When it comes to sparkle we’re definitely of the opinion that less is definitely more. You won’t find any of our team flashing huge diamonds on their fingers, but rather more understated and elegant jewels that have wow-factor without being brash and blingy. We also know, when it comes to choosing your engagement ring it’s even more important to get it right – you’ll hopefully be wearing it forever, right?
I make no excuses for being a simple and modern kinda girl, bespite this I’ve got to confess, I actually love vintage pieces with a little more personality. But to wear a decades-old ring every day with it’s intricate detailing and delicate setting is far from practical – and I’d be heartbroken if anything were to happen to it!
Jewellers Jos and Alison Skeates, founders of London jewellery boutique EC One, noticed this trend towards vintage engagement rings and identified many of their brides to be loved the style but not the cost and maintenance of owning such a precious gem. In response, they collaborated with Kate Baxter of The Cut, to create a new modern vintage engagement ring collection beautifully named the ‘Dainty Dozen‘.
For almost 20 years, this talented duo have sourced fashion-led jewellery from around the world, and built a reputation for fine design and quality of the pieces that come from their Clerkenwell boutique and on-site workshop.
It’s this flair for design that makes this collection so unique, it’s signature feature is a halo of graduating diamonds, micro-set in 18ct gold with fluted under bezels which is echoed throughout the collection and hints at elegant Edwardian design. At their centre, each piece includes a certified diamond or exceptional quality coloured stone; emerald, brown diamond, pink sapphire or blue sapphire.
So if you’re looking for the perfect modern, yet vintage-inspired ring, this collection hits all the right notes!
Alison explains more…
“The rings came about because we had noticed a trend for customers buying vintage rings. The problem with most of them are that they have been worn, patched and badly repaired and quite often they have ended up being remade in our workshop. It’s a bit like buying a vintage car and driving it to work every day – it’s not an ideal combination. We looked at Edwardian styles, especially the scalloping often seen on silver teapots and antique furniture and wanted to incorporate that into the design. Kate Baxter, from The Cut, who designed and put the collection together came up with the idea of differentiating the pieces by using graduated diamonds and this fitted really well into the general aesthetic. Because Jos and the workshop team were classically trained as diamond mounters, as a team we understood how the pieces should be put together but unlike most vintage work there is a hidden solidness that gives them a life time to be worn!”
As well as as the dozen engagement rings, the team also created pieces to sit perfectly alongside them – curved wedding bands to accommodate the stone, and the most exquisite graduated diamond necklace and earrings which showcase all that the Dainty Dozen collection is all about.
Available in 18ct gold, white gold and rose gold, there is plenty of variety for the modern bride. I’m personally addicted to the rose gold (those earrings and necklace are so wearable too!) but my favourite piece has to be the Dainty Dozen Round Halo Ring.
Pieces are priced from £750 to £4400, and are all available to purchase online at www.econe.co.uk or from their Exmouth Market boutique. Pop in and say hi to Jos and Alison – and give them a big hug from team B.LOVED too!
This is a sponsored post. All sponsored features are selected to fit with our luxe & lovely ethos and all opinions and views are our own. Thank you to our B.LOVED team who made this possible.