Chances are, for those of us living in the second half of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st, strong traditions concerning life events still guide us – whether we follow those traditions or reject them.

Nowhere is this more momentous than observing customs and rituals surrounding betrothal and marriage. All of us have inherited ways of marking transitions from one phase to another: birth, coming-of-age, engagement and marriage, and end of life rituals. Often, we don't question our own tradition: if it was "good enough for grandpa, it's good enough for me".

No longer are women the chattel of their fathers, sold into marriage as a way of monetizing one's children. No longer do we segregate women in separate quarters marking their passage from girlhood to womanhood.

We fantasize about the precise moment when the prospective husband kneels before the woman he loves and presents her with a ring – a diamond solitaire, of course!

A diamond solitaire engagement ring is fraught with layers of symbolic meaning. Probably the most profound meaning is the promise of a future together: creating a new family in the tradition of our ancestors, complete with recognizable rituals and conventions.

Our engagement tradition binds us both to our ancestors as well as to future generations.

The engagement ring is the ultimate symbol of hope. The tenor of the times may be fragile, the economy seems impossibly stalled, there are continuing social problems which are picked at by every news program on television or on the web. The engagement ring (and the prospect of a wedding!) is the antidote for what ails us! We turn aside from the continuing barrage of unhappy news to focus on the brightness of tomorrow!

Whether we prefer the antique style or the classic style or the modern contemporary style of engagement ring, we can always find a ring which embodies the concept engagement, and all that means for us: the physical manifestation of our most romantic hopes and dreams.

Despite the moralizing tone epitomized by the French evolution and seen in Angelica Kauffman's Cornelia Presenting Her Children as Her Treasures, from 1785, people still wanted to buy and wear jewelry.

Until goldsmiths learned more sophisticated manufacturing techniques, bracelets continued to take previously known forms, like the famous gilt silver cuff bracelet from Thrace (an area near Greece) dating between the 14th to 16th centuries. Bracelets from different past cultures have similar and recognizable shapes. We can name several examples of bracelets in history such as silver Crusader cross bracelets or Celtic spiral bracelets. Both examples have forms that can be recognized today.

A medieval bronze fertility bracelet is shaped like a cuff – a form we have already seen.

Eventually, fabrication became more accomplished, and we begin to see hinges, as in the 16th century Mourning Bracelets.

By the nineteenth century, we have seen the many different forms which bracelets can take, and the different materials jewelsmiths used, such as clay, bones, bronze, gold, silver, ivory among others.

Today, antique styles are very chi-chi and desirable. In this gold and diamond bracelet we see the unmistakable design of the Art Deco period, exemplified by the Chrysler Building in New York.

Modern manufacturing methods have allowed us to have "convertible" jewelry, which can transform from ring to bracelet, depending on the wearer's wants and needs!

Whatever we imagine, we can design and have.

Today, we have choices never before seen in history, such as the fashion and desire for white gold. Bracelets, as well as other kinds of personal ornamentation since the beginning of time, have been used to suggest status, or personal enhancement.

They have been given and worn for ritual reasons, such as coming of age, becoming engaged or mourning. Unlike earrings or necklaces, bracelets on the arms can interfere with daily activities, such that they are worn by those who do not have to do too much!

Perhaps because they are more intrusive than either earrings or necklaces, bracelet-wearing was confined to the upper arm for a very long time--at least, until humankind was able to sort itself into classes. There were the ones who served, and the others who moved little.

Our knowledge of early jewelry comes from archeological investigations of burial sites and the grave goods discovered there. The materials that were used were naturally occurring and organic, such as amber beads.

As time advanced, and people became more technologically sophisticated, we begin to see more and more complex manufacturing techniques, such as shaping stones and building pieces using clay, as well as harder material. The round form is a carved stone dating from the Neolithic period between about 10,700 BC to about 9400 BC.

At burial sites, strings of clay beads have been found. These are an example of the modification of a substance not necessary for survival.

Eventually, bracelets resembling those of today began to be seen in the Ancient Near East, in Egypt, and in Greece and Rome.

These bracelets, made of gold and silver, and using more advanced manufacturing techniques, speak to cultures of increasing sophistication and the elevation of the craftsman from mere laborer to artist.

We easily recognize the forms of ancient jewelry because they are the same ones we also use! And until goldsmiths invented a way to produce links, the bracelets we see are bangles made of coils or continuous pieces of gold, often inlaid with precious stones and even enamel.

As a testament to the value of jewelry, Greek painters and potters, commissioned to make grave monuments or funeral urns, used an often-repeated motif: the deceased has a maid servant bring her jewelry box to her, as we see in the vase painting at the right. This is a cultural trope which has been repeated over and over.

Romans were the original shopoholics. Their vast empire meant that they had access to the best raw materials from around the world, which flooded into Rome. The best craftsmen and artisans, the most rare gems and gold and silver all made their way to the center of the universe: Rome.

Here are Roman bracelets showing a snake motif and are worn on the upper arm. The next bracelet is a hinged cuff.

The modern bracelet in yellow gold, diamonds and blue sapphires is directly inspired by styles first seen in ancient Rome.

To Be Continued....

Coeval with the dawn of time, one of the first activities which preoccupied humankind was the enterprise of self-adornment. While it would take another thirty thousand years for the invention of metallurgy, skills needed to make jewelry from such metals as gold, silver or bronze. The materials that were first used were readily available: animal teeth and bones, shells which had been perforated for hanging on a string of some sort, wood shaped into beads and stones. Hunter-gatherers were clearly preliterate and our knowledge comes from archeologist's discoveries of burial places.

The naturally occurring material was organic (except for stones) and much has slipped into the mists of time.

While we cannot know the definitive reasons why people wanted to enhance their appearance, we can hypothesize about the wearing of jewelry, whether for ritual reasons, for status reasons or for more whimsical reasons--they are the same reasons we would give today!

If we examine the most prevalent types of jewelry we have a glimpse of the past which reveals current styles still familiar to us.

Both men and women wore earrings. In 7th century BC Mesopotamia, wall reliefs from Assyria, show King Ashurbanipal wearing earrings that demonstrate the presence of metal-work and extensive trade in natural resources from different parts of the world.

In Egypt, too, the pharaoh known as Tutankhamen confirms his avant-garde taste by wearing ear plugs--still avant-garde today!

For men, sometimes the wearing of earrings had a more practical side. Sailors wore gold earrings, so that if they perished, their funeral would be paid for. Some even believed that if an earring was worn in the left earlobe, his eyesight would be improved!

So What About the Ladies?

Today, probably 99% of all earrings sold are bought by women for themselves. Women's fashion is the driving force behind earring styles seen everywhere. In the grave sites, archeologists have shown that the grave goods, accompanying the deceased into the next life, reveal the same types of earring fashions we see now.

In Mesopotamia, the true "Cradle of Civilization," Sumerian graves have revealed golden hoop earrings in the burial of Queen Pu-Abi, dating from 2600 BC.

While technology has advanced beyond what was achieved in the past, these earring designs are still popular today.

Earrings do come in many different shapes and designs. Here are gold Hellenistic earrings from Greece: they are precious and decorative. We also know that they were valued because they were buried with their owner. They can be favorably compared with modern dangling earrings such as these in gold with amethysts and yellow sapphires.

Lest we believe that our fashions are cutting edge, the tomb of Tutankhamen reveals ear plugs in the boy-king's ears. That was the height of fashion then, and is the ne plus ultra today!

While we may not want to wear ear plugs, we do wear earrings which do not dangle: we call them studs.

Many ancient examples of the jeweler's art can be found throughout history. The styles of the past are still with us today. In some decades we like one particular kind of earring, and in others, our tastes change. Is anything really ever new?

Did you ever have to make up your mind?
And pick up on one and leave the other behind?
It's not often easy and not often kind.
Did you ever have to make up your mind?
                            John Sebastian, Lovin’ Spoonful

In this precarious economy, we all want to maximize the buying clout of our dollars. It would be wonderful if whatever we purchased could be used one way for this and another way for that: contemporary diamond rings would transform into sapphire bracelets; our minivan would metamorphose into a speedy little sport coupe; snow boots transform into spike heels for a dinner date; the washing machine in winter would become an air conditioner in the summer!

We are lucky to have this problem solved for us by Da'Carli Diamond Jewelry, whose master jewelers have created several pieces of convertible jewelry which can be worn on different occasions. It would be hard for someone to understand that they are the same piece of jewelry! Our jewelry wardrobe would miraculously be doubled!

Blue or yellow sapphire rings worn in the daytime morph into sapphire bracelets for evening wear.

Da'Carli also makes a diamond ring which can be worn three ways, depending on mood. This particular ring can have all diamonds, or diamonds and color gemstones on the various sections of ring.

This is a wonderful example of "have your cake and eat it too"!

Mother's Day is the perfect time to appreciate a new mother or honoring a more experienced mother with a vintage diamond ring or an antique ring setting. The sun is shining, the sky is glorious, and the tulips are blooming. Spring is springing and the world seems new and bright--love is in the air!

What better way to use the element of surprise than a picnic or a walk in the park? There are so many wonderful and relaxed moments in which to present her with an antique diamond engagement ring, or a ring matching her vintage diamond ring.

After being together for some time, her tastes are known and understood, so there is no real chance of making an error of judgment.

Traditional expressions of love may include: lunch in bed or perhaps a day at a spa or a special gift...

But, unquestionably, the most appreciated gift will be a vintage diamond ring!

Antique ring settings express Mom's special qualities, such as constancy, faithfulness, love and just being there when we need her. Just as herbs have meanings (rosemary for remembrance, for example), vintage or antique ring settings convey that unfaltering steadfastness and love which exemplify the essence of "momness"!

An antique diamond ring is just the thing to express our love to our own superhero, our Mom!

The door slammed behind Barbara. "I threw the antique diamond setting back at him," she said to Millie. "On-line dating is for the birds!"

"Well I guess it doesn't really matter if the engagement ring is a vintage diamond engagement ring or an antique ring setting if you have to kiss that many frogs," said her roommate thoughtfully. "You must choose better amphibians to go out with."

"It was an antique ring setting. Maybe I should have kept it?" She was neatly lining up the white cartons from the Chinese restaurant on the counter.

"Did you remember chopsticks?"

Winter now, snow falling in big flakes. Soup seemed like a good idea. They slurped, the spicy warmth gradually thawing them enough so they could eat more slowly.

Millie said "I always wanted a solitaire ring, just maybe not the frog that comes with it."

"I always wanted a vintage diamond engagement ring. I didn't care whether it was a solitaire or not. Antique ring settings suit my personality."

"What do you mean?" The spicy food was bringing tears to Millie's eyes. She dabbed at them.

"Everything around us goes so fast. We hardly have time to breathe. Vintage diamond engagement rings remind me of a more leisurely pace, when people were polite to each other and there was no computer dating. You were matched up with someone by your parents or friends. You could take time getting to know each other. Life was less hectic."

Days were shorter, now, and it seemed late even though it was only eight o'clock. They had eaten right out of the containers and there were no dishes to wash. Their hunger finally satisfied, it was time for desert, and there was only one possible after a dinner like this:

Both women stared at the cookies on the table, each wishing the same thing: an engagement setting, vintage or otherwise. What would it say?

As the elevator doors opened, Barbara and Millie heard the phone ringing and they ran to the front door. (They knew a land line was so yesterday, but having one was part of their aesthetic of the past).

Barbara got there first, out of breath, and answered, "Hello?" It was the guy from the bar.

"Is Barbara home yet? It's Michael."

"We just walked in."

"I know...I saw you leave. You left me holding your scarf, and since it's so cold, I thought you might need it."

Barbara smiled at the phone, and her roommate tiptoed out, wanting to avoid eavesdropping.

"It's still early. Want me to bring it around?"

" I'm kind of tired, and I have another for tomorrow. Perhaps after work, then."

""I'm not trying to be pushy, but I have to go out-of-town for work. Would you like to do lunch on Sunday when I get back?"

Funny, how loudly her heart was beating in her chest. Did he hear?

"Sure. Call me when you come home."

She sat there after hanging up, eyes closed, blocking out the din of the bar in order to isolate his voice in her mind.

Just two nights ago she flung an antique diamond engagement ring back at the wrong someone, and now...had she met the right someone?

That night her dreams were filled with music and wedding scenes...images of a fairy tale beginning...

It was easy to see the confusion on her face. Her mind was reeling as she considered the proposal. Wasn't this vintage diamond engagement ring what she always wanted? Wasn't this the outcome of all her hopes and dreams? Could this man be the one?

Big flakes of snow stuck to their bare heads. Their shoulders were dusted with white.

Even though the street outside the theater was teeming with people, they were alone. Time stopped. And it was quiet.

Neon lights created eerie patterns on her face and the antique diamond engagement ring radiated a warm glow.

Breathlessly, he awaited her answer. It seemed as if his life was in her hands.

As she regarded the antique diamond ring, thoughts raced around her head in dizzying speed.

"I only know him for a few months."
"I've never met his family."
"Who is he, really?"
"Is this the person I'm meant to be with for the rest of my life?"

He couldn't read her expression and his heart was ringing in his ears. Was something wrong? For him, she was the alpha and omega, the beginning and end, the source of all things good and light in life, the future mother of his children.  He couldn't consider anything else.

It's universally acknowledged that June is the month for weddings. Whether because the onset of summer is conducive for honeymoons, or because Christmas and Valentine's Day are times for receiving engagement rings, June is the most popular time for getting married.

Accordingly, the most popular trend in wedding jewelry is antique wedding rings. Vintage wedding bands appeal to the strong desire for tradition and permanence. Couples who are marrying look back to their families where they might find evidence of loving and long-lasting marriages. They express their desire for the same in visual markers of past styles

Wedding dresses, veils, garters, floral displays and above all, vintage diamond jewelry – all these express the longing of both bride and groom to create a durable union as their parents and grandparents did.

This can be expressed by the adage we all learned by middle school:

"Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue!"

One sure way to have all these qualities in one place is in vintage diamond jewelry, such as DaCarli's white gold antique diamond wedding band with sapphires.

This ring boasts an old antique look, and borrows Art Nouveau inspired lines with beautiful marquise cut blue sapphires on either side. This engagement ring will represent a new commitment with promises to last forever.

The ring has open scrollwork on the sides, and features beautifully set brilliant white diamonds. This particular antique diamond ring has a matching wedding band with marquise shaped sapphires as well as a center diamond.

By choosing vintage diamond jewelry, the June bride and groom can fulfill tradition as well as be stylish and contemporary.

Why do we keep going back to antique diamond engagement rings when there are oodles of other styles to choose from?

Why are we convinced that nothing says love and commitment like vintage diamond jewelry?

Why do our hearts beat a little faster when we are window shopping in front of a jewelry store?

Are we even able to articulate the reasons for our pleasure that we get from antique diamond engagement ring?

The obvious and short response is that antique ring settings are beautiful and impressive. It is so satisfying to look down at our hand at the physical evidence of the new and exciting life we are beginning. The possibilities seem endless as we dream about the future. However, there must be something more which keeps us returning to vintage diamond jewelry.

What is it?

One straightforward explanation may be found in the hopes and dreams we don't necessarily verbalize, but which are deeply satisfying, such as the concrete evidence of an auspicious life changing event – a marriage.

But deeper than that is the inherent longing for the fairy-tale stability of our grandparents' and parents' marriages which is symbolized by antique diamond engagement rings. Here are people who have been united for thirty, forty or fifty years, through tough times or happy times.

Don't we all want the same thing?

Vintage diamond jewelry can be coordinated with a bride's choice of an antique romantic look for her wedding. Bridal ring sets can pull together her entire wedding design, and can help achieve a unified "look".

It's interesting, that although we have more possibilities than ever, brides are turning to vintage or antique wedding jewelry to intensify the meaning of their day.
One of the most popular looks of today is something called "boho chic," which is a look that combines textured layers, longer hemlines and folk-inspired details.
Antique wedding jewelry blends well with this very contemporary sensibility.

Vintage diamond jewelry combines complex layers of style, such as milgraine and patterning to achieve that romantic feeling so prized by modern brides.

Just as today's star-struck populace avidly read about their favorite celebrities, the styles of the monarchs of the past entranced the citizens of England and France.

From the various Kings Georges, to Victoria and Albert, and then King Edward, the clothing and jewelry of royal personages was very interesting to their subjects.

Queen Victoria's jewelry was also emulated – whether jewelry of her coronation or wedding to Albert or to her long and deep widowhood, which lasted 40 years!

Vintage diamond jewelry is the one style we can definitely trace back to Victoria. Master jewelers of her time had access to the most modern jewelry-making techniques and of course, the best materials. A good example of this is a pair of dangling earrings. Although these were made today, the antique diamond earrings reflect the sensibility of the past.

From photographs taken mid 19th century, we can see the lengths some couples went to emulate current fashions. And from present-day trends in bridal jewelry, we can see the extent to which young couples today enjoy antique wedding jewelry.

Antique diamond earrings can be elegant, or casual.

What's that, you say? Antique diamond earrings can be worn every day? Really?

Certainly, but doing that requires a good sense of fashion and style.

So let's look at a few general suggestions first. The first tip is as old as the sphinx itself: know yourself! It's important to analyze the shape of your face and the size of your ears. Most of us have ears which are not symmetrical, and are of different sizes.

However, if the difference between your ears is not significant, size and shape are not that important. To focus attention on the shape of your face, wear earrings which are not longer than your jaw. The eye is drawn to the end of the earring, especially if they are dangly and sparkling.

Earrings should flatter the shape of your face: do you want to accentuate the jaw line or do you want to minimize it? Long and narrow earrings downplay a squarish shape face and can underscore a long and graceful neck.

In addition, antique diamond earrings can flatter or disparage the shape of your nose. Thin, small earrings will not help a person with a large prominent nose. Earrings which too closely mimic the shape of a nose will draw attention to it.

Pear shaped antique earrings will compliment a heart-shaped face, but will not compliment a round, wide face. To draw attention away from the nose, wear earrings which do not dangle below the earlobes. To divert attention away from the nose, earrings should cover the lobes. Also, it's a good idea to look for antique diamond earrings which will mimic the shape another feature, such as eyes or mouth.

What is your style? Preppy or boho? Dress up or down? Suits to work or casual slacks? Once you know your own approach, you can decide what kind of antique diamond earrings will work for you.

It’s a great time for fashion because we can dress up or down according to our own sense of style. No fashion police to say your skirt is too short or too long, your lipstick is too red or too green or your antique diamond earrings are too dressy or too plain!

Birds do it, bees do it
Even educated fleas do it
Let's do it, let's fall in love
by Cole Porter

The days are longer, and there is a new warmth in the air. We put our winter coats away, and suddenly women are wearing colorful clothes and walking with a bounce in their steps. Our winter romances are becoming more serious: could Easter be the right time to meet parents and siblings? Or perhaps, just maybe, the right time to become engaged? How could an antique diamond engagement ring help our cause?

Spring is the time for new beginnings, and can be very romantic in it's own way. Can we incorporate a proposal of marriage into an Easter tradition?

Vintage diamond rings are sweetly nostalgic, and can actually help us in our romantic endeavors. Here are some suggestions for making this occasion truly your own and truly memorable!

Take her on an Easter egg hunt, and slip a note saying "will you marry me" into one of the plastic eggs!

Or, if you know the answer already, slip an antique diamond engagement ring inside an egg and watch her surprise when she finds it!

Perhaps at Easter brunch, have a hollow chocolate bunny for dessert--one in which a vintage diamond ring has been secreted. Then, go down on one knee and propose!

Perhaps she likes stuffed animals? Find an Easter Bunny with a ribbon around its neck and attach a vintage diamond ring to the ribbon. (Be sure her little sister doesn't find it first!).

Romance is in the Springtime air, and what better way to get to the next level than with an antique diamond ring surprise?

Spring fashion blogs sift through the recent shows during "Fashion Week" in New York and are reporting on recent trends. Distilling the verbiage, we read flowers, sheer fabric, preppy details, shorter hemlines, lace, and vintage (especially from the 1950s and 1960s). The jewelry industry is actually ahead of the trend, because we have seen a huge increase in the desire for antique wedding jewelry.

March 20th is National Proposal Day, and once that hurdle is cleared, and the nuptials are being planned, thoughts naturally turn toward vintage wedding bands, and antique wedding sets, which are so popular right now.

Ahead of all the fashion blogs and style dictators, antique wedding bands and vintage diamond jewelry have been a reassuring tendency for a while. Amidst the brouhaha of wedding preparations, antique wedding jewelry is a reassuring center, emphasizing the long-term implications of the event.

Steady and sure, timeless design and pattern, antique wedding sets make us think of all the positive life events the future will bring. From the flower girl to the ring bearer, from the bridesmaids to the groomsmen, the wedding is a life-altering ritual, which is part of the great circle of life, creating one family where once were two separate people.

Mary looked wistfully at Hannah's back, as it receded into the crowd. Since neither woman knew the grinning  guy, she said a silent prayer for her safety, and then turned back to finish her drink.

Hannah knew he was talking to her because his lips were moving, but she was unable to hear what he was saying. And then it seemed as if he was waiting for an answer. What was the question? In frustration, she gave up, passed him a business card with her number, and made her way back to Mary, who was still at the bar.

"Ready to go?" she asked. It was still early. Arms linked, they strolled up the street, causing folks to part in their wake, stopping every now and then to look at store front windows with their glitzy winter decor and fake snow.

Hannah's favorite was the antique jewelry store decorated in scenes of the past, with little ice-skaters and exuberant sledders and tiny snowmen.

Antique diamond earrings hung from the branches of trees, and antique ring settings sat on little carts pulled by small horses. Too cute, she thought, but really couldn't tear her eyes away.

There, on a little sled, sat her ring, the one she was meant to have, given by the man she was meant to be with: a perfect diamond antique engagement ring, just her size! Tugging at her friend's sleeve, Hannah motioned with her eyes and they stood there, dreaming.

Living in the 21st century, we experience life at breakneck speed! One day we think something, email the thought and get an answer. In five hours, we can be across the continent or in Europe – not five weeks! Our cell phones keep us constantly available and in touch. Fashions whiz by in a blaze – in one day, out the next. YouTube makes celebrities of even the least talented among us.

And in the midst of rapidly changing fashions there is a trend that bucks the tide: the love of antique diamond rings, and for vintage jewelry in general! What is it about styles of the past which attract us? When contemplating a life change – engagement, marriage, anniversary – why do we look to the past for inspiration and style?

For couples about to embark on a new life passage, reminders of past happy times or celebrations – perhaps their grandparents' or parents' long marriages – generates a desire to recreate permanence and continuity. In their minds' eye this might mean a house with a lawn and a picket fence or an antique diamond engagement ring.

What are some of the characteristics of vintage jewelry which keep us revisiting this style? For one thing,  the exquisite details of antique jewelry speak of quality.  Milgrain, once the chief signifier of artistic and handmade quality, can now be achieved by modern casting techniques. In addition, engraving on the shank of the ring, a detail which spoke of the adept jeweler, is also able to be achieved in the casting process. And finally, delicate filigree openwork which gives a light and airy feeling, can also be recreated by modern techniques.

This Da'Carli antique diamond engagement ring is an exemplar of the kind of jewelry which  has a contemporary appeal across class and age lines. We see expert engraving, filigree openwork and abbreviated milgrain all combined in an attractive ring, appropriate at any age.

"Love is lovelier
The second time around
Just as wonderful
With both feet on the ground"
Frank Sinatra

While in the media images of young love abound, far away from the blogosphere there are many instances of aging boomers finding love and happiness later in life. And for many, the ideal engagement setting is an antique diamond engagement ring.

A vintage engagement setting is a symbolic reference to their parents' love, as well as a concrete image of permanence.
Certainly mature couples have more money to spend than their youthful counterparts, and antique ring settings are not only appealing, but also resonate on a deeper, more meaningful level.

"Here is the love that will sustain me for years."

While younger couples need that solitaire ring as an affirmation and to show to their friends, more mature couples need satisfy no one but themselves and may enjoy a substantial antique ring setting regardless of fashion.

In addition to a newfound freedom from shoulds, couples can expect their weddings to be more fun, filled with invitees they really want, as well as the ones they must have!

Antique diamond engagement rings can function both as a symbol of renewal and also of continuity of tradition. Vintage diamond jewelry can be a tangible affirmation of one's connection to the basic beliefs and practices which root us to our community.

In the after-dinner warmth of the hot and sour soup, Mary and Hannah continued their discussion of vintage diamond engagement rings.

"I always wanted an antique ring setting," continued Hannah, "but I guess I didn't consider the donor!"

"What did your fortune cookie say," Mary asked? "Perhaps it said that a vintage diamond engagement ring would be in your future!"

"Well," she continued, "it wasn't that specific. Do you think we should venture out to have a postprandial drink? Maybe we will meet our princes."

"Or our frogs!"

As they walked to their neighborhood bar, both women were silently thinking about engagement settings, one dreaming of sapphire accents, the other imagining all diamonds.

Antique Engagement Rings Vintage Diamond Rings Model 10697Even though they had different engagement settings in mind, they both had the same aesthetic: vintage diamond engagement rings, in a style from the past, which resonated with the concept of forever.

In the crowded and noisy room, they elbowed their way to the bartender and ordered. Immediately, a smiling young man appeared at Hannah's side and began speaking to her. In the hurly-burly atmosphere Hannah could barely understand what he was saying.

She gestured to Mary, who smiled and nodded. She led the man to a quiet corner in order to hear him.

"Think Prince Charming is waiting for you?" he grinned.