What do you think about Scandinavian engagement rings

[natascha]

Today I was reminded of how different jewelry customs and tastes are over here. I went to my jeweler to have the bezel taken out and prongs added to my e-ring. This since my OMC optics were affected by covering the sides and the girdle. I had brought some photos to show exactly how raised I wanted the stone and included a photo of what my maximum desired height was. I had included this photo since I have seen tons of rings from over here that are raised a lot higher than I wanted. The jeweler reaction to the max photo was pretty funny, for him it was a huge no no to set it that high (showing roughly 1mm under the girdle).

That lead to a funny discussion about what Swedes like in their jewelry. Over here jewelers often hear that people don't want the stone to be "too big" . And what constitutes too big is pretty different, a big stone is often 0,25ct and above.

I think the biggest difference in our jewelry is the engagement rings.


These are engagement rings from one of the most popular ring makers. As you might see the thinnest bands are 3mm but most buy something in the 4-8mm range. Oh and not only the woman get's an e-ring, the man usually wears a matching band. Normally the engagement rings are not blingy. In fact when I was newly engaged and happily telling everyone some people would look down on my hand and ask where my engagement ring is (I was wearing it, but apparently a 1ct + halo on the ring finger is confusing ).

Nowadays more and more women are getting wedding rings with some sparkle. But also here the tastes run quite different. Looking at a Swedish wedding forum this ring came up as something several brides were falling in love with and buying.



For $2200 you get a two tone 4mm band with a 0,16ct center and a 0,26tcw.

So what do you think about Swedish style engagement and wedding rings?

Have you gone a different way than what is normal for engagement rings in your area?

 

[amc80]

Definitely not my style! That ring is pretty masculine (in my opinion).

 

[VRBeauty]

I think Scandinavian men get off easy!

 

[natascha]

Definitely not my style! That ring is pretty masculine (in my opinion).

There are actually more masculine looking ones . It's not my style either so I had a lot of trouble trying to find things to try out when I was looking for an e-ring. On a positive note, I don't worry about getting robbed since no one believes my engagement ring is real.

I think Scandinavian men get off easy!

They really do. Over here the guy usually does not pay for both rings, and his ring is often more expensive due to being a bigger size.

Swedish woman actually prefer this type of styles. My mom got engaged after me and they went around looking at rings so that she could pick her own. She picked a red gold band with 3 *2 pointers. It was not due to money, after that they went on vacation to his holiday apartment where she redesigned the kitchen at a cost of $9000 (a kitchen that is used 3 weeks a year ).

It was the same story when I went with her to buy diamond studs. I had to forcibly convince her that 0,20 tcw was not too big .

And then we have little old me who is right now lusting after a 2ct with a halo and a big colored three stone.

As for designers that are popular over here (you won't find any Tacori or Verragio) Georg Jensen's fusion rings have been popular several years. I think that Georg Jensen is recognizable also in the US?

 

[Lady_Disdain]

Our habits, in Brazil, are similar to what you describe. When a couple gets engaged, they get matching bands, worn on the right hand (it will be switched to the left after the wedding). The bands are generally plain and the lady's may have a flush set diamond on it. The idea of spending 3 months salary on an engagement ring is completely alien to us!

However, before anyone thinks we are blingfobic, I would like to remind everyone that Lily Safra is a Brazilian.

http://www.christies.com/sales/jewels-for-hope-the-collection-of-mrs-lily-safra-may-2012/sale-info.aspx

 

[GliderPoss]

Hmmm someone on PS from that part of the world has the most divine lavendar supernova spinel ering - the stone is set EW and was from Gemrite but I just cannot for the life of me find the picture... Anyone know?

I agree minimalism seems common there which is not entirely a bad idea! My sister is in Holland and it's similar there too. She has a 0.20ct ring and everyone gushed over it. Personally I was a tad shocked at how tiny it was but the quality is perfection which was more important to her Dutch (now) husband.

 

[rubybeth]

While not my style, I like the idea of being more 'low key' about being engaged. It's not about the bling you get, the big fancy princess wedding, or the expensive honeymoon. It's about joining lives. Americans and others have gotten very hung up on status symbols, and usually not for the better. We've all seen posts on here about women having the 'smallest' ring of their friends, and how badly they are made to feel about it. It sucks, when it should be a very happy time in your life, you're playing the comparison game. Not fun. A surefire way to be unhappy about everything you do have is to compare yourself to someone who has even more.

 

[HopeDream]

Natascha I love the look swedish engagement rings - so sleek and modern!

What are some popular jewellers in Sweden? I'd love to see more of their designs!

I love bling, but I also have a strong appreciation for practicality and designs that withstand all kinds of curcumstances.

 

[iheartscience]

I like the look and the sentiment of the plain bands and having the man and woman wear them. I also like the 2 rings you posted. That said, I just love a giant diamond! That may be the most stereotypically American thing about me, actually!

 

[monarch64]

While not my style, I like the idea of being more 'low key' about being engaged. It's not about the bling you get, the big fancy princess wedding, or the expensive honeymoon. It's about joining lives. Americans and others have gotten very hung up on status symbols, and usually not for the better. We've all seen posts on here about women having the 'smallest' ring of their friends, and how badly they are made to feel about it. It sucks, when it should be a very happy time in your life, you're playing the comparison game. Not fun. A surefire way to be unhappy about everything you do have is to compare yourself to someone who has even more.

Good words.

 

[Lady_Disdain]

While not my style, I like the idea of being more 'low key' about being engaged. It's not about the bling you get, the big fancy princess wedding, or the expensive honeymoon. It's about joining lives. Americans and others have gotten very hung up on status symbols, and usually not for the better. We've all seen posts on here about women having the 'smallest' ring of their friends, and how badly they are made to feel about it. It sucks, when it should be a very happy time in your life, you're playing the comparison game. Not fun. A surefire way to be unhappy about everything you do have is to compare yourself to someone who has even more.

Good words.

Another thing I dislike about the big, fancy diamond rings is that it can delay the engagement or be the excuse for a delay (aka, string someone along). Every time I read that someone is anxiously waiting to become engaged but her boyfriend has to save up for the "perfect ring", I feel it is a waste of time. However, they often won't feel "properly engaged" without a ring or the BF will feel humiliated if they get engaged without a ring to show off.

It also seems very strange to me to have a situation where the couple has agreed to get married, he has bought a ring but they aren't engaged yet because he is waiting for the perfect moment to propose. Hasn't everything been settled yet? So what is the big to-do?

 

[GreenBling]

When I was engaged 16 yrs ago, nobody cared for engagement rings here in Hong Kong. When you get married, you get a set of matching bands, thats all. You dont change nor upgrade the band no matter how dated they look. but things are changing due to massive dollars put into marketing the idea of 'forever' ering with a big rock. Now it is very common for the guy to propose with one.

I love diamonds so I wouldn't mind my husband showing me his love with blings. But, hope I don't offend anyone by saying that, I think it is absurd for someone who can't afford to get an ering just because everyone else has. Getting into debt over a non-essential item is not what I consider a healthy start of a new life together really.

 

[Tuckins1]

I really love that Sandra band, it's gorgeous!! It is a bit masculine for my hand, though. It's interesting, the cultural differences!

 

[rubybeth]

While not my style, I like the idea of being more 'low key' about being engaged. It's not about the bling you get, the big fancy princess wedding, or the expensive honeymoon. It's about joining lives. Americans and others have gotten very hung up on status symbols, and usually not for the better. We've all seen posts on here about women having the 'smallest' ring of their friends, and how badly they are made to feel about it. It sucks, when it should be a very happy time in your life, you're playing the comparison game. Not fun. A surefire way to be unhappy about everything you do have is to compare yourself to someone who has even more.

Good words.

Another thing I dislike about the big, fancy diamond rings is that it can delay the engagement or be the excuse for a delay (aka, string someone along). Every time I read that someone is anxiously waiting to become engaged but her boyfriend has to save up for the "perfect ring", I feel it is a waste of time. However, they often won't feel "properly engaged" without a ring or the BF will feel humiliated if they get engaged without a ring to show off.

It also seems very strange to me to have a situation where the couple has agreed to get married, he has bought a ring but they aren't engaged yet because he is waiting for the perfect moment to propose. Hasn't everything been settled yet? So what is the big to-do?

Ugh, so true! There is no need for a large diamond (or a diamond at all!) in order to get engaged/married. I think that once you decide to get married, you're engaged. You may not have announced it to the world, but your intention is to get married. The 'engagement' and the 'proposal' and 'the ring' and even the 'wedding planning' have become so ritualized and tied up with money that it is tough for young couples to start off on the right foot. It makes me kind of sad that some brides focus on planning the wedding with very little planning for the marriage (how to merge finances, if/when to have kids, where to live, etc.) and then are surprised when things don't work out.

 

[Laughinggravy0]

Oh yes, the cultural stuff is fascinating. I'm with ladyDisdain, I don't really get the delay for a fancy ring. It seems to me, from the outside, to be something that is snowballing and a relatively recent phenomenon. Did people hold off getting engaged for over a year because the diamond wouldn't be big or good enough, in the US say, 10 years ago?
Then again we are a self-selecting audience on PS.

As for size of stone, I'm in Belgium and I haven't seen any big stones - and I have a wide range of friends and contacts. Even my GIA trained friend working on Antwerp just wears a plain platinum band. She has one really wonderful, huge, pearly-grey-green-petrolly fabuloso baroque pearl on a black leather thong and that's it. And she's one of the most stylish people I know - the most, I think.

Ahhh isn't diversity wonderful - but I don't like seeing the young women freaking out over rings in sock drawers for 12 months. or no ring for years with endless promises and, perhaps, finances being used as excuse. Where's the 'shaky head' icon when you need him? Oh, here

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I so agree about the sad posts where the girl has to wait and wait to get engaged until enough can be saved for an expensive ring! The ring can be bought anytime! I know of young couples who instead got .25 ct. e-rings because they were ready to be married and certainly weren't waiting in order to get a larger diamond. Sometimes it seems that the ring is more important than the marriage!

I do think diamond prices here are so crazy that it is forcing some to buy smaller stones, and that is not a bad thing. I think the expectations for a large diamond for an e-ring here has almost gone over the top.

 

[Mellan]

Cultural differences in terms of engagement rings within Europe are big, between US and Europe HUGE

My 1.5ct diamond solitaire considered in Sweden and northern Germany outrageous, in London average and in NYC tiny at least among my friends.

I think Scandinavians really like their own jewelers, and there are some wonderful ones in Sweden and Denmark!

 

[AGBF]

I think that Georg Jensen is recognizable also in the US?

I recognized that Georg Jensen ring instantaneously! My mother was a Georg Jensen lover. During World War II, when Danish Georg Jensen was unavailable, Georg Jensen USA made beautiful pieces here in the United States. I now have some of my mother's jewelry (although she had no rings!).

Deb/AGBF

 

[Astra]

My engagement ring was a white gold tanzanite ring with diamonds... it was quite "cheap" and "small" for US standards but here in Croatia people were surprised how "expensive" my ring was... and those tiny tiny diamonds (I call them my diamond dust ) made people think my ex is one rich bastard... It was unusual for someone to have an engagement ring, usually if a guy decides to buy an engagement ring it's just regular plain gold ring with some CZ stones ( around $200 - $300 ). Our wedding rings were plain titanium 6mm rings (they were the same). The biggest diamond ring I saw here was a 1ct OMC diamond ring in yellow gold with sidestones which my ex mother in law inherited from her mother (her parents were...lets say rich family at the time).

 

[movie zombie]

i like them: sleek and modern.

 

[JulieN]

The Swedes have a very egalitarian society, and it reflects badly on them to flaunt wealth or to show off in any way with respect to jewelry, nice cars, etc. Think of Volvo, a Swedish company. Their biggest selling point for their cars that they are safe, family oriented, not that they are sporty or luxurious.

American society is... well, you know, big, ugly, brash American stereotype. Where we have both Keeping up with the Kardashians and starving children.

I like to look at big bling, though, PSers have fabulous taste.

 

[decodelighted]

I like the minimalism. It's def a "look". And PERSONALLY, I'd probably prefer a .20 ct stone in a flush mount setting rather than sitting up in the air in ridiculously tall prongs. (My LEAST fave look). Smaller stones look better NESTLED - either into a band itself, or an illusion setting or a tank style or even tension set, IMHO. They were doing it right in those Art Deco days!

 

[Rhea]

Cultural differences in terms of engagement rings within Europe are big, between US and Europe HUGE

My 1.5ct diamond solitaire considered in Sweden and northern Germany outrageous, in London average and in NYC tiny at least among my friends.

I think Scandinavians really like their own jewelers, and there are some wonderful ones in Sweden and Denmark!

If you're comfortable answer, where in London do you live and what type of work do you do? None of my husband's friends or mine own anything near that size! Husband's friends are all from London and the surrounding area and the very well off are mostly sporting 1/2 carat and under in my generation, and coloured stones in our parent's generation.

 

[natascha]

I love the diversity in replies .

Forewarning, I am getting into the bad habit of posting at 3am after going out with friends and drinking wine so please excuse my spelling. It is bad normally but now it is anything but stellar.

I really agree with Lady Disdain, rubybeth, monarch, GreenBling, Laughinggravy and diamondseeker. An engagement should be about the promise to spend the rest of your life together, not about keeping up with the Joneses. I find it so sad reading about people either not willing to get engaged due to not having an expensive ring, guy/gal feeling bad about the ring or someone being stringed along. An engagement is about promising each other that you want to spend the rest of your lives together and the ring/s are just a pretty token of that promise.

I love the symbolism of both partners having a ring (and yes engagement rings over here are not limited to heteros), my fiance has a tungsten ring with 3 diamonds so also quite different from the norm.

Although I will warn you that our minimalism does not only extend to the rings, weddings and cars (as described by Julie). An engagement over here does not mean a wedding will follow. My parents were engaged 22 years, had two kids together, bought several apartments, etc but never got married and that is quite normal over here. Even though I am engaged I don't refer to my SO as my fiance, I refer to him as my sambo. That means that I am cohabiting with him and having marital relations and unlike being engaged, being a sambo is actually covered by law (mainly Sambolagen, but you can also write a prenup before becoming a sambo since otherwise you may have to split up the worth of your property, etc).

Funny thing is that we are not minimalism and egalitarian all the way. Swedes are often tech nerds and will in many cases spend more on their mobil phone/computer upgrade, done every year, than on an engagement ring that will be worn the rest of your life . A supposed friend once explained at a party after looking at my ring that she would never spend so much on a piece of jewelry.
I had to contain myself from calling her out on that she spends more on her horses every two years than I spent on my e-ring.

Lady disdain- lily safras ruby ring is amazing , except for the royal family and that circle I don't think any Swede has that type of collection.

HotPozzum- Now I so want to see that ring! It is so funny about your SIL. I bet she has at least an F color VVS clarity set in a min $1000 for the setting only solitaire . At least that is what people over here seem to go for.

Rubybeth- Very well said.

 

[natascha]

Hope Dream- Not all of our designers do practical stuff. I am so annoyed at Efva Attling (expensive Swedish designer) since she did a collection featuring morganite and aquamarines for wedding rings . Although a lot of the time I hear woman asking if solitares and other raised stones don't get caught everywhere. When you wear gloves for more than half of the year that is a major preoccupation .

Some popular places to get rings is http://www.schalins.se/eng/show_type.asp?itemType=1 and http://smycka.se/varumarke/classic/
As for some popular designers http://www.handsweden.se/Vigsel-och-foerlovning (I find them too thick to be comfortable)
http://www.efvaattling.se/brollop/s/4
http://www.tcol.se/index.php#/kategori/4
But these are the more expensive rings. Most people just go to a chain jeweler and get no brand matching bands or at the highest a pair from schalins or from smycka.

Here is a ring from 1952 by Sixten Liedberg (1,90tcw) that I think shows the modern beauty that Scandinavian style can produce .


Thingoftwo- I also love the symbolism of both partners wearing bands. I did actually want matching band but it just looked wrong. My fiance looked great in 8-10mm thick bands while on my fingers that looked ridiculous, I need something in the 2-3mm range. We tried wearing matching 4mm bands but neither was satisfied, we also have matching bands but in different widths (his 8mm mine 2mm). Finally we just decided to go with what we really want, a big diamond halo for me and a tungsten thick band for him.

Greenbling- That used to be the attitude over here too. Nowadays people get often get the typical matching band for the engagement but if and when they get married some women choose a new set.

 

[natascha]

Tuckins- Isn't the cultural differences fascinating? Over here the Sandra is considered to be quite feminine. I recently bought a ring that has me stumped. It is a size 10 and masculine looking but very blingy so I have no idea if it originally belonged to a guy or a gal .

Laughinggravy- Isn't it weird? I would chop my SO's head off if he hid the e-ring for months. I had to wait two weeks(one of which I was not even in the same country ) and I practically went nuts. Europe just has a the US. What would be considered big in Belgium and what do you get as an e-ring there?

Diamondseeker- I agree, your life together is the most important thing, not the ring. Although the prices for diamonds and jewelry is crazy cheap in the US compared to Europe so that might affect the size differences. In Sweden status symbols are much more discrete, having the right address, the "right" computer, mobil phone, etc, everything should be ecological and fair trade, dressing expensively but without showing off, eating sourdough bread for breakfast etc.

Mellan- A 1,5ct must get you some funny reactions. Mine is smaller (1,07ct) but has a custom halo and that is not exactly approved of. Most of the time people think it is a fake, which I am fine with, but when they realize it is real then the nasty stuff comes out. Where in London are you? When I was interviewing and wearing a 0,85ct solitaire people seemed to think that was pretty big (consulting). I love your alias by the way, really representing the Scandinavians, only thing better would be to call oneself lagom .

AGBF- Ohh do you have a thread? I hope you keep on to those since they are worth quite a bit now. Do you know who was the designer for Georg Jensen USA?

Astra- that is so typical for Europe. I hope you keep true to your blingy personality and don't care about what people say.

Movie Zombie- Modern is the right word. While I think Swedish design is beautiful I love more ornate styles and that is pretty impossible. Everything is sleek and modern (well except for clothes), rings, interior design, buildings, etc.

JulieN- Well often Swedes talk big about not showing off but do show off in more subtle ways. But we are great at including people and taking care of the whole society. The economic differences that can be found in the US is pretty much non existent over here. Ohh the American stereotypes , as the rest of the world, we have tonnes of those and it just gets worse in election times (ugh if Romney wins it will probably get worse just as after the second Bush election).

Decodelighted- I know, smaller diamonds just look so "right" it these type of settings. Over here those high set things are non existing, and if you have a solitaire it will always be a cathedral one.I wish we could go back to the Art Deco styles, they really knew what they were doing .

 

[AGBF]

AGBF- Ohh do you have a thread? I hope you keep on to those since they are worth quite a bit now. Do you know who was the designer for Georg Jensen USA?

natascha-

Here is a link to the original thread on Georg Jensen jewelry (there have been several others since then). I do not know who designed any of my mother's pieces, but in one thread there was discussion of the two (I think) main designers who worked in the United States during World War II. One was, I believe, named Alphonse LaPaglia.

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/georg-jensen-jewelry.25634/?hilit=aft']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/georg-jensen-jewelry.25634/?hilit=aft[/URL]

Deb/AGBF

 

[partgypsy]

I actually like the design of a big gold band with a smaller diamond, and it is nice that they are stackable.

 

[Akvileja]

I'm Swedish so I have to comment on this topic!

As Natasha said we exchange gold bands when we get engaged, and at the wedding the woman gets a second ring. Traditionally, the wedding ring is identical to the engagement ring. This is what my grandmothers rings look like and this is the traditional syle. (Sorry, the picture is so big)

Today the wedding ring is often the same as the engagement ring with some added bling. You usually want the same profile and a very low ring that is comfortable to wear. This is my set that is 0.28 ctw. This is not considered small here. Maybe even a bit larger than average, at least where I live. And it probably looks very 1999 . The diamonds in my earrings are bigger than the stones in my wedding ring, but most people probably think they are fake.


A solitaire or a three stone ring is considered a RHR, so I can see why people asked Natascha where her ER was when she didn't wear a gold band.

As for Scandinavian designers, I love my Ole Lynggaard pieces.

 

[AGBF]

Akvileja-

I absolutely love your rings. In my opinion, they are the epitome of elegance! You are making me want to post a picure of my engagement ring, too! The only problem with mine is that, unlike your elegant Swedish rings, I fear that mine would look a bit "little girlish" on me now. Maybe I just haven't had it on in too many years and should try it on alone with no other jewelry. It is very simple, but not streamlined like your Swedish ones!

Deb/AGBF