When you’ve found the dame of your dreams, you want to give her the engagement ring of hers: one her friends will gush over, her family will discuss at the dinner table, and her cousin studying abroad will demand to see pics of on Facebook. While not everyone’s into mega-rocks (thankfully for you) even the most non-trad alterna girl wants a ring that she considers beautiful—whatever her taste may be. And you don’t have to eviscerate your savings accounts to find it. With a maximum budget of $1,000, we visited local jewelry stores in search of some baubles for every kind of Brooklyn bride.
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Fashiony
Andie Woo Gowanus 251 Smith St. 718-694-9336
Don’t be distracted by the lingerie, hand bags and home decor, the jewelry here is amazing. From as close as the diamond district and as far as Germany is a solid selection of reasonably priced gems. Our favorites were a citrine-and-diamond ring set in yellow gold for $456, and a white gold ring with a circle of chocolate diamonds for $523. The uber-sparkly set of three diamond flowers atop a white gold band for $448 gets honorable mention.
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Modern
The Clay Pot Park Slope
167 7th Ave 800-989-3579
Carla Caruso has a great set of organic stackable rings, each with one (or even better, two!) bezel-set diamonds on a 14k gold band priced at $866. Brooklyn-based designer Marian Maurer caught our eye with her $800 Armilla ring (above), as did a $830 smokey topaz
stunner by Ray Griffiths.
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DIY
Elleven Jewelry, 168 Court St., Cobble Hill, 718-624-2611
Understated is the theme at this Cobble Hill shop that doesn’t have a fancy web site to go with their fancy jewelry. However, their on-site studio lets buyers name their own budget, and will design a ring to your liking, drawing from their own collection of stones or even your own family heirlooms.
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Traditional
Facets
Park Slope 97 7th Ave #A 718-638-3898
Some of the pieces here induced sticker shock, but that didn’t keep us from looking. We were excited to find a delicate ruby ring for just $750 (right), as well as a few Art Deco pieces from the 1920s and 30s in the $850 range.
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Boho
Norbu Williamsburg 218 Bedford Ave. 718-302-8830
There’s a ton of great jewelry in this store, but most of it doesn’t scream “I do!” The exception: a small collection of antique-ish rings imported from India. Ranging from $565-958, most have more than one metal (white gold on rose gold, oxidized silver on yellow gold, etc.) and intricate designs accented by small diamonds.
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Indie
Catbird Williamsburg 219 Bedford 718-599-3457
This artsy Williamsburg shop is filled with stuff hipsters won’t hate—like the Vampress ring—a miniature set of vampire fangs “biting” onto a brillian-cut stone. Prices start at $800, and rings can be customized to include the stone and metal of your choosing. For the earth-mother, we spotted a twig-shaped ring wrapped around a marquis diamond for $650 and a diamond-accented earthworm ring for $675.
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I love that ring from the Claypot. Can’t stop looking at it!
Those rings look really nice, I’m sure they make a lot of people happy
Oh me too! Just beautiful!
Um, do I need to be engaged before asking someone to buy me one of those? Or in a relationship for that matter? Cuz that one with the teeth is COOL.
Great Story! Very Resurceful!
I always luv your stories Leah Faye, they’re an easy read yet witty, resourceful, and straight to the point. These rings are actually pretty cute and descent. I may have to forward this on to some friends of mine.
Whoever created Brokelyn.com more power to ya :-)
don’t forget all the lovely things from St.Kilda Jewelry on 5th Ave in Park Slope!
I love those rings, but I’m engaged and he couldn’t afford to spend even that much on my ring. I got a really pretty vintage band with carved hearts/leaves from the twenties. It doesn’t sparkle, but it’s pretty… Since we’re grad students, I figure someday we’ll have the money for a ring that costs more than $200!
nice article … beautiful rings!