The best part of choosing a handmade engagement ring for your partner

When you’re buying an engagement ring, there are a pros-and-cons you weigh up with your choices.

Most of them focus on price and quality. After all, it’s human to seek out the very best ring you can get, for the least amount of money possible. At the time, these can be very compelling, and consume your entire thoughts until you have that ring in your hand. Though if you’re considering a handmade piece, the real magic is a little more human than that.

Sure, handmade rings are great quality.

Sure, handmade rings are a great choice, given how long they can last.

Though the very best part is far more nuanced.

Whenever I meet new people, and our small talk turns to what we each do for a living, I can tell right away the people who’ve been through the process of having an engagement ring handmade, before they even tell me so.

Their eyes light up, even before they’ve said a word. The magic is still there, whether it’s been 1 year or 30 years since that ring was made.

The joy I get to see when they me things like: “I got to design the ring” and “I had someone actually make the ring by hand”. That joy never fades. That experience is one that leaves its mark long after the proposal moment.

Knowing that a pair of human hands created a timeless piece for you from scratch, and that you played a part in bringing to life - down the track, that’s the real magic of choosing a handmade ring.

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9ct vs 18ct Yellow Gold: What’s the Real Difference Once You’re Wearing It?

When it comes to yellow gold wedding rings, 9ct and 18ct options may look the same in a jewellery shop, but they behave very differently over time. Here’s the practical difference that actually matters.

The Technical Differences Between 9ct and 18ct Yellow Gold

When you’re buying a yellow gold wedding ring, you’ll be faced with the choice: 9ct or 18ct? There are plenty of technical facts available online to help you decide.

Some differences are are pretty neutral: The colours of the two are visually very similar, and they’re both ‘proper’ precious metals.

Some facts are a personal choice: If your wedding budget is tight, 9ct gold is more affordable than yellow gold.

What 9ct vs 18ct Actually Means When It’s On Your Finger

None of the technical facts, though, capture what the practical difference is once the ring is on your hand. In day-to-day life, the real difference is this: Oxidisation.

To create gold for jewellery, pure gold is mixed with other metals to make up the correct proportions. For 18ct, the proportion of other metals is small, and its effect creates durability in the otherwise malleable gold metal, making it far more suitable to wear as jewellery. For 9ct, the proportion of these other metals is very high, which impacts the oxidisation process. A 9ct gold ring will change colour over time, and more rapidly than most people expect.

Here’s a ring with a 9ct yellow gold brushed centre, part way through a touch up at my jewellery workshop, 2 years into its life. On the left, you can see the deeper, darker oxidised colour it changed to within only 2 years. On the right, is the bright gold colour I restored it to, which is also the original colour of the ring when it was brand new.

Which Yellow Gold Metal Is More Practical Long Term?

Choosing 9ct yellow gold means accepting the ongoing metal colour change, and the ongoing maintenance that requires over time. The original colour can be easily restored, as you can see above. Though the repeated restoration also means it won’t last as long as an equivalent 18ct yellow gold band (see more the lifespan of 9ct and 18ct gold here). A 9ct wedding ring is still a great choice, provided you know what to expect over time.

If your budget allows for it, 18ct yellow gold is the more practical choice long term. It lasts longer, is easier to maintain, and holds its appearance much more consistently in your day to day life. If these factors matter to you, the difference is well worth it.

Still Unsure Which Metal Is Best For Your Own Wedding Ring?

To get personalised advice on your wedding ring metal, or to design your own yellow gold wedding ring directly with an Australian jewellery maker, book an appointment online.

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Thinking about a Titanium wedding ring? You must know this first.

If a gold or platinum wedding ring isn’t your style, alternative metals are an appealing choice. Titanium wedding rings are an affordable, light and durable alternative - but there’s one thing you should keep in mind if you’re choosing one. Here’s what to know before you buy.

Why Titanium Wedding Rings Are So Popular

Titanium is one of the most popular alternative metals for wedding rings for good reason:

They’re inexpensive. Compared to 18ct gold or platinum, a titanium wedding band costs a fraction of the cost of a precious metal ring. Given the overall costs of a wedding, that difference alone is a huge advantage.

They’re light. Pick one up and you’ll feel the difference immediately. A titanium ring is drastically lighter than a platinum wedding ring. If you’re not used to wearing jewellery, this can make wearing a ring feel less daunting.

They’re strong. Titanium wedding rings are more scratch resistant than precious metals, so they hold up well to everyday wear. They do eventually wear down, and can’t be restored when that happens, unlike their precious metal counterparts. Though the early scratch resistance is appealing initially.

Given these 3 advantages, it’s easy to see why titanium wedding rings have become such a popular option.

Titanium rings like these are a strong, light, affordable alternative to precious metal wedding rings.

The One Thing Most Jewellers Won’t Tell You About Titanium Rings

There’s one more thing most ring sellers won’t mention, and it’s important that you know this before you buy:

If you titanium wedding ring ever starts feeling tight? Take it off straight away.

More often than you’d think, I get calls from people needing engagement rings and wedding rings cut off. It happens. A ring gets a little tight, bit by bit, and suddenly you realise one day you can’t actually take the ring off.

For gold and platinum rings, a ring that gets stuck is an easy fix. You visit a jeweller. Snip. Bend. Ring is off.

It’s not as simple to remove titanium wedding rings. The same properties that make them strong, light and scratch resistant also make them more difficult to be removed. So if you’re about to buy a titanium wedding band, or if you’re already wearing one, remember to take it off if it ever starts getting tight.

For advice on choosing the right titanium wedding ring for your style, and making sure the size is right, book an appointment directly with our jeweller.

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4 Jewellery Trends to Watch in 2022

With a fresh new year ahead, Harlequin Jewellers is back at the workshop, and pumped for a year of beautiful jewellery making. What will 2022 hold for us? While the last few years have taught us to expect the unexpected, here are my predictions for the jewellery trends ahead.

1. Pink Diamond Jewellery

It has been a little over a year since Western Australia’s Argyle Diamond Mine closed its operation, sparking a greater appreciation worldwide for the rarity of these incredible gems. With a complete halt of new gems, the remaining Argyle Pink Diamonds have been snapped up by buyers, and the jewellery world has been holding its breath to see what happens next.

In 2022, I see gemstone aficionados adding what remaining Pink Diamonds they can to their collections (be that in an engagement ring, dress ring, pendant, as accent stones, or simply a loose gemstone to treasure), with interest also spilling over to other coloured diamonds. Attention is being shared across to Yellow Diamonds in particular, and I see beautiful bright shades of yellow featuring in engagement rings and dress pieces throughout the year.

Following the Argyle Diamond Mine closure in late 2020, Pink Diamonds are an attractive choice for gemstone connoisseurs.

2. Spinel Jewellery

Look back a few years, Spinels were a largely unknown gemstone variety, overshadowed by more well-known varieties like Sapphires and Rubies. Today, Spinels have established themselves as a beautiful mainstay in the jewellery scene, with admirers appreciating in particular its Red, Neon Pink, Cobalt Blue and Grey colourways.

In 2022, I see Spinels featuring in more and more pieces, both as feature gems and accent stones. The versatile gem is strong enough for engagement rings, and makes for beautiful dress rings, pendants, and earrings for day-to-day and occasion wear.

Largely unknown a few years ago, Blue Spinels like this one now hold a solid place in the jewellery scene.

3. Lab Grown Diamond Jewellery

Natural mined diamonds have been a long sought after choice for engagement rings, given their rarity and strength. While I expect this to continue, there’s also a quiet undercurrent forming, with a small but growing interest in lab grown diamonds. Some clients are beginning to specifically look for lab grown diamonds over mined diamonds for many reasons: be that a deliberate choice to steer away from large scale diamond mining operations, through to the ability to attain a larger size diamond for the same price point of essentially the same material. Whatever their individual reason, it’s clear that lab grown diamonds are here to stay this year, and I expect more clients seeking these gems for their engagement rings in 2022.

Lab grown diamonds, like this oval shaped one, are becoming an increasingly popular choice for engagement rings.

4. Meaningful day-to-day gemstones

The events of the last few years have forced many of us to direct our attention inward, rather than be distracted by the ordinary hum drum of external life. As a result? Many of us have become better attuned to ourselves, our likes, our dislikes, what we find meaningful, and what sparks our joy. Going into 2022, I see this guiding our decisions in everything from big picture life decisions, to how we spend our time, and right through to the jewellery we buy.

What does this mean for jewellery? I expect to see jewellery choices that create meaning and joy in our day to day lives. From heartfelt remodels of treasured family heirlooms that bring our history to the forefront of our minds, to highly tailored pendants with talisman-like meaning, or gemstones from exotic locations that muster up a sense of adventure in our lives. I see projects like these coming through my workshop doors, creating jewellery that wearers can hold onto day in, day out, as a reminder of who they are, what they love, and what they value.

Personal pieces that capture our identities and passions bring joy to our day to day lives, like this piece capturing the wearer’s love of the ocean.

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The 3 Biggest Engagement Ring Trends of 2021

As a custom engagement ring specialist, each year brings exciting new projects to bring to life in the Harlequin Jewellers workshop. The clients that walk through our doors bring sensational new ideas, and unique styles to keep my creative soul buzzing, and this year has been no exception. So, as we wrap up the final days of a memorable year, I’ve taken a moment to reflect on the year that was, and the engagement ring trends I’ve seen through my Canberra jewellery workshop.

1. Platinum engagement rings

One of the unexpected changes the last couple of years has brought about, is fluctuations in the price of precious metals, including gold and platinum. In my entire career as a jeweller (and for that matter, most of the last century or so) platinum has been far more expensive than gold. White gold has dominated as the metal of choice for white toned jewellery, as a more affordable yet durable alternative to platinum.

This year, however, took a turn. With soaring gold prices, and plummeting platinum prices, platinum jewellery has instead matched the price of white gold jewellery here at Harlequin Jewellers. As a result? It was ‘the’ year for a platinum engagement ring. Couples wanting a white engagement ring largely chose platinum over white gold. Handmaking jewellers across the board, myself included, very much enjoyed a year of fabricating rings in luscious platinum.

Platinum diamond engagement rings were highly sought after in 2021.

2. Bespoke coloured gemstone engagement rings

The last year has brought a ‘pause’ moment for many, and abundant idle time to consider what they really want in life. It seems that engagement rings have been part of his deep contemplation. Many couples have given much thought in 2021 to finding ways of bucking traditions and making their engagement ring uniquely and meaningfully their own.

By far, my favourite result of this deep thought on their engagement ring design has been the increasing desire for coloured gemstones. Many clients have come to me with hyper specific ideas on what they’d like in their engagement ring, be it a gem variety they had their eye on, a specific shade of a colour, or a truly personal meaning they hope to capture for their fiancé. And I can tell you, it makes this gem loving jeweller incredibly happy to find them the perfect gemstone.

Couples selected highly personal gemstones for their engagement rings in 2021, like this Aquamarine (first ring) and Australian Parti Sapphire (second ring).

3. Simple diamond engagement rings

In somewhat of a contrast to the second trend, the final trend I’ve seen in engagement rings has been a shift to simple, classic designs in diamond engagement rings.

In the past few years, clients seeking a diamond engagement ring have largely chosen designs with smaller diamond accents, such as sparkly diamond halos and diamond set bands. Throughout 2021, I’ve seen diamond engagement rings trending more toward traditional classic designs like trilogy rings and solitaire styles. These styles are true classics for good reason, and make for versatile, timeless, heirloom engagement rings.

Diamond engagement rings trended toward classic designs like trilogy rings (first ring) and solitaire rings (second ring).

All in all? The year 2021 brought many beautiful engagement ring designs through the Harlequin Jewellers workshop that were a privilege to create. Keep your eye out in January for my thoughts on what trends 2022 may bring.

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We're now in Braddon!

Harlequin Jewellers has a brand new studio location. Tucked away in the 'Palko' building at 27 Lonsdale Street Braddon, our new consultation space and full on-site workshop is now up and running behind the darkened door at studio G18.

As always, we operate by private appointment. Get in touch to make a time to chat about your next custom piece directly with a jeweller.

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It's launch day for Harlequin Jewellers Canberra!

Hello everyone and welcome! It's launch day for Harlequin Jewellers and I couldn't be happier - going out on my own is something I've dreamt of doing for a long time, and here I finally am.

If I can be of any assistance to you in all matters related to jewellery, please just let me know.

Best regards,

Matthew Hengge, Jeweller.

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