Welcome to the TrueFacet’s guest blogger series, where jewelry bloggers weigh in on their favorite subject. Today Gem Hunt blogger Catherine Cason shares her all-time favorite celebrity engagement rings—and cheekily dishes some “lessons” for anyone about to pop the question.

Lesson #1: Big diamonds are a good investment.

The Krupp Diamond’s story combines romance and legendary diamond dreams. Weighing in at 33.19 carats, this Asscher-cut beauty was distinguished for its large size—and is what I personally love about it. Richard Burton purchased the diamond at auction in 1968 for $307,000 (over $2.1 million today). He presented the diamond to then wife Elizabeth Taylor on their yacht while floating down the river Thames. When Taylor passed away in 2011, the diamond was sold for $8 million—not a bad return on investment if you are trying to convince your loved one you need that 33-carat diamond.

Editor’s note: I have tried this tactic on my husband; it has not yet worked.

Lesson #2: When in doubt, upgrade.

Prince Rainier of Monaco III first proposed to Grace Kelly in 1955 with a small eternity band. But he quickly realized that size does matter and upgraded Kelly to a whopping 10.47-carat emerald cut diamond from Cartier. The stunning center stone was flanked by baguettes to emphasize its impressive size. I would say yes to this ring too—even if it was on the second try.

Lesson #3: Sentimentality always wins out.

When the young emperor Napoleon went to buy his bride-to-be Josephine an engagement ring, he was quite poor, albeit rich in love. He purchased a ring with a pear-shaped diamond and pear-shaped sapphire ring. The ring was the precursor for what is now known as the moi et toi style. The two intertwined stones symbolize the merging of two souls and this romantic story wins my heart every time.

Lesson #4: Don’t be afraid to “do you.”

When Mel Ferrer and Audrey Hepburn married in 1954, Hepburn received three rings instead of the traditional single wedding band. The rings were intended to be worn individually (to match her outfits accordingly) or stacked; Hepburn mixed all three metals—white, rose and yellow gold—and stacked them on one finger. We know Hepburn best for putting the little black dress on the map and jewelry lovers may now recognize her for starting the stacked ring trend.

Lesson #5: Family heirlooms are always a winner.
Prince Philip proposed to Queen Elizabeth with a 3-carat round cut stunner, flanked on each side with five pavé diamonds. The diamonds were family heirlooms, taken from one his mother’s, Princess Alice, tiaras—specifically a diamond and aquamarine tiara given to her by Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra of Russia. I’ve said it before and will say it again: I would pretty much marry anyone if they have a 3-carat round cut diamond in the family.

About the Author:

Gem Hunt is an online jewelry magazine started by Catherine Cason. Catherine is a self-described “gem addict” who wanted to share her journey through the wonderful world of fine jewelry with other jewelry lovers. Gem Hunt is dedicated to uncovering the best stories about jewelry, and the people love and wear it.

Photo Credit: popsugar.com / strongestinworld.com / extravaganzi.com / dailymail.co.uk / glamour.com

Cartier is one of the greatest and oldest jewelers in the world. Their designs have undoubtedly influenced jewelers of the past and present and fashions and styles throughout its 169-year history. As a trendsetter and ambitious jewelry house, Cartier has designed some of the most iconic watches and jewelry pieces from 1837 to present day. Check out the most influential Cartier styles through history.

The Beginning

When Cartier was first established, the Victorian era was just beginning and a jewelry preferred the elaborate and romantic. During this time, until the end of the century, Cartier produced pieces featuring gold, enamel, cameos, vivid gemstones, floral patterns and animals. These ornate designs were often inspired by the architecture of the era.

By the end of the century, the era of Art Nouveau was gaining favor among art collectors and purveyors of quality artisanal goods. Louis Cartier designed his own style of the jewelry trends and at the same was the first to use platinum in jewelry making. The new metal allowed the creation of intricate, sparkling designs known as the Garland Style. This also marked the beginning of Cartier’s recognition and prestige.

At the turn of the 20th century, Cartier began experimenting in a different kind of design. Still inspired by the architecture of the time, Cartier began creating pieces in what’s now known as the Art Deco style. Geometric shapes and angular lines defined this style along with bursts of color contrasting with platinum.

Essential Watches of the Early 20th century

Not only was Louis Cartier changing the world of jewelry, but at the beginning of the 20th century, he was also changing the face of watchmaking. Cartier is often credited as one of the first designers of the wristwatch. The designs of the early 1900s proved to be so timeless that they are still produced to this day as some of Cartier’s best sellers.

According to Cartier, in 1904, pilot Alberto Santos Dumont has confided in Louis Cartier that he needed a timepiece he could use to record flight times as a pocket watch was too inconvenient. Cartier then developed the Santos, which sold in 1911. Prior to the Santos, any wrist watch that existed was really an afterthought of a pocket watch — the strap merely attached simply. The Santos was the first purpose-designed and modern example of the wristwatch.

Cartier began designing wristwatches in unique shapes and sizes to influence the standard in wristwatch design through history. In 1906, Louis Cartier designed the tonneau shaped case, then the square case and tortue shapes by 1912. At the time, most watchmakers valued function over form, but at Cartier, both were viewed as necessary for an adequate timepiece.

Finally, in 1917, Cartier designed one of its longest-lasting collections with the Tank model wrist watch. This piece was inspired by the new army tanks that were developed for battle during World War I. This iconic design has been re-imagined many times over with the introduction of new models like the Tank Francaise and Tank Americaine.

Jewelry Traditions Past and Present

Cartier has created several collections and design motifs that have become brand icons, timeless and classic no matter the decade or era. The panther has become the mascot of the jeweler, a categorically Cartier symbol and design motif. Introduced in 1914, the panther motif quickly spread to all aspects of design. From watches to bracelets, to earrings and brooches, the
alluring creature has been portrayed.

In 1924, Cartier introduced the first piece of the Trinity collection. Considering the elaborate jewelry designs of the time, the Trinity collection was one so unlike Cartier, yet unmistakably Cartier in its symbolism and elegance. The collection features three shades — white, yellow and rose — of gold intertwined to symbolize fidelity, friendship and love.

Finally, in 1970 Cartier released one of its most successful pieces with the Cartier Love bracelet. This piece, designed by Aldo Cipullo, like the Trinity collection, was designed to symbolize a faithful and dedicated love. The piece is meant to be secured by screw to the wearer’s wrist by a loved one as a symbol of commitment. The collection remains a global success as one of the most worn and most recognized pieces of fine jewelry today.

Photo Credit: swissclassicwatches.com / cartier.com / forbes.com

As one of New York’s finest jewelers since 1837, Tiffany & Co. has a remarkable brand history, marked with incredible firsts and significant achievements. We explore these momentous stories that built the brand of Tiffany & Co.

1. The Acquisition of the Tiffany Diamond

Discovered in the Kimberley diamond minds of South Africa in 1877, the Tiffany Diamond (as it is known today) is one of the largest yellow diamonds ever discovered. The yellow diamond was purchased by Tiffany & Co. founder, Charles Lewis Tiffany, in 1878, just as the jeweler was adding more and more precious stones to its designs. Moreover, this impressive acquisition cemented Tiffany’s title as the “King of Diamonds” and Tiffany & Co. as the world’s diamond authority.

Tiffany & Co.’s gemologist, Dr. George Frederick Kunz, spent a year studying the stone to determine the best way to cut it. Finally, it was cut from its original hefty weight of 287 carats to a dazzling cushion-shape that tipped the scales at 128.5 carats. Kunz used an unprecedented 82 facets, surpassing the usual 58-facets for a brilliant cut, to ensure the diamond sparkled beautifully.

The Tiffany Diamond was put on display at the 1893 World’s Colombian Exposition in Chicago; the 1901 Pan-American Exposition; the 1933-34 Century of Progress exhibition; and the 1939-40 World’s Fair in New York City. Tiffany & Co.’s acclaimed designer Jean Schlumberger set it in the Ribbon Rosette necklace in 1961 to be worn by actress and style icon Audrey Hepburn in a series of promotional photos for her film Breakfast at Tiffany’s. The yellow Tiffany Diamond was then mounted in Schlumberger’s now-iconic Bird on a Rock setting. The Bird on a Rock was later a cornerstone of Schlumberger’s retrospective at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris in 1995.

2. Revolutionizing Engagement Rings with The Tiffany® Setting

Tiffany & Co. revolutionized engagement rings in 1886. Prior to then, an engagement ring’s diamond was usually placed in a bezel setting which effectively secures and surrounds the entire diamond in the ring’s metal band. The result was a less brilliant (and less appealing) stone.

The Tiffany® Setting, however, was a radical change; Charles Tiffany introduced the six-prong setting which raised the diamond above the band and allowed an incredible amount of light to pass through the diamond and increase its brilliance. And while other jewelers have since introduced their own iteration of this trademark setting, the Tiffany® Setting remains the most popular engagement ring setting.

3. A Pledge to Ethical Diamond Mining

Tiffany & Co. is leader in ethically sourced diamonds. Conflict or blood diamonds are rough diamonds mined in a war zone (frequently in central and western Africa) that are then sold or illicitly traded to finance military action. Thousands of people are enslaved and forced to mine diamonds in dangerous conditions. It is estimated that, at the height of Sierra Leone’s civil war, conflict diamonds made up 4% of the world’s diamond production.

In May 2000, South Africa enacted the Kimberley Process aimed at stopping the trade of conflict diamonds. Tiffany & Co. has been an advocate and active participant of the Kimbereley Process. And to ensure its diamonds are always ethically mined, Tiffany & Co. holds control of its vertical supply chain.

Tiffany & Co. also helped found the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance which ensures working mines leave a minimal environmental footprint and have a positive influence upon its local community. Tiffany & Co., in turn, employs local workers to mine, polish and cut all the stones.

4. Producing Trophies for the Biggest Sporting Events

Surprising to some, Tiffany & Co. began its tradition of designing sports trophies in 1860 with horse racing trophies. And since then, Tiffany & Co. has created many iconic and landmark awards including the first world championship baseball trophy in 1888 and has continued producing the World Series trophy since 2000. In 1909, Tiffany & Co. debuted the incredibly impressive eight-foot Indianapolis 500 trophy.

Tiffany & Co. has designed and produced the NFL Super Bowl’s Vince Lombardi Trophy every year since the inaugural Big Game in 1967. The trophy is entirely crafted in sterling silver, weighs a hefty seven pounds and the top figurine is the size of an actual football.

Photo Credit: telegraph.co.uk / tiffany.com / time.com

There’s no real arguing: Switzerland is the preeminent industry leader in watch production. However, companies like Detroit-based Shinola and Los Angeles-based Devon are reinvigorating interest in American watchmakers. We take a brief look at the history of watchmaking in the United States and how watches“Made in the USA” competed with Swiss-made watches to ultimately change the course of watch manufacturing in the 19th century.

From Limited to Mass Production
Before the Industrial Revolution (1760-1840), watchmaking was a long and incredibly detailed process that yielded only a few timepieces a year. Because watch-making was such a labor-intensive process, watches were incredibly expensive and reserved only for the wealthy noble class who could afford the luxury of owning a pocket watch. Complicated watches became a local and time-honored tradition the Swiss carried on for centuries.

To maintain its exclusivity, the best Swiss-made watches were only available in Europe. Meanwhile, the less attractive (and essentially unwanted) models were unloaded in the American market.

But, in the 1850s, the watch industry underwent a significant change as American watch companies began cropping up. Unlike their Swiss counterparts who painstakingly produced a limited number of watches a year, American brands sought to mass produce timepieces. American watch brands took advantage of the era’s manufacturing boom to fine-tune a mechanical process to standardize watch production.

The Massachusetts-based Waltham Watch Company lead this charge, producing high-quality pocket watches with machine-made parts. Like many of its manufacturing contemporaries, the Waltham Watch Company employed an assembly line to expedite and scale production. This revolutionary mass production dramatically lowered the cost of watches and made them widely available to American shoppers.

The Impact on Swiss Watch Brands
Swiss watchmakers took note of their slipping overseas sales. At the 1876 Centennial Exposition, a Swiss representative was stunned to see the American manufacturing innovations in action. Waltham Watch Company demonstrated their automated screw making machine that quickly churned out watch screws that were on-par with the quality screws strenuously made by hand in Switzerland.

To compete with the American brands, the Swiss carved out a unique market space for themselves. Swiss watchmakers adopted some of the American machinery into their own production, but continued to produce highly-complicated pocket watches that relied on both machine- and hand-made parts. In turn, they remained the foremost producer of fine watches. American watchmakers, meanwhile, focused on very simple pocket watches to maximize their output.

The Decline
After World War I, wristwatches pushed out the pocket watch and became the preferred timepiece for men. Swiss brands were able to easily react to this change in tastes and quickly released new wristwatches. American companies, however, lagged behind.

The machinery of American watch brands produced pocket watches so pivoting to wristwatches meant their equipment and assembly lines needed to be completely revamped. The Waltham Watch Company, formerly the premier American watchmaker, struggled to make the change over to wristwatch production and shuttered their doors in 1949. The remaining brands then struggled when the Great Depression devastated the American economy. Wrist watches were a luxury that most Americans could not afford and sales felt. Then, with the outbreak of World War II, American watch production was needed as a part of the war effort, effectively halting any commercial production.

When the war ended, the economy recovered and Americans finally had cash to spend. But, instead of buying up domestic wristwatches, American tastes preferred the foreign Swiss-made watches. During this time, many already-struggling American watch brands were forced to close. One brand, Timex, managed to distinguish itself, however, by producing watches that were so inexpensive they were nearly disposable.

The Resurgence of American Watchmaking
Although Swiss brands have commanded the space for years, there has been a recent revival of American watch manufacturing.

Bulova watches, founded in New York in 1875, found its footing in 1960 when it debuted the world’s first fully electronic watch. Today the brand continues its mass production of mechanical watches.

And, although Shinola watches are built in Detroit with parts from Switzerland, the brand has brought attention back to American watchmaking.

In 2010, the Los Angeles-based Devon watches went toe-to-toe with some of the Switzerland’s best watch brands at Baselworld, the world’s preeminent watch trade show. Devon’s Tread 1 watch model was not only the first American-made watch to compete in the prestigious Grand Prix D’Horologie De Genève but it made it to the finals in the design and concept category.

With a renewed desire for luxury and American-made goods stateside, many believe the US market is eager and poised for a renaissance of the American watch brands.

Photo Credit: nawcc-ch149.com / pippinvintage.com /

Jewelry company Lagos has a distinctive style that you are sure to have noticed, but do you know the story behind the brand? Though the brand was founded in 1977, its distinctive look didn’t come to fruition until 1984. Keep reading to find out more about the history of Lagos.

The Philadelphia-based jewelry company was founded nearly four decades ago when Steven Lagos was the young age of 20 years old. At the age of 17, Lagos was apprentice to a Russian jewelry who taught him craftsmanship and quality. Since, Lagos has estimated that he has designed 10,000 pieces with 400 to 500 new designs each year.

The jewelry brand is known for its distinctive style, known as ‘Caviar.’ The name comes from the textured look of the sterling silver beading that can be found in many Lagos designs. According to Lagos, the design is meant to be a bold, luxurious motif that is reflective of the woman who wears the design. Steven Lagos was inspired by the look of raw hematite to create the signature beaded look that was first featured in 1984.

Lagos has a strict dedication to craftsmanship and the quality of each piece it sells. Though these pieces are made of precious materials, they are certainly wearable pieces, versatile and suitable for countless wardrobes. No matter if you like a charming detail or edgy statement pieces, Lagos pieces can add the right flair to your look.

Lagos collections all typically feature the caviar motif, but each still maintains its individual personality. Caviar color features bold statement pieces in bright stones surrounded by the silver and gold beading. White Caviar brings a light and delicate side to the collection while black caviar brings mysterious depth. The Luna collection combines the caviar motif with playful pearls for a fresh and feminine style.

Lagos jewelry is comparable to the iconic David Yurman Cable and Albion collections. Both offer sterling silver styles combined with precious materials for a relaxed yet luxurious look. The pieces are easy to stack and layer for a pop of color or dimension of texture. With such versatility and beauty, the pieces are a favorite among jewelry-lovers and fashion-lovers alike.

Photo Credit: cellajane.com

From manufacturing movements, pioneering ultra-thin wristwatches to producing the finest jewelry in the world, Piaget has become one of the most prestigious luxury brands in the world. Piaget has had a 140-year journey to the top. Keep reading to learn about the beginning of the world-renowned brand.

Georges Edouard Piaget manufactured his first watch movement in 1874 in the Swiss Jura, home of the finest watchmakers in history. Piaget’s workshop first started producing the movements for well-known luxury watchmakers. Piaget was known for his high-precision movements and his reputation led to many successes.

As the Piaget family workshop grew and mastered its movement manufacturing, it was only natural to register the company officially and begin distribution of branded Piaget watches and movements. Though this didn’t happen until 1943, the company rapidly expanded under the direction of Gerald and Valentin Piaget.

In 1957, Piaget developed one of its brand icons and pioneered a watchmaking revolution with the Caliber 9P. The 9P is a hand-wound mechanical movement that is a mere 2mm thick. Then, 3 years later, Piaget released the Caliber 12P, the world’s thinnest automatic movement at 2.3mm thick. Piaget contributed greatly to the beginning of the ultra-thin watch movement and continues with this trend today, most notably with the Altiplano watch, a best-seller of the brand.

The revolutionary, ultra-thin movements also allowed for the development of another Piaget brand icon — the jewelry watch. Many jewelers have become watchmakers, like Cartier and Bulgari, but very few watchmakers have become jewelers like Piaget. When Piaget began making fashionable and precious jewelry-inspired watches, the transitioned seemed natural.

When Yves Piaget joined the family business as marketing and communications director in the 1960s, he brought a focus and passion for jewelry to the brand while maintaining a priority for watchmaking. Piaget brought a creativeness to watchmaking which involved the creation of coin watches, bracelet watches brooch watches, more — all precious and gorgeous in design not distinct from the high jewelry collections of the finest jewelers.

The watchmaker eventually expanded the jewelry side of the business to include, collections purely fine jewelry and high jewelry. The watchmaker continued its development of ultra-thin watch movements and, in 2005, manufactured the world’s thinnest tourbillon movement at 3.5mm thick. By producing brand new and innovative movements and designing the finest high jewelry collections, Piaget has become one of the most renowned luxury brands in the world.

Photo Credit: hautetime.com / piaget.com / watch-insider.com / worldtempus.com

Since introducing its first jewelry collection in the ’60s, Piaget has climbed its way to the top. Now recognized as one of the top luxury jewelry designers in the world, Piaget has an extensive archive of breathtaking jewelry collections. Here are five of their current, stunning jewelry collections.

4. Piaget Rose Collection

Many jewelers interpret flowers, especially roses, but Piaget may have the closest relationship to the flower yet. Yves Piaget, current chairman of the jeweler, has a deep connection with roses, so much so that a breed of rose was named for him in 1982, the Yves Piaget Rose. Yves spent his life working closely with rose breeders, acting as chair of rose competitions and advocating on behalf of roses. Piaget rose jewelry, unsurprisingly, is an interpretation of the Yves Piaget Rose in white and yellow gold set with diamonds or without.

3. Possession

Introduced in 2014, the Possession collection is Piaget’s way to balance their typically-extravagant fine jewelry collections. The modern collections are a bit trendier and attainable than the jeweler’s typical designs. To put a face to Possession, Piaget jewelry chose Olivia Palermo as a brand ambassador to the collection, further demonstrating the wearability and fashion-forward look of the collection. The 17 pieces were designed to be mix and matched in whichever creative way the wearer chooses while maintaining the luxury feel of Piaget.

2. Secrets and Lights

Released in summer of 2015, Piaget’s Secrets and Lights collection features 38 watches and 93 high jewelry designs. This collection was inspired by the Silk Road, primarily focusing on the cities of Venice and Samarkand. The name of the collection comes from the collections inspired by the two cities — “The Secrets of Venice” and “The Lights of Samarkand.” The cities were chosen for the culture, history, architecture and beauty. The Venetian collection uses ornate patterns and enameling inspired by the Italian city while the Samarkand collections focuses on rare gems sourced from all over the globe.

1. Extremely Piaget

Extremely Piaget was designed especially for Piaget’s 140th anniversary to showcase their emblematic designs of the 1960s-70s. The high jewelry and watch collection features 37 watches and 88 jewelry pieces as an ode to the iconic watch designs of the time period. The collection is a colorful combination of precious gems and carefree designs featuring hammered gold and colorful stones like lapis lazuli. The other half of the collection contrasts the bold and bright with dazzling pieces featuring marquis-cut diamonds set in white gold.

Photo Credit: kayture.com / piaget.com /

Piaget has a long history of producing luxury timepieces with exceptional movements. This combined with experience in high jewelry means Piaget has created some of the most visually and mechanically stunning timepieces in watchmaking history. Check out five of the most valuable Piaget timepieces in the world.

5. 18K Gold and Diamond Piaget Polo with Flying Tourbillon

Last November, at a Christie’s auction, this Piaget stunner was auctioned for $270,000. This piece fully blends Piaget’s mastery of high jewelry and timekeeping. The piece features 426 brilliant-cut diamonds totaling 7.84 carats and 165 baguette-cut diamonds totaling 17.58 carats set in the 18K white gold case and dial. The timepiece also features Piaget’s Polo Tourbillon ref. G0A29065, the thinnest shaped flying tourbillon in the world with a thickness of 3.5 mm.

4. Piaget Ladies “Aura” Ref. 40011

Piaget introduced the Aura watch in 1990 and it became an instant brand icon and status symbol. The watch comes set with 277 diamonds weighing a total of 71 carats, each cut by hand for its specific spot on the watch. The piece is typically released in limited numbers, explaining why auction prices are so steep for the diamond-covered piece. Since 2014, three models have sold for $365,000, $378,200 and $384,000 at Christie’s auctions.

3. Piaget Retrograde Sliding Clock

Though not a wristwatch, this Piaget retrograde sliding clock deserves a mention, selling for $500,300 at a Sotheby’s auction in 2014. The stunning piece features an extravagant amount of precious materials as well as impressive mechanical and electrical timekeeping components. It consists of 53.26 carats of diamonds, 2 rubies with a combined weight of 34.46 carats and 2 pounds of gold. It also features emerald, lapis lazuli and mother of pearl. It’s also the first clock to include jumping hours and retrograde minutes.

2. Rare 18K White Gold and Diamond Wristwatch

This particular model, Kanthara ref. GOA19599, was produced in limited numbers. Each piece was set with diamonds or a combination of diamonds and rubies, emeralds or sapphires. This diamond-encrusted watch is set with 267 diamonds, weighing approximated 100 carats. Inside, the piece uses the caliber 40P ultra-thin mechanical movement.

1. Piaget Emperador Temple Watch

The Piaget Emperador Temple is not only Piaget’s most expensive watch, but it is also one of the most expensive watches in the world. This watch is one-of-a-kind and features 481 brilliant-cut diamonds and 207 baguette-cut diamonds and a large emerald-cut diamond on the center of the case. The piece opens to reveal a small dial with hours and minutes with a mother-of-pearl dial. The case opens once again to reveal the central watch face featuring a tourbillon surrounded by 162 brilliant-cut diamond and 11 baguette-cut diamonds. Finally, with a bracelet featuring 350 baguette-cute diamonds, the price comes to $3.3 million.

Photo Credit: christies.com / sothebys.com / funyarn.com