents are less durable than true solitaires. No matter how you slice it, tiny diamond accents need to be held in place by even tinier pieces of metal
How to Pick a SOLITAIRE Engagement Ring with Accents! A quick guide by Little Bird Engagement Ring Consultants, www.littlebirdtoldyou.com
  • Remember that you're likely going to be wearing a matching wedding band with this engagement ring.

  • Rings with diamond accents are more expensive. Hello, more diamonds.

  • A diamond accented band does something really special for an alternative center gemstone such as a sapphire, a colored diamond, aquamarine, morganite or an emerald.

Anything still confusing? Feel to drop us a line. ​You can also head on over to the Little Bird TOOL BOX where you can peruse libraries of images curated by Little Bird engagement ring consultants in order to help bolster your visual vocabulary.

Best wishes!
- LITTLE BIRDS
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    the LITTLE BIRD blog, by Danielle Mainas

    Ever wonder how to figure out her ring size? Select the perfect center stone? Pick the ideal jeweler? Read on, my friends. 

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