Italian engagement rings offer a different caliber of aesthetic possibilities. An Italian engagement ring starts with an idea, an emotion and/or ambition, and transitions into an engagement ring mold which goes through a series of transformations. Why consider Italian engagement rings? Why pay top dollar for Italian engagement rings? And for that matter, why are Italian engagement rings even classified as “Italian” and separated from other engagement rings? To answer these questions and more, we will address three major categories of Italian engagement rings, starting with diamond engagement rings, then moving on to unique engagement rings and rounding out our discussion with cheap engagement rings.
Diamond engagement rings form the backbone of Italian engagement rings, with a standard shank typically produced in 18k white gold, 18k rose (pink) gold and/or 18 karat yellow gold. The fact is that diamond engagement rings and Italian diamond engagement rings are like the north pole and the south pole. The two reasons for this vast difference are materials and craftsmanship. For instance, most diamonds used in what we are referring to as “diamond engagement rings” are machine cut within a mass production structure, often overseas. Diamonds used in Italian diamond engagement rings are typically cut and polished by hand, by an Italian master cutter. Another interesting fact is that, before an Italian diamond engagement ring leaves its production facility in Italy, it is rigorously evaluated by the production supervisor and an Italian master jeweler, and most master jewelers in Italy learned Italian engagement rings simultaneously with learning to speak.
Much like comparing diamond engagement rings and Italian diamond engagement rings, placing unique engagement rings and Italian unique engagement rings in the same sentence is practically impossible. Little known fact – Italians do not produce mainstream engagement rings as we know them in the U.S. There are certainly plenty of solitaire engagement rings in Italy, halo variations, three-stone trilogy and more, but as you can see from the pictures above, even these seemingly mainstream Italian engagement ring designs look unique. So what are unique Italian engagement rings, by Italian standards? For an engagement ring to be classified as “unique” in Italy, it must possess something truly extraordinary, such as a distinctive white gold pink gold combination or an uncommon Italian diamond arrangement.
Finally we will address the most sophisticated topic in the context of Italian engagement rings – cheap engagement rings. Similarly to the previous two topics, combining Italian engagement rings and cheap engagement rings seems counterintuitive. It is important to note, however, that when engagement ring stores call something cheap, they are referring to the ratio of what the buyer gets relative to the price they pay. Taking this concept a step further, you can certainly find engagement rings with 18k gold shanks and similar diamond weights for a cheaper price than their Italian engagement ring counterparts. But remember, these engagement rings and their Italian engagement ring counterparts are nothing alike, as they do not exhibit the same design characteristics, the same craftsmanship or even remotely the same diamonds.
By most accounts, Italian engagement rings don’t have equivalents, as every Italian engagement ring goes through an extreme process of checks and balances, quality control and overall design evaluation. Whether it makes more sense to invest in a larger diamond weight or spend the same and get less in diamonds but second to none Italian quality – this is up to the individual buyer. It is our hope that this article presented enough information on Italian engagement rings to help our readers make appropriate decisions, and feel more at ease, knowing how Italian engagement rings compare with all other engagement rings we are regularly exposed to.
