•  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

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

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

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