Cushion Cut Smoky Topaz and Diamond Ring

At Apples of Gold, we’re absolute suckers for a beautiful piece of jewelry. But when you pair something beautiful with a unique design and gemstone, and it becomes simply irresistible.  It is with these high standards that we introduce our lovely new cushion-cut smoky topaz and diamond ring.

How do we love this ring? Let us count the ways…

1.  The gorgeous cushion-cut shape of the stone. A cushion-cut gemstone is a brilliant work of carefully cut edges that sparkles and pops in the light. The shape is also undeniably modern, yet still hints at a traditional sensibility. In our opinion, it’s pretty much perfect.

2.  The Smoky Topaz center stone. Smoky topaz is one of those gemstones that slips under the radar or the mainstream. The infrequent use of smoky topaz used as a center stone makes this ring not only stunning, but truly unique.

3. The WHOPPING 3.52 carat center stone. When a girl buys a cocktail ring, she wants a piece of jewelry that will make a statement. Small sized gemstones simply do not work with a statement piece, which is why we love the credibility of the 3.5 carat smoky topaz center stone.

4. The nearly .5 carat of diamonds. Diamonds really are a girl’s best friend. Say hello to your newest gal pals (all sixteen of them) with nearly half a carat of diamonds that surround the massive center stone. The diamond halo gives the ring a lovely brilliance that only diamonds can.

5. The detailed side view of the ring. While most jewelers put a lot of thought into the how a ring looks from above, we l-o-v-e that this beauty is a 360 degree stunner. When viewed from the side, the ring reveals delicate white gold metal work that sets it apart from most other cocktail rings. The craftsmanship and time that went into the smoky topaz and diamond ring is just the icing on top of an already darling design.

Spring Jewelry Trends

As the frost melts and the chill in the winter air mellows, Spring begins to peek its head tentatively around the corner. Though we may still be bundling up in dark turtlenecks and thick jackets, in less than a month Spring will officially arrive with an influx of dainty dresses, bright cardigans and open toe shoes.

You might be ready to welcome the lighter, brighter clothing, but is your jewelry box ready? Here are our top picks for jewelry to compliment Spring 2009 fashions:

Dainty, Delicate Jewelry

Feminine styles, colors and cuts are again a huge priority in many designer’s spring collections. Ruffled blouses, rose-covered necklines and bow embellishments make a ladylike statement that looks lovely – but makes accessorizing a pain; especially since many jewelry trends are so loud and bold.

Our Advice:

Avoid overpowering a delicate ladylike style with a big necklace or dangle earrings. Instead, embrace the subtle elegance of the 40s and 50s by choosing quiet, understated jewelry for your outfit. A bold cobalt ruffled top would look stunning accented with emerald cut smoky quartz stud earrings and a delicate ring, like our blue and white diamond flower ring set in white gold.

Bold Gold Bracelets & Necklaces

Along with the feminine, flowing fashions are the clean, geometric looks. Color-block shift dresses and simple patio dresses require completely different accessories than the ladylike trend. Instead of dainty ladylike jewels, simple geometric looks call for big, bold gold jewelry pieces.

Our Advice:

The hottest bold jewelry for Spring 2009 are bold yellow gold necklaces and bracelets. On-trend bracelet options include a thick gold mesh bracelet or a substantial, statement-making gold bangle (see top). Yellow gold compliments bright spring colors beautifully, especially blues and purples, and big statement pieces like our Byzantine necklace and Polished & Textured Circle Necklace will look hot throughout the summer and into Fall.

Regardless of the season’s latest trends, jewelry is a personal style statement – if the above pieces don’t speak to you, check out our other beautiful gemstone earrings and yellow gold jewelry for something that suits your taste.

Rose Gold Bangle Bracelet

Apples of Gold’s 14K Solid Rose Gold Bangle Bracelets are individually handmade for a superior and finer quality finish in comparison to standard every-day machine-made bangles. Each bangle’s weight is substantial and is ideal for every-day use.

Apples of Gold Jewelry individually crafts each rose gold bangle about 30% heavier than the standard machine-made gold bangle. This makes them perfectly suited for daily wear and life-time ownership.

Each bangle is available from 6mm to 25mm in width (1/4″ to 1″ wide).

Apples of Gold can also customize your bangle in a domed, rather than flat profile (shown above), or make it as heavy or as thick as you like. Also available in 18k rose gold by request, or as handmade white gold bangles or yellow gold bangles.

Apples of Gold originally developed this bangle for a customer who was tired of having to replace her bangles from too much wear and tear. She requested that we custom make her a 1″ bangle that was thick and heavy enough to wear every day of her life without it getting damaged. She specifically informed us that she is very rough on her jewelry and wanted to make sure we made her something she could pass down to her children.

She ended up with an 80.0 gram, 1″ bangle and we developed a new line of rose gold bangles based on her custom bangle, starting with a 1/4″ bangle all the way up to her custom-made wide 1″ statement bracelet.

View Each Rose Gold Bangle Below:

1/4″ Rose Gold Bangle Bracelet
1/4″ + Rose Gold Bangle Bracelet
5/16″ Rose Gold Bangle Bracelet
3/8″ Rose Gold Bangle Bracelet
7/16″ Rose Gold Bangle Bracelet
1/2″ Rose Gold Bangle Bracelet
5/8″ Rose Gold Bangle Bracelet
3/4″ Rose Gold Bangle Bracelet
7/8″ Rose Gold Bangle Bracelet
1″ Rose Gold Bangle Bracelet

Related Posts:

Is Rose Gold the New White Gold?

Picture Perfect: Our Chic Style Guide to Holiday Dressing

What’s the perfect accessory to compliment your holiday attire? A sparkling, irresistibly gorgeous cocktail ring of course. A bold piece of jewelry has the power to put the finishing touch on any outfit, and will take your holiday look from drab to fab. And since a pretty cocktail ring is the ultimate in statement jewelry, you are guaranteed to get heads turning. With so many beautiful options, we have created a fashion guide for holiday dressing and accessorizing. Being the belle of the ball just got a whole lot easier.

1. Holiday Party Outfit #1: The Little Black Dress

Nothing can rival the style and sass of the perfect little black dress. Tulip shaped skirts and fitted, modest necklines evoke an Audrey Hepburn sensibility and suit a wide range of body types. Make your adorable LBD pop with a vibrantly hued citrine cocktail ring encircled by sparkling diamonds. The classic emerald cut and vintage style setting looks like something Hepburn herself would have worn.

2. Holiday Party Outfit #2:  Pencil Skirt with a Dressy Top

A knee-length fitted pencil skirt looks lovely topped off with a brightly hued silk blouse. Choose a blouse with romantic details, like lace-capped sleeves, a bow at the neckline, or a dramatic back. This keeps the attention around your face while allowing you to hide any perceived flaws with a simple black skirt. Since your blouse will already provide a burst of color, finish off your party look by adding a sparkling cocktail ring in a muted tone. We suggest this pale seafoam-green amethyst ring in a classic oval cut shape.

3. Holiday Party Outfit #3: Dressy Jacket and Slacks

Wearing slacks and a jacket is a comfortable alternative to dresses and skirts. The trick is to assemble your outfit properly to make it dressy enough for the holidays. First, make sure that the fabric of your jacket and pants is a dressy fabric – this means no 100% cotton pants allowed and definitely no jeans. Silk blends, taffeta, nice knits and cashmere are holiday-appropriate fabrics.

Next, choose an elegant top to wear underneath the jacket. Stick with the same aforementioned fabrics, and pick a top with pretty details that will peek out underneath your jacket; for example, bold patterns, ruffled collars, intricate necklines, and bright colors. Finally, add a few pieces of bold jewelry to finish dressing up the look. A gorgeous berry-hued garnet ring is just the right color for the season and makes quite a statement.

The Best Bangles for Fall

Bangles are one of biggest jewelry trends this fall and winter season. The virtues of the humble bangle are impressive: they can do everything from dressing up jeans and a t-shirt to adding interest to a formal gown. They can also be worn by women of all ages. From hipster teens to distinguished ladies who lunch, there are the perfect sets of bangles for all walks of life and all occasions. Here is our guide to the best fall bangles:

The Everyday Bangle

Plain yellow gold, rose gold and white gold bangles are the perfect everyday accessories. The fashion-forward set wears their bangles pushed high up the arm in a stationary position. Either choose to pair four to six of thin bangles together, or choose one or two wide bangles to wear for the best look.

Everyday bangles are best kept simple in design, as simplicity allows them to be worn with a wide range of outfits. This allows maximum use and versatility from your pretty investment. For women looking for a twist on traditional bangles, try rose gold bangles or bangles with a hammered pattern.

The Statement Bangle

Beside a basic set of bangles, which is a jewelry box necessity, the other popular style of bangle to wear is a statement bangle. These are lovely, intricate pieces of jewelry that make an outfit instantly stylish. Though they can be worn with just about anything, a great yellow gold statement bangle pairs beautifully with a colorful dress.

The Dressy Bangle

Bangles are not exclusively an every-day jewelry item. Elegant bangles with diamonds and other precious stones are an ideal compliment for formal dresses and other evening wear. Simply wear one on a wrist for an understated look, or pair two diamond bangles together to add drama to an ensemble.