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How to Pick an Emerald Cut Engagement Ring - or - Who is the Mr. Darcy of Diamonds?

10/30/2015

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How to Pick an Emerald Cut Engagement Ring - LITTLE BIRDEmerald Cut Diamonds are just like Mr. Darcy
So let’s just say that you happen to be browsing diamond shapes and cuts. No reason. Just looking. Eventually you come across an emerald cut diamond. Maybe you instantly fall in love with its clear, cool, water-like shine, its self-possessed elegance, its unexpected simplicity. Or maybe you hate it.

Emerald cuts are a lot like Mr. Darcy from Jane Austen’s popular book Sense and Sensibility. In the beginning of the story Mr. Darcy seems cold, but the more we get to know him, the more we learn to recognize what a beautiful person he is. No matter what your reaction is, know that emerald cuts are unmatched in their ability to divide opinions amongst experts and non-experts alike. If you think emerald cuts look cold and unexciting, look longer.

Us? We are in the adoring-emerald-cuts-forever-camp. Firstly, they have step cut pavilions, meaning that the underside of the stone is faceted in a pattern of horizontal lines. This is different from the “disco-ball” effect that a round brilliant faceting pattern creates, and it makes it much harder to disguise any clarity features within the gem. Peering into an emerald cut is like wearing goggles in a pool - you can see pretty much everything there is to see inclusion-wise. The result is that the most crystal clear rough diamonds are given an emerald cut (usually). Secondly, once you calibrate your eyes to the emerald cut’s magically serene look, you’ll get over the typical sparkle-sparkle you’d see in your everyday brilliant cut diamond. Peer into the depths. Watch the light glide over the smooth facets. Fall down the rabbit hole.

Emerald Cut Guidance at a Glance:

  •  It’s ok to be uptight when it comes to clarity - stick to VS2 and above.
  • Symmetry is crucial to an emerald cut. Make sure the symmetry grade on the certificate is “Very Good” or better.
  • For a three stone setting, choose slimmer stones with a length to width ratio closer to 1.50. Otherwise, 1.30-1.50 is standard for l:w ratio.
  • The high clarity and cut grades that come with emerald cuts can push up the prices a bit compared to other rectangular cuts.
  • Consider setting an emerald cut horizontally. It’s rad.
  • Bezel settings can look great on an emerald cut - it’s like adding one more facet to the edge!
  • Antiqued romance meets modern lines? You can’t go wrong.

Also check out our board for some other cool setting and design ideas. Use your imagination, and get creative. Sometimes a designer creates a masterpiece by breaking all the supposed rules. Yeah, we’re looking at you Anna Sheffield. If you are interested in an emerald cut sapphire, emerald cut aquamarine, or an actual emerald cut green emerald then feel free to drop us a line - these gemstones can be trickier to navigate than diamonds.

XOXO,
The Birds
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"Let Little Bird Be Your Engagement Ring Shopping Wingman"

10/22/2015

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"If you’ve watched any football or baseball playoff games over the last month, you’re probably aware that something called “engagement season” is upon us. It’s the time of year where jewelers launch marketing campaigns targeting men who may be thinking of popping the question over the holidays. These ads often make the engagement ring shopping process seem like a breeze. The truth is, however, that it rarely is. It can be a daunting task if you’re going at it alone — which is where having a helpful little bird can come in handy."
Thanks to Chris Easter of The Man Registry & Grooms Advice for warning dudes about the lameness of holiday engagement ring shopping. We're here to help! Drop us a line. xoxo, ​The Birds

Little Bird - Diamond & Engagement Ring Expertise has 3 tips for guys thinking of popping the question this...

Posted by The Man Registry on Wednesday, October 21, 2015
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Nature Inspired Engagement Rings: Little Bird Quick Guide

10/18/2015

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How to Pick a NATURE INSPIRED Engagement Ring - a quick guide by Little Bird Engagement Ring Consultants, www.littlebirdtoldyou.com
Here’s what to look for when browsing for your ultimate beautifully natural engagement ring:
  • Look for designs that are INSPIRED by nature, but do not try to copy it exactly.
  • Look for streamlined designs where the details do not stick out in a way that would catch on your pocket or sweater.
  • Look for something unexpected and thoughtful.

As professional engagement ring consultants we see a lot of nature inspired rings. We love their whimsy, charm, and thoughtfulness. The best rings happen when a designer combines an element of nature with their own strong creative voice. You can tell a very talented jewelry designer by their ability to evoke nature, but balance it with quality design and craftsmanship. Any designer can make a ring that looks like a branch. A really good designer can do it in a way where tiny leaves or buds will not get caught on clothing or poke your skin.
Look for designs that you have never seen before. Talented artists can make a timeless concept look new and fresh by treating the subject in a new, inspired way. 

Nature inspired designs can be very elegant but they can easily become cheesy when designers are not intentional and thoughtful with how they present the natural elements they include. We keep our eye out for the best examples of nature inspired designs, so feel free to drop us a line for some inspiration!

​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.

LOVE, 
​The Little Birds
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Bezel Set Engagement Rings - A Quick Guide

10/13/2015

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How to Pick a BEZEL SET Engagement Ring! A quick guide by Little Bird Engagement Ring Consultants, www.littlebirdtoldyou.com...
Bezel describes a gemstone setting style. A bezel is a soft, thin frame of metal that secures a diamond or gemstone - unlike prongs, which are more like little tiny fingers of metal holding a gemstone in place.  Aside from the striking visual beauty of a bezel, they are also built for comfort. The bezel setting is smooth and won’t catch on your cashmere sweater as easily as a prong set ring.

Bezel settings are often considered the darling of bold and jewelry design. However, bezels are extremely prevalent in ancient jewelry design - more so than prong settings. Roman, Byzantine and Etruscan designs feature bezels. So while you often see bezel-set rings filed under “Modern”, the concept is old as time.

There are lots of different ways to use a bezel setting in fine jewelry. A bezel setting can encompass a single central gem, or you can find multiple bezel settings all in a row that compose an eternity style band. You’ll also see small bezel-set diamond details in many Art Deco style rings.

No matter how you bezel-it-up, it’s good to know these main points about this setting style:
  • Contrary to popular belief, bezel settings rarely affect the sparkle and brilliance of diamonds. This is because that the light that comes back at you is the same light that comes into the gem through the top. 
  • Some people still feel the bezel blocks their view of the diamond, even once they understand that it isn’t harshing the diamond’s sparkle game. If you want to see more of your gem from all angles, then go for a “semi-bezel” or an “open gallery full bezel”.
  • One cool approach is to add a matted texture to a bezel-set ring. Bezel-set rings can be utterly stunning in their sculptural appeal. To put it plainly, it just works.
  • Try a yellow gold bezel on a white metal band. The two-tone look is also pretty clutch for a bezel setting.
  • If you want an Art Deco vibe, add some milgrain up on that bezel and viola! Romance.
If you are going for a ring with diamond accents, we recommend channel-set, or flush-set accents. However, if you want to incorporate a different setting style such as pavé, it can look fabulous as long as it is executed extremely well. It can be tricky to balance all these elements, so 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

Follow Little Bird - Engagement Ring Consultants's board Bezel Set Engagement Rings on Pinterest.
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Sapphire Engagement Rings - A Quick Guide

10/11/2015

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How to Pick a Sapphire Engagement Ring, by LITTLE BIRD Engagement Ring Consultants www.littlebirdtoldyou.com
Sapphire is the most popular colored gemstone for engagement rings. The rich blue has symbolized fidelity since the Roman Empire. Sapphire is a type of gemstone called Corundum. The gemstone is very durable, only diamond is harder. Though sapphire comes in a rainbow of colors, the most popular color is a rich, saturated blue. Yellows, greens and peaches are also at the top our list.

Here’s what to look for when browsing for your ultimate sapphire engagement ring:
  • A ring that is spectacular but not huge - it has to be comfortable and wearable long-term. Strong, rich color in the sapphire.
  • Even, symmetrical outlines and sparkling facets with sharp lines and no pits or chips.
  • ​Designs that make good use of the contrast between sapphire and either the metal or other stones. You want that ring to really pop, but not clash.
Here’s how to spot a good sapphire: Look for stones that are well made with symmetrical facets, a symmetrical outline, and a glittering polish. Look for a stone with rich, even color that saturates the entire stone. The most expensive sapphires have a velvety internal glow caused by minute crystals in the structure of the stone. Some people love the soft-focus look of velvety sapphires, some people prefer a sharper crystal-clear look. Whatever the experts say, you should choose what you love.

​Avoid stones with worn facets (they will look smudgy instead of crystal sharp) and stones with any chips on the edges. Avoid stones with stripes of color (called color zoning) or stones with strange patches of very intense blue. That could be a sign of color treatment - but not necessarily. You should always ask about color or heat treatments when you are buying a stone. Unheated sapphires are rarer, and not necessarily better.

Sapphire looks great with either yellow or white gold, and especially good with some diamond accents. The refined and elegant contrast of sapphire and diamond was hugely popular in the Deco era and there are endless and spectacular examples from the time that would make wonderful engagement rings. Follow the board below to see spectacular sapphire rings that were chosen by Little Bird engagement ring consultants and gem experts.  

If you ever have a question about sapphires, treatments, diamonds or engagement rings in general, please drop us a line! We are here to help. ​You can also head on over to the Little Bird TOOL BOX where you can peruse more libraries of images curated by Little Bird engagement ring consultants in order to help bolster your visual vocabulary.

Best wishes!
- LITTLE BIRDS

Follow Little Bird - Engagement Ring Consultants's board Sapphires - Engagement rings and other gorgeous stuff on Pinterest.
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Keeping up Appearances

10/8/2015

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Easy tips on cleaning your diamond ring at home!
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The days are getting shorter and darker, it’s time to make that ring shine. The easiest way to make your ring look like a million bucks is to keep it clean. You carefully selected your diamond for maximum sparkle and brilliance. Why lose all that time and money to layers of hand cream and soap scum that dull your amazing diamond ring and make it look less expensive? Keep an extra toothbrush next to the sink for your ring and get in the habit of giving it a quick scrub every night when you brush your teeth.

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We're Down with OBB (yeah you know Offbeat Bride!)

10/6/2015

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"Good news people: There is such a thing as an Engagement Ring Consultant, and that fact might make your engagement ring shopping process a lot easier, and surprisingly cheaper!"
Dayum. Thanks to Offbeat Bride for writing such a fun and super well written piece about Little Bird Engagement Ring Consultants. Did you know that we are "a thing"? It's so exciting. We love seeing our message spread.  xoxo, ​The Birds

How this team of kick-ass consultants can save you Save $500-$5,000 on your engagement ring purchase! http://offbeatbride.com/2015/10/engagement-ring-consultants

Posted by Offbeat Bride on Friday, October 2, 2015
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Diamonds and Planetary Weirdness

10/3/2015

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Have you noticed any weirdness in the air? We are pretty reasonable people. We like science. We read our horoscopes every once in awhile, but we take it with a big grain of salt. HOWEVER… Mercury is seriously retrograde right now and we are feeling it. Mercury moving in a retrograde (backwards) direction is an optical illusion caused by the different orbital speeds of the Earth and Mercury as they go around the sun. During the times that Mercury is appearing to go backwards, many people here on Earth report that communication and travel are more difficult and prone to annoying complications. I can’t speak for the experiences of people on Mercury.

Are you currently shopping for an engagement ring? If you are, here’s some advice from two professional engagement ring consultants.  Mercury may be in retrograde, but you don’t have to let these common engagement ring pitfalls ruin your day.
  • Double check the lead time on any ring you are thinking of ordering. Don’t assume that anything you see can arrive in tomorrow’s post box.
  • Double check the ring size. If you don’t know for sure, take your best guess and double check with the jeweler that the design allows for resizing. If you have absolutely no clue, go for size 6.5. It is the average ring size for the average height woman.
  • Double check the return and exchange policy with any jeweler you are considering working with. Reputable companies generally have a return period of about 30 days. Again, double check.
  • If you purchase a ring online, triple check your order confirmation that it is exactly the item you ordered.
If you have found a ring that you think might be perfect for you, but you are still not 100% positive, we have a service called the Fly By. For $75 you get the peace of mind of knowing that a professional diamond expert and engagement ring consultant has looked over your selection and given it the thumbs-up or thumbs-down. Here’s what we look at:
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  • Style check
  • Value check
  • Diamond Certificate check
  • Durability check
  • Quality check
  • Metal check

​Okay, ring hunters, best of luck out there!
Love,
The Birds

Oh, one last thing: If you are booking tickets for any kind of travel (for a destination proposal, perhaps) double check that you are buying tickets for the right date. For example, if you want to fly on October 25th don’t book tickets for November 25th by mistake. 
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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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