This week I actually happened to have a conversation about engagement rings and the question was, if I’d even want an engagement ring.
My initial reaction was: OF COURSE! Then I had to defend my point of view a little, which made me feel like a silly cow that is obsessed with diamonds. Hello?
I started realizing that in my hippie-esque family an engagement ring is fairly uncommon, my mum only wears a wedding band.
In Germany we don’t have such a big fuss about weddings in general.
Everything is more practical than fashionable.
Maybe that’s why I like it. For me it’s exotic and special.
When I did research on this topic in the web I was surprised how many people even questioned that an engagement without a ring isn’t an engagement at all. Of course it is.
Remember the engagement guitar, here?
If I want to marry someone, a ring is obviously the least important thing.
But it is pretty. That’s all.

If I were propose to myself I would be rather stupid.
I mean not that I don’t like myself but you know what I mean…
My point is, if I had to choose an engagement ring for myself I would probably go for a vintage one. In GOLD.
I am wearing my grandmas jewelry all the time and always feel that old jewelry has a story to tell and seems to be somewhat magical. The other day when we walked around the antique market I saw so many gorgeous pieces.
Every weekend in Islington/Angel at Camden Passage you can go on a treasure hunt.
And don’t miss the great breakfast at the The Elk In The Woods.
If you don’t have a market like that nearby, check out the great East Side Brides Blog and her Sponsor that knows it all about vintage rings here.
I adore the big and bold ones just as much as the tiny delicate ones.

I have been busy lately.
So I really feel I have to catch up with you guys.
I have recently worked a great photo-shoot for the great accessories label TIARAMA.
I have done Make-Up, Hair and the dresses for the shoot.
The talented founder Suzanne does all her unique pieces by hand and for her latest pieces she organized a fantastic photo-shoot with a magical team including the incredible photographer was Clare Louise.
We headed out far into the English country side to shoot in an amazing old mansion that was half refurbished half falling apart.
Thanks again to the whole team!

all images courtesy of Stolen Girlfriends ClubI do feel like I am posting way too much about rings.
But I had share the heavy metal collection by the hip designers of
Stolen Girlfriends Club from New Zealand.
From golden bows over cool heart shapes to rebellious punk stud styles, their collection is definitely worth checking out.

Not only is the economy down under doing well and the weather is fantastic, now there are also more&more interesting labels, musicians and artists coming out.

I will be traveling to Australia in January for the first time and I am so curious and excited. I have a feeling I might want to stay.

Her wedding/engagement ring collection is just so cool,
that I have to mention her again.

The Mackenzie Ring for example with its 5 spiky black diamonds
that were set upside down along one side for a glamorous alternative to a stud. I would totally want that one as my wedding band.
Possibly with grey diamonds?
Black diamonds? Upside down? She is a genius!
That’s why she offers equally stunning rings for men.

And I totally want the Rockwell Ring as engagement ring.
For me customized with a yellow gold band and a white gold “rock”
Look how rad the different styles are looking together: here
The Mackenzie would also go with all the grey diamond designs, that I loved so much and wrote about here.

I just spotted this fantastic little thing at Magpie & Rye and thought it’s worth sharing.
No rock, but a really cool and simple design.
The New Yorker designer Caitlin Mociun studied at the Rhode Island School of Design.
Mociun brings the Bauhaus notion of combining art and craft to her design work in textiles, clothing and jewelry. Her prints themselves are Bauhaus-inspired, and she draws inspiration from the plant photography of Karl Blossfeldt, a prominent artist from the Bauhaus movement.

Mociun continues to explore and integrate the ever-emerging technologies and critical conceptions of sustainability, environmentally healthy production and the role of the individual consumer in society at large.
Now that rocks!

ENGAGEMENTRINGS somehow became the topic of the month,
We had a post about my love for vintage/family jewelry,
contemporary edgy designers, a DESIGN-IT-YOURSELF-Post,
a special on my current obsession for grey diamonds and now here is my top selection of high fashion designer/luxury brand engagement rings.

image via 100 Layer Cake

WOAH! Now: That’s a GOLDEN cake!
And the little fruit cakes are not bad either.
They remind me of the ones we served at our housewarming.

You might also like these engagement rings posts:
go and get your sketchbook out, something old, LeBlas: Lovely London Bling!

Some girls do not think diamonds are their best friends. We are generally those sorts of girls. We don’t dismiss the humble rocks, we just think that jewelry can be pushed further than the boundaries of a single solitaire perched on a band. We’re very smart, you see. Ah, but see how smart we are when you swing this ring slowly in our line of vision. We drool, we covet, we get wobbly in the knees. Quote from Catbird NYC

Here are some awesome designers that could help you realise your ideas:
ORIA in London works with ethical sourced gold, silver and diamonds.
BITTERSWEETS in New York do rad custom designs as well.
Thomas Bartussek in Berlin is always open for new ideas!

And now: Go and get your sketchbook out!

For great inspiration go and check out the COOLEST selection of wedding and engagement rings in the whole world at Catbird NYC,
that East Side Bride introduced me to.