Cocktail Rings are one of the fascinating sorts of jewellery for real jewellery aficionados. They’re fashionable, at instances dramatic, nice dialog starters, and full of historic context. The query – after all – is what’s a cocktail ring?

Benjamin Khordipour is the Lead Gemologist for Property Diamond Jewellery and one of many main on-line voices on diamonds and classic jewellery.

What’s a Cocktail Ring?

A cocktail ring is a gemstone ring historically worn to dinner events, often that includes a distinguished gemstone within the heart. Not like an engagement ring, the girl will often make sure that the cocktail ring will match the remainder of the garments worn that night.

The cocktail ring is also called a dinner ring and a right-handed ring.

Though cocktail rings have at all times contained diamonds, emeralds, rubies, and extra, the will for cheaper cocktail rings has at all times been current for these not fortunate sufficient to have the ability to spend hundreds of {dollars} on a single, occasional ring. Due to this, cocktail rings utilizing coloured glass or different cheaper supplies have been round for many years.

That stated, high quality cocktail rings are a sight to behold. Designers will train much more freedom within the supplies and types they make use of, which makes for thrilling mixtures of colours and shapes. The shortage of formal necessities means subtlety and understatement are finest left to different events.

Historical past of Cocktail Rings

Cocktail rings are somewhat misplaced throughout the world of bijou. They had been, in impact, the unique bling. They emerged in the course of the prohibition period on the many secret (and unlawful) events that had been held in cities and cities throughout the nation.

Girls had been beginning to see modifications of their roles within the family and in society, and so the cocktail ring turned a form of assertion of “arrival” for a lot of.

Usually talking, individuals who attended anti-prohibition events had been well-connected and wealthier than most. This meant cocktail rings had been massive, daring, and brassy, with an enormous stone on the heart and different smaller stones comprising a halo. There have been no guidelines on building, design, or the array of colours used. In brief, every was left to do as they happy.

The recognition of cocktail rings hit its zenith within the Forties and 50s (see our classic cocktail rings) however noticed a pointy decline as attitudes and fashions modified dramatically within the Sixties.

The Eighties, with all its spandex, massive hair, and gender-neutral motifs, noticed cocktail rings come again in a giant approach, and so they have remained extraordinarily widespread ever since. Classic cocktail rings turned all the craze beginning in 2010. See beneath.

Which Hand to Put on a Cocktail Ring?

Cocktail rings are predominantly worn on the suitable hand. The plain purpose is to supply a definite separation between engagement and wedding ceremony rings. They’re meant for carrying throughout particular events, the place the flowery and extreme change into regular for the night and are in no way an on a regular basis ring.

One other consideration when carrying a cocktail ring is what garments accompany it. Some individuals attempt to pair their cocktail rings with the earrings or clothes that they’re carrying.

A development that’s rising in recognition is to put on the cocktail ring on the index finger of the suitable hand.

Vital Observe: Some jewellery collectors by no means put on their cocktail rings and as an alternative maintain them in showcases to show them. As we stated above, there aren’t any actual guidelines to cocktail rings.

Completely different Kinds of Cocktail Rings

As talked about above, there aren’t any actual guidelines relating to cocktail rings. There are several types of cocktails, although. Right here’s our listing of the most typical sorts of cocktail rings.

• Basic Solitaire Cocktail Ring: This model includes a single giant stone, often a diamond or a semi-precious gem, like sapphire, emerald, or ruby. Aquamarines are additionally rising in recognition.
• Classic Cocktail Ring: These rings are characterised by age and have intricate designs and particulars from a selected historic period. Along with higher-quality craftsmanship, classic cocktail rings are unbelievable dialog starters.
• Minimalistic Cocktail Ring: This model showcases up to date designs, typically with geometric shapes and minimalistic settings. These cocktail rings often don’t characteristic gem stones.
• Halo Cocktail Ring: This ring includes a central stone surrounded by a “halo” of smaller stones, enhancing its sparkle and measurement.
• Cluster Cocktail Ring: Contains a number of small stones clustered collectively to kind a design or mimic a bigger stone.
• Animal-Themed Cocktail Ring: Designed within the form of animals or with animal motifs, typically utilizing colourful gem stones.
• Floral Cocktail Ring: Options flower designs, typically with colourful gem stones to characterize totally different components of the flower.
• Assertion Cocktail Ring: Outlined by its measurement and boldness, meant to be a standout piece of bijou.

Suggestions for Shopping for a Cocktail Ring

Shopping for a cocktail ring could be a massive resolution. Listed here are a couple of ideas to concentrate on earlier than shopping for a cocktail ring.

1. Guarantee that you’re solely shopping for from a respected vendor. There are lots of costume rings with artificial or synthetic stones that look similar to their very costly counterparts. Just be sure you solely buy a cocktail ring from somebody who’s sincere and in addition an professional who will know the distinction between the 2.
2. Many gold cocktail rings have a really low proportion of gold and a excessive proportion of nickel and different alloys. Be sure that you aren’t allergic to nickel earlier than buying the low gold ring. You don’t have to fret about this if the ring is created from platinum.
3. Plan out an applicable event. Although, as talked about earlier than, there aren’t any guidelines to cocktail rings, we advise considering of an occasion for which you would image your self carrying every specific cocktail ring.
4. Be sure that all of the stones are safe. Cocktail rings usually have numerous stones. Just be sure you shake the ring subsequent to your ear and pay attention for stones which might be free. Bumping is quite common with cocktail rings as a result of they’re much bigger and bulkier than engagement rings. If the stones aren’t safe, they’ll fall out.
5. In case you are shopping for a classic cocktail ring, ensure that your vendor is an professional in classic jewellery.

Cocktail Ring vs. Engagement Ring

Though technically, a cocktail ring can be utilized to suggest, it’s not the identical factor as an engagement ring. Listed here are the 5 primary variations between the 2 sorts of rings.

1. Objective and That means: Engagement rings are historically given throughout a wedding proposal and symbolize a dedication to a future marriage. Cocktail rings are vogue statements, typically worn to decorate and improve an outfit for social events.
2. Design and Fashion: Engagement rings usually characteristic a extra basic and timeless design, typically with a single featured diamond. Cocktail rings, alternatively, are typically bigger, bolder, and extra ornate, designed to draw consideration and specific individuality.
3. Dimension and Scale: Cocktail rings are usually bigger and extra elaborate than engagement rings. They’re meant to be eye-catching and are sometimes worn as assertion items, whereas engagement rings are often worn day by day and are typically extra understated and cozy for on a regular basis put on.
4. Gems and Supplies: Whereas each sorts of rings can characteristic a wide range of gem stones, engagement rings historically characteristic diamonds because the central stone. Cocktail rings, nevertheless, could incorporate a wider vary of gem stones, typically with vibrant colours and distinctive settings, and they may not at all times use treasured metals.

Store Cocktail Rings

Listed here are a number of the beautiful cocktail rings from our assortment. To view your complete assortment, click on right here.

Remaining Thought

An uncommon facet of cocktail rings is that there is no such thing as a restriction to carrying only one. In case your pockets and your hand can take it, you would even put on one on each finger.

Accumulating classic cocktail rings is a unbelievable concept, however just for critical collectors, and for many who can take care of them correctly.

Mixing and matching colours, types, and sizes is lots of enjoyable. Make certain to push the perimeters of your normal limits somewhat, and indulge your self in these beauties of the jewellery world.

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