The whirlwind of wedding planning is but a memory now. After months of meticulously mapping out every last detail, heartfelt vows and cherished rings were exchanged, and your love was celebrated in style with family and friends.

Congratulations are in order … but there’s still more to do as you set off down the road toward wedded bliss. The accompanying checklist presents a dozen tasks to tend to in the aftermath of the wedding to make everything just right. There is gratitude to express, legal matters to labor over, and especially for sentimentalists, keepsakes to create. And there are plans to ponder to make the future even brighter.

Now that you are used to taking vows, check out this checklist to discover why it’s important to transform your “I do” to “We will … ” Take on these tasks as a couple for a picture-perfect way to wrap up your wedding-related activities. Be assured that the “thank you” cards in particular are most meaningful to the many who made your

Congratulations, you’re engaged! As soon as you start planning your wedding, one of the first and biggest decisions you’ll have to make is about your venue: Where will the event be held? What are you looking for? What do you need to do to find Chicago wedding venues that are right for you? 

Unlike cake at a wedding reception, wedding bands are meant to last, beautifully symbolizing the love and commitment a couple have for each other. If you’re a soon-to-be bride and wondering how to choose a wedding ring that you’ll treasure, here are some important considerations to help lead you in the right direction.

In today’s society, it’s common knowledge that when you’re ready to get engaged, you’re ready to get a ring. Modern culture views rings as tangible symbols of commitment and the perfect accompaniment to proposals. Where does this tradition originate? What’s the history of engagement rings, and why do we expect them today? To help answer these questions, here’s a look at engagement ring history, as well as wedding ring history.

Once you’ve found the one you want to spend your life with, all that’s left to do is find the ring — but not just any ring! You want to find something unforgettable, demonstrating the commitment you want to make. When you don’t see an option that catches your eye, why not design an engagement ring as unique as the love you’re celebrating? Ethan Lord Jewelers specializes in custom engagement ring design that’s catered to your desires. To design the perfect ring, here’s what we recommend:

When perusing our treasures, you might have noticed that we describe our diamonds using the term clarity, often accompanied by an assortment of letters and numbers. 

We’d like to offer you an exclusive viewing of one of our most recent exquisite custom-made rings. The ring has a halo setting that encircles a center stone with smaller diamonds all around, creating a brilliant sparkle and enhancing the size and luster of the center diamond. 

Perfect for a lady who loves vintage elegance, rose cut diamonds evoke antique jewelry and the charms of the Georgian and Victorian eras. This cut resembles an opening rose bud.

‘Tis the season of giving, which means your holiday shopping has officially begun! At Ethan Lord, we aim to supply only the highest quality of jewelry to our customers, as well as an in depth consultation to deliver exactly what you’re looking for to give the perfect gift. It’s not too late to give your loved one a custom designed piece of timeless jewelry to brighten their holiday season.

Rich symbolism, intense color, and individual style

Diamonds are often described as a girls’ best friend, and rightly so! However recently colored gemstones are gaining in popularity. Celebrities like Victoria Beckham, Halle Berry, Elizabeth Hurley, and Penelope Cruz have been snapped flashing precious rainbow colored sparklers. The beautiful Mila Kunis is fronting as brand ambassador for colored gems for ethical mining company Gemfields, wearing spectacular rubies and emeralds and not a scrap of makeup.

The most iconic colored engagement ring in the world must be the sapphire ring Prince William gave Kate Middleton, once worn by Princess Diana. The British royals have an affinity for colored gemstones, with the Queen, the Queen Mother, Princess Anne, and the Duchess of York all wearing sapphires or rubies in their engagement rings.

More rare than diamonds

The Financial Times interviews international jewelry experts, including Sotheby’s senior international jewelry specialist, about the growing interest in colored gem stones. The newspaper also writes that the power trinity of precious colored stones, emeralds, rubies and blue sapphires, are seeing a renaissance, with sales increasing worldwide.

Many leading jewelry houses are creating collections showcasing colored gems. Oliver Reza of Paris jeweler Van, Cleef & Arpels praises the “beauty, mystery and complexities of great colored gems’” and remarks on the growing demand for colored gems from his discerning clients.

Famous jeweler Bulgari’s signature style is to mingle diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emeralds with semi-precious stones. They are renowned for the baroque intricacy of their creations. The renewed interest in colored gems has fired their creative juices, with their latest collections praised as daring and eclectic.

The meaning of jewels

Over the centuries the beauty and rarity of precious colored gems has captured our imagination, and we have endowed them with meaning. Each colored gemstone is rich in symbolism.

• Ruby is a symbol of friendship and love.
• Sapphires represent peace and happiness.
• Topaz is meant to endow the wearer with strength and symbolizes purity and spirituality.
• Emerald promotes balance and patience, and also represents faithfulness.

If you are interested in learning more, leading gemologist George Fredrick Kunz created a fascinating collection of gemstone lore in his 1913 book The Curious Lore of Precious Stones. Kunz was also the gem expert at Tiffany & Co. in New York, so he knew his topaz from his tourmaline.

Choose your gems with care

When choosing a colored gemstone that will hold its value, there are a number of things to consider. The key touchstones of color, cut, clarity, and carat weight apply.

• Cut. Colored gems can be faceted in a multitude of geometric shapes, and different stones suit different treatments. Colored stones can even be carved for exquisite detail.

• Color. Consider hue, tone and saturation.

            - Hue means the color of the stone e.g. red, blue, violet, green etc.

            -Saturation refers to the intensity and richness of the hue.

           -Tone means whether a stone is light or dark in color.

Personal style and preference are also paramount here, and if a particular gem appeals to you, that counts for just as much as rarity value.

• Clarity. Unlike with diamonds, clarity is not always the most desirable attribute of a colored gemstone. Inclusions (internal features in a stone) can add their own character, and make a gem even more unique and beautiful.

• Carat. Most gemstones are weighed and priced by the carat. (One carat equals 1/5 gram.)

Here is a great guide to choosing a quality colored gemstone created by the American Gem Trade Association. Ethan Lord can help you pick a stone as precious as it is beautiful, and safeguard the investment you make in an engagement ring.

Is a colored engagement ring right for your fiancée?

Colored gemstones are popular with sophisticated, creative women, who have a strong sense of personal style, and want their jewels to reflect their individuality.

Ethan Lord specializes in custom engagement rings and our consultants will be delighted to work with you to help you create a ring for your fiancée that is as unique as she is. We can make a ring with her birthstone, her favorite color, or create a ring that symbolizes the values at the heart of your relationship.

Call us to book a private consultation

Ethan Lord creates the finest custom jewelry in Chicagoland. 

The important moments in your life deserve exquisite one-of-a-kind jewels that will be cherished forever. We start with a private, in-depth consultation where we discover your vision for your jewelry. You may bring images or a drawing to show what you have in mind. We can also work with you to develop something completely unique.

For fine jewels for the precious moments in your life, call Ethan Lord on 312-443-1401 or email [email protected].