Choosing A Cocktail Ring

Huge, striking and pronounced; a cocktail ring is a piece of jewelry that stands out always. More so, a cocktail tail ring sits pretty on the 4th right finger or the middle finger of the right hand. While some know it as a ‘cluster ring,’ others call it a ‘dinner ring.’ Regardless of what you call it, this ring type always provides an outstanding appearance. 

In addition, a cocktail ring typically sits proud and raised off the finger. This positioning sets it apart from the popular wedding band or eternity ring. These other rings types are lower in profile and flush to the skin.

Fierce, daring, and statement in style, these rings are mostly a sight on fingers from ‘cocktail hour’ onwards. This is as their color, shape, and size does not always make them useful for all-day, everyday use.

In times past, a cocktail ring is a combination of a notable, central stone encircled by a coronet of smaller stones. The designs we see more recently, however, fail to embrace this rhetoric. Overall, when it comes to cocktail rings, you simply need something animated and rich.

The Cocktail Ring Through History

The first emergence of a cocktail ring was in the jazz age of the 1920s. Back then, it was an emblem of resistance to Prohibition. In those times, an alcoholic cocktail was about as revolutionary a status symbol as you could get. 

At the time, making sure that everyone saw your prohibited drink was of some strange importance. It was the case mostly for women who sought ways to challenge their prescribed role in the home and society. So, the invention of the cocktail ring in all its colorful, and sparkling glory provided the needed respite. 

This unique and striking ring-type became a figure of female liberation. It was the perfect accessory to wear to clandestine parties in towns and cities across America.

So, between 1920-1950, the fame of the cocktail ring continued to rise amongst the wealthy and elite in the society. However, the 1960s witnessed a drop in the famed status of this accessory as the styles changed. But not for long as the cocktail ring came back into fashion in the 1980s. Since then, this ring type continues to hold strong as an outstanding evening jewelry piece for both men and women.

Things To Consider When Choosing A Cocktail Ring

When it comes to choosing a cocktail ring, there are a whole host of elements you must first consider. These considerations vary from one buyer to another. Depending on what the needs are and the preferences as well, the considerations will be different. Based on all of these, some of the elements noted below for consideration will be more relevant than others.

• It’s Yours! Make It All About You!

When choosing a cocktail ring for yourself, it is important to think of you and you only. Why not? What works for someone else may not work for you at all. This uniqueness applies greatly when it comes to statement cocktail rings.

• What Is Your Budget?

Having a definite budget is always a crucial component of choosing statement cocktail rings. Most prominent jewelers like Raymond Lee Jewelers believe it is much better to buy one great gemstone cocktail ring than three average ones. 

So, their advice is always for you to go for the best your money can afford. Also, if this is your first time buying a piece of fine jewelry, then make sure you go for a style that you really love. Make sure the style you choose ultimately satisfies your wants. 

Meanwhile, there is no point paying for an emerald cocktail ring if what you truly need is a neutral-toned, hard-wearing, all-day cocktail ring. First off, the emerald cocktail ring is the wrong color for such a task. Also, the stone type is not suitable for long usage time on the finger. We suggest you keep searching until you find ‘the one’ that truly suits your needs and budget. 

Nevertheless, is your desire to buy statement cocktail rings that are a real showstopper? Then, you need a cocktail ring that goes on your finger only once in a while. You need one that goes on your finger mostly after dark. In such a case, stone durability is going to be less of a concern. What you should consider the most should be the authenticity of what you pay for. 

• Reputable Jewelers Only

Just like it is with every other fine jewelry purchase, it is very crucial to buy only from reputable jewelers. If not a reputable jeweler, go for reputable auction houses and dealers to prevent falling prey to fake statement cocktail rings. When you find a prospective ring full of sparkles, ask to see the gemstone certificates of the ring. Don’t get swayed by cunning dealers, every great stone will come with the appropriate paperwork and certificate.

• Scale And Proportions

Another aspect to consider when choosing a cocktail ring is scale. Statement cocktail rings due to their very nature are typically huge and noticeable. From the start, these statement cocktail rings originated as easily noticeable jewelry pieces on the finger. 

Moreover, in recent times, some statement cocktail rings feature increased proportions of small animals. This new proportion now occupies the width of three or four fingers as the market for greater design statements thrives.

Not many can handle the striking nature of a three-finger knuckle-duster. We believe it is not for the uninitiated. So, it is worth considering the scale, regardless of whether the ring is only meant for single-finger wear or otherwise.

Those with tiny hands and slim fingers may feel more pleased when they wear slightly more conservatively sized statement cocktail rings. Wearing extremely big or heavy ones may be uneasy to wear and might visually overwhelm the hand.

However, with larger fingers or bigger hands should consider the alternative of the chunky. That way, they can balance the proportions. Overall, there is nothing more disappointing than statement cocktail rings that appear tiny on your finger. No matter what your finger size is, you don’t want to be in such a situation. Finally, when in doubt, be bold enough to go as big as you can.

• Making Your Gemstone Choice 

Do you also want to know more about making a gemstone choice? The question here is: What are the aspects to consider? According to experts, your choice of the gemstone should consider very important factors like color and durability. Ensure what you see looks pretty enough and that it is strong enough for how often you will use it. 

The Mohs scale of hardness helps to grade the strength of a gemstone. On this scale, the diamond sits pretty at the top with a score of 10. At the bottom of the scale is talc scoring a paltry 1. Then, there is a range of other gems, including sapphire (9), fluorite (4), and quartz (7). 

If what you want to buy is an aquamarine cocktail ring, its hardness grade falls between 7.5 and 8. Amethyst boasts a score of 8; an emerald would be scored 7.5 to 8; a jade cocktail ring would score 6, and a citrine cocktail ring would score 7 on the Mohs scale.

However, certain gemstones score medium to medium-high on the Mohs scale that gets more smash-proof and secure. All that they need is to use particular metal settings. 

A good example is the case of an emerald that is a rub-over set. This gem has a better chance of staying unscathed if accidentally knocked compared to one that is claw-set. This is because there is more protective metal encircling the stone in a rub-over setting and lesser acute targeted pressure points than a claw setting. With this difference, there is a reduction in the chances that there is an impact on the stone.

So, are you looking to buy an everyday emerald, amethyst, tourmaline, or topaz cocktail ring? Then, we recommend that you look for one with the bigger, central stone rub-over set. With such a setting style, you can minimize the odds of it getting destroyed.

• Can Your Statement Cocktail Rings Be Resized?

Finally, when choosing a cocktail ring, it is important to ask your jeweler whether the ring can be resized to fit your finger. Both antique or modern statement cocktail rings cannot be easily or cheaply resized. This is as the ring design or gemstone placement makes it a difficult task. Resizing works best with eternity-style bands where the gemstones feature in a setting that goes all the way around the ring.

Proper Care For Statement Cocktail Rings 

All jewelry needs some good care from time to time and statement cocktail rings are no exception. When choosing a cocktail ring, consider the amount of care required to prevent any form of damage at all.

• Prompt Checkups

A cocktail ring worn often should be sent to a competent jeweler for a thorough check-up once a year. As for those worn less often, they can be looked at once every two years or as the situation dictates. The importance of these check-ups cannot be overemphasized. These checkups are your only chance at spotting and correcting any structural or setting issues.

It only takes a fraction of impact to cause damage on statement cocktail rings. For example, fragile claws left unchecked can lead to gemstone damage or loss. Also, a thinning metal band can snap with the slightest hit. This might as well be at the expense of the whole ring. 

Prompt and proper check-ups will also enable your classic cocktail ring or modern cocktail ring to get cleaned by a professional.

• Deep And Thorough Cleaning

Wearing your statement cocktail rings regularly exposes it to dust, grime and dirt. These pile up in all the cracks and crevices of your ring. Most times, this dulls down the sparkle of both the gemstone and metal. This can cause your cocktail ring to look really affected and at that point, it needs a real deep clean.

• Storing Your Cocktail Ring Right

Every single day you wear your cocktail ring, it is important to try and be careful of how you store it.  Being careful when storing it is as good as doing so when you have it on you. 

Ensure you always keep your cocktail ring in a clean, dry place. Your rings should be away from direct sunlight contact and other climatic impacts. Storing your statement cocktail rings near or next to radiators, windowsills never work well. Also, rooms with surplus condensation like a wet room or bathroom are not a good place to store a cocktail ring. Any of these can result in metal and gemstone defects.

Specifically, silver is quite vulnerable to tarnishing. Storing silver cocktail rings in closely sealed Tupperware boxes or air-tight plastic bags is a great idea. That can help lessen the effects of undesirable climatic effects.

When choosing a cocktail ring, don’t forget you must always keep it in a separate pouch or box. That way, you prevent it from colliding with other cocktail rings or jewelry items. In a case where two or more statement cocktail rings collide, one ring can easily scratch another. 

This happens mostly when statement cocktail rings are among other jewelry items with lesser hard stones. Avoid storing your statement cocktail rings with turquoise or pearl rings. 

• Watch Out For Contacts

Not only a cocktail ring, but skin and hair products also should generally not come in contact with any jewelry item. The chemical contents in body creams, perfumes, hairspray, cleansers, and lotions can result in defects to precious gemstones and metals.

• Take Them Off When Necessary

Another important care tip before choosing a cocktail ring is to know when to get those statement cocktail rings off. When taking part in any physical or labor-intensive activities, strenuous exercise, or action sports, get those rings off. 

Additionally, we recommend that you take off all cocktail rings from your fingers before going to bed at night. Also, before taking a bath or shower, or swimming in a pool, take them off. You don’t want them coming in contact with harmful chemicals.