Best Engagement Rings to
fit an Active Lifestyle
Most prong-set rings are the equivalent to high-heeled shoes – pretty but not too practical. Prongs can snag on clothing, scratch a baby’s soft cheek, bend even break. Diamonds often become loose in the setting, or worse, can fall out!
Years ago doctors and nurses from the hospital just up the street from our store kept asking us for the same thing, a diamond ring that was beautiful, feminine, and comfortable to wear. They said prong-set rings were too high and that the prongs would catch and tear their medical gloves. They wanted a ring that fit their demanding job.
We listened. We designed. We listened again and fine-tuned. The early rings were an instant hit and not just with medical professionals. Women from a diverse set of careers and weekend passions were craving simplicity in their life. The classic prong ring was not meshing with their reality.
The result has become a collection of low-profile, bezel-set diamond rings made for everyday wear, active lifestyles, comfort, and peace of mind.
Over the years new designs have emerged, but the basics remain the same:
- Set the diamonds low, close to the finger.
- Protect and secure in a smooth halo rim of metal.
- Add a comfort-contoured inner bevel for 365/all-day comfort.
View all Active Lifestyle Rings
Bezel Myth vs. Reality
Too many jewelry designers set their diamonds as high as skyscrapers. You see these rings all the time, towering above the finger. These designers are selling into the myth that a diamond set high will let in more light and be more brilliant.
This is simply not true. If a diamond is cut properly it will be just as brilliant set low and surrounded by metal in a bezel as it would be set high in prongs.
All our diamonds are cut to maximize light and rainbow fire.
Ring Height
A key to comfort is how high a ring sits off the finger. The diamonds in most of our bezel-set rings are set just a whisper above the finger for ultimate low-profile comfort.
Platinum or Gold?
There is no right or wrong choice. There are advantages and drawbacks to each metal. Silver is not discussed because silver is much too soft to secure and protect a diamond for everyday active wear.
Platinum Advantages
- Platinum is naturally white
- It resists wear better than either white or yellow gold. This means platinum will last longer.
- Platinum is a hypoallergenic metal.
- All platinum’s match, so the color of your engagement ring will match the color of your wedding ring.
Platinum Limitations
- Platinum bends more easily than gold. This is an important consideration in prong style rings, however in bezel settings, the fact that platinum bends more easily is not critical.
- Platinum scratches more easily than gold. Over a short period of time, platinum develops a soft gray patina.
Other Considerations: Platinum is about 50% heavier than gold. Many people love the heft and luxurious feel this weight imparts. When brand new, platinum has a bright reflective white polish, as you wear it platinum will quickly soften down to a gray-white. Many love this patina, some do not.
White Gold Advantages
- White gold is harder than yellow gold and is stiffer than platinum. In prong-set rings, depending on the style, this can provide superior strength for holding gems.
- White gold is less costly than platinum.
When brand new, white gold has a bright reflective white polish, as you wear it, the brightness will soften. The color will be a touch brighter than worn platinum.
White Gold Limitations
- White gold wears more quickly than platinum.
- It is not absolutely white as it wears, often showing a yellowish tint. Just as there are hundreds of recipes for baking a cake, there are many different recipes for making white gold. Some white golds are whiter than others. The whiteness of the engagement ring may not match the whiteness of the wedding ring. Having warned about color differences, many of our bezel ring designs are made using a special formula of super white gold.
Other Considerations: Approximately 10% of people are allergic to the nickel content that can be found in white gold. The reaction is typically red irritation on the skin. If you have a metal allergy and want a white metal go with platinum.
Yellow Gold Advantages
- The warmth of the yellow color is forgiving to the patina of time.
Yellow Gold Limitations:
- Bends more easily than does white gold.
- Wears more quickly than platinum or white gold.
When made in yellow gold, we typically put a special platinum halo rim around the diamond. This accomplishes several things: you get the long lasting wear resistant benefits of platinum and the whiteness of the platinum blends nicely with the white brilliance of the diamond.
If You’ve Decided on Gold,
Should you get 14K or 18K?
Pure gold is 24K and is much too soft for general jewelry use, especially a ring. 14K is harder than 18K and is the best choice for an active lifestyle ring. In some designs, we use an 18K white gold that has been die-struck. This process of manufacturing produces a denser, harder form of gold. Even though it’s 18K, it performs more like 14K.
