Handmade Valentine’s Day Gifts | Free to Nearly Free

A Sweet Matchbook Collage

TikTok girlies rise. Recently, outside of any political bemoaning, my FYP page has been inundated with these super cute and customized matchbook collages. And the best part is that you can make it all by yourself with just a $15 dollar monthly subscription to Canva. (Just remember to cancel it when you’re done.) Print ‘er out on some high-quality paper then frame for added fanciness. It’s sweet, it’s thoughtful, and if I had endless amount of time to waste I’d make one for each of my Galentines.

Watch the tutorial here

A Chapbook, Zine, or Magazine Starring the Two of You

Hold tight because we’re still in Canvaland here. If your partner is more of a reader why not make them their very own reading material? Create a coffee table book of your relationship with glossy, high-res images and bold, attention-getting typography. Or, create a zine with personalized drawings of your favorite memories together.

Browse the Canva templates

Tap Into Their Love Language

Ok, hear me out, but there’s nothing sexier or more meaningful than someone knowing who you are and how you prefer to receive love. Especially when it’s not your love language.

• Is their love language Acts of Service? Why not cook them dinner and take out the trash afterwards?

• If they’re into Touch, make them a coupon book with redeemable massages.

• Quality Time more their jam? Paint each other in the privacy of your home, all you have to do is provide supplies!

• If they’re fans of Words of Affirmation, why not frame a list of everything you love about them?

• Gift giving fans? Say no more, do any of the above or read-on for even more ideas.

Classic V-Day Gifts for When You’ve Just Started Dating and Celebrating Feels Compulsory | $10-$30

Their Favorite Flowers from a Bodega

Gasp! I love bodega flowers almost as much as I love the bodega deli. What can I say, there’s just something about the color and smell on display that brightens up an otherwise dreary sidewalk. And I love to buy my friends flowers. It’s a simple gift that tells them, “I saw this when I was out and I thought of you.” Just be sure to scratch off that price sticker on the plastic. And speaking of scratch offs-

Silly Little Lottery Tickets

If they’re young at heart and you’re feeling lucky, why not make them a bouquet of scratch-off lotto tickets. It’s fun, and interactive and exciting. And you can bring on the romance by telling that if they win bag you don’t need a cut. And they say true love doesn’t exist…

Kitschy Heart-Shaped Chocolate Boxes

These little babies were my gift of choice for the first-few-very-broke Valentine’s Day gifts in the city. But here’s the thing, they’re awesome. Kitschy? Yes. Cliche? Very yes. As delicious as a box from Godiva? With a little red wine, sure! And hey, if you want to take it up a notch you can always get them higher quality chocolate, no judgements here.

Artsy Valentine’s Day Gifts for the Hipster’s at Heart | $8 - $40

Framed Minimalist Movie Posters

Don’t hate me but movie people can sometimes get on my nerves. Maybe it’s because I’ve had one too many first dates where someone has waxed poetic about Quentin Tarentino. Which like, cool, he’s great! I don’t want to get into the details of how Pulp Fiction changed the game. Come at me.

Sorry, rant over. Anyway, I love these chic minimalist movie posters. They just scratch my brain the right way. And bonus? They start at $7.66 for a digital file that you can print out and frame. Or, have it mailed to you with everything but the frame included.

Find your movie at Etsy, $7.66+

A Cute Tiny Vase

Blame it on my Aries sun but I love a gift that lets me know I’m a winner. This sweet little vase may not be able to hold much but its message packs a punch. Gift it with tiny dried flowers for extra oomph.

Get it on Etsy, $23.99

Gift Happiness with a Personalized Happy Box

I actually received a Happy Box for Galentine’s Day a few years ago from a friend and loved it. It goes like this. You start off by selecting your box and then you fill it to your hearts content. They have everything from cookies to self -care items like candles and lip balm. And it’s a woman-run company, making it the go-to choice for your Galentine gifting. Curated boxes start at $24 and buildable boxes vary.

Build your box at HappyBox, $24+

Valentine’s Day Jewelry for Gifting (ofc) | $38-The Sky’s the Limit

An Understated (But Totally Glam) Signet Ring

Recently, I came across Le Conte Jewelry, an art-inspired jewelry brand by Eunmi Han. Her fairytale-like pieces meet at the intersection of fine art and molten gold. Utilizing gemstones such as sapphires, amethysts, aquamarine’s and more, she deftly weaves them with gold to create wearable works of art.

My favorite piece is the Painted Recollections Signet. An otherwise typical oval signet is made extraordinary thanks to the presence of two detailed and pressed brushstrokes. It’s understated but not subtle, casual but fancy, and is the perfect non-cliche jewelry item for a partner.

Get it at Le Conte Jewelry, $970

A 14k Gold Filled Delicate Scissor Necklace

Are they big on arts and crafts or just gay? My favorite part about this unique pendant necklace is able to fully open and close. A pyrite stone accompanies the set which has long been believed to attract abundance and positive energy so they can get to scissoring the bad vibes away.

Chop chop at Etsy, $38 for a 16-inch chain

A Mixed Shape Statement Ring

If you’re dating someone who is known for not being able to make up their mind then this is the ring for you. Because why have one diamond cut when you can have five? I love the playful, chunky gold band that, when combined with the 0.40 ct tw of the diamonds packs a punch.

Shop The Ember at Eliette, $1575

Meet, the Trump Cut diamond. Yes, this unique diamond shape features the soft jawline and pointy (definitely not a toupee) hair swoop in breathtaking rock form of our 47th p.o.s. Potus.

The cut was developed by Greenlab Diamonds, a diamond firm in Surat, India, that according to owner Smith Patel, “took three months to prepare […] [and is an] important symbol for ties between India and the US.” Graded an F in color, with VS1 clarity, most Trump-cut diamonds will set retailers back around $400 per carat and be marked up for profit when sold to commoners.

Anyway, let’s talk about diamonds and other precious gemstones have always been, and will always be, political.

The British Raj, The Koh-i-Noor, and a Remake of the Century

Spanning from 1858 to 1947 the British Raj was a period in history when the British Crown ruled over the Indian subcontinent. If you’ve seen the movie RRR, this is when it takes place. (And side note, if you haven’t seen it, you should, it is VERY good).

Under the British Raj, India was governed by laws and policies that were designed to maintain their dominance while quelling any Indian political or economic self-determination. And the primary symbol of this conquest? The Koh-i-Noor diamond.

If you’ve read my piece on oval diamonds, you might remember the Koh-i-Noor passing into Queen Victoria’s hands after it was confiscated on behalf of the royal crown. Old Vicky realized that the Koh-i-Noor was a pretty, sparkly, thing, and one that could be used to the benefit of the British Empire, using the diamond to “cast the British conquest in India in a progressive light”.

The diamond was given the ultimate PR treatment-a makeover of its origin story where periodicals related its crossing over into British hands as a quirky mishap of “forgotten treasure”, trivializing not only its meaning in Indian discourse, but the violent conquest of Lahore, successfully moving it beyond simple market associations and into a metaphor for the success of British involvement in the diamond trade. Set to display at The Great Exhibition, its mysterious past and hyped-up PR attracted throngs.

And flopped. Hard. Why? It just didn’t sparkle enough for the upper class. “[The lower-classes would run] to see the Koh-i-Noor again and again because of their low, unrefined taste [that kept in line] with that of the “uncivilized” Indians”. It was the diamond’s original ‘Oriental’ cut that prioritized carat and raw material over sparkle. “The horror of the Koh-i-Noor at the exhibition was that an ‘Oriental’ aesthetic and product, absorbed into Britain via blatant plunder imperialism, was being hyper valuated at a venue designed to celebrate Western industrial achievement and Whiggish progress”(Danielle C. Kinsey).

What’s a gem to do? Another makeover, naturally. Prince Albert, in response to the bad press, had the stone recut, most likely as an attempt at repositioning it in material culture as a symbol of the British Empire’s civilizing mission in India. As Kinsey maintains, the diamond’s “offensive ‘Oriental’ cut would be modified, improved upon, and in a word, civilized [to allow] Victoria to be bound up in imperial discourse in positive ways [to represent a] modern monarchy and era”.

A Diamond is a Narrative Waiting to Be Created

Diamonds mean something, there’s a story behind each one. Many people have crafted a narrative of true love, that’s meant to be, around their diamond; political figures have commonly used them to reinforce narratives of dominance and control through manipulation of cultural symbols. What is the narrative you hope to build around your diamond? How will change as the years progress?

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Like This? Read These!

Oh, one more thing!

I have a few more ideas about where I want to take this publication. But I also want to be faithful to the community I’m building here. So, what do you want more of? Information about diamond cuts, frequently asked questions, gift lists, and pretty listicles? What about think pieces that touch on the diamond industry as a whole? Weekly roundups about celebrity engagements? The world is your oyster and pearl so comment below and let me know!

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Diamonds aren’t just for romantic partners

I feel like jewelry is generally hard to give for holidays or birthdays.

Why?

Because no one seems to willy-nilly gift a diamond ring to their best friend for fun.

This is stupid. I believe in the democratization of diamonds. You do not need an excuse to buy yourself or the people you love nice things. Indulge in frivolity. The world is burning.

Whodda thunk it but Ariana Grande is really leading the charge with the lyrics to her song, 7 rings, “Bought matching diamonds for six of my bitches/ I’d rather spoil all my friends with my riches”. Now, granted the key word here is “riches” something I, and most of the world’s population, do not have. But I firmly believe in the power of buying your bitches nice things.

And Black Friday sales can certainly help with that. So without further ado, these are the rings I’m buy for my bitches (and myself) this holiday season1.

I Deserve a Little Treat

Holiday shopping is hard. These are the gifts I would give myself after a long day’s clicking on the internet or browsing department stores.

The Baby Grand Diamond Ring from Frank Darling

Meet the ring I have been obsessing over for the past three months: The Baby Grand. If I wasn’t already gifting myself a pretty expensive tattoo, this beauty is what I would give myself this holiday season.

This ring can take a casual t-shirt and jean ensemble and add just the perfect amount of laid-back cool-girl charm I ( a decidedly not cool not chic, very-potentially-most-likely-slightly insane girl ) have been chasing to no avail my entire life.

If I buy myself the Baby Grand will I actually transform into the chic, cool, casual girl of my dreams? Probably not. But with a piece this stunning it can’t hurt to use that as an excuse to try, right?

The Baby Grand at Frank Darling

The Lunette E.W. Cushion but w/ an Old Mine Diamond

Another darling Frank Darling piece, The Lunette is chunky and sparkly and for some reason, I want to put it in my mouth?

Ok, a cushion cut diamond is set in the ring above, but for me, I would replace it with a natural old mine diamond. What is an old mine diamond? I’m so glad you asked. Think of it like the grandparent of the cushion cut diamond. Back in Old Mine’s day, it was cut and faceted by hand to maximize its carat weight and sparkle in candlelight. And while modern old mine diamonds are laser cut, I’m all about the sweet vintage by hand charm- hence, me unusually going for a natty diamond. (Interested in old mine cuts? Don’t worry a Substack is coming!)

The Lunette at Frank Darling (and Natural Old Mine Diamonds)

Frank Darling is currently offering 10% off all lab grown diamonds with code, diamonddreams for Black Friday 💸

The Cookie Dough Champagne Moval from Gem Breakfast

I am, at heart, a simple woman. I love sparkly things and food. Combine the two and you have a match made in heaven.

Gem Breakfast is a perpetually playful brand that names their fine jewelry after oft-beloved snacks. And the Cookie Dough Champagne Moval is no exception. Let’s break it down:

Champagne diamonds are diamonds that have failed the GIA color grade chart. These diamonds are normally yellowish-brown in color and often appear in a shade that’s not unlike a nice glass of, you guess it-champagne. Most champagne diamonds are natural diamonds simply because technology is getting better and better at producing colorless lab diamonds. But while they may be last in color class, they’re first in my heart.

Meanwhile, the jury is still out for me on movals (part Marquise, part oval cut diamond shape), but I do love the look of this one. There’s something about the soft rounded edges that make this 1.25 carat diamond seem heftier. Then again, it could just be the name.

The Cookie Dough Champagne Moval at Gem Breakfast

Gem Breakfast is currently offering 15% off site wide - no code needed

The ‘Spoiling My Bitches’ Picks

More people than just me deserve to feel special this holiday season. That’s why I’ve curated some of my favorite ‘blings’ for my favorite guys, gals, and non-binary pals. (Also side note: I’ve now decided to try to be more succinct with my gifts, because I’m running out of space :/)

For My Newly-Minted Francophile Friend

My friend spent some time in Paris this year and when she got back she was ooh-la-la over the moon for it. And while the J’dore Gold Ring doesn’t really have any noticeable Parisian overtones, the name and sweet red zircon hearts is enough to deliver the joie-de-vivre my friend naturally possesses. Plus, at just $81 this ring is an actually affordable gift. Mon dieu!

The J’adore Gold Ring in Red at Arms of Eve

Arms of Eve is offering up to 40% off site wide for Black Friday

For My Newly Engaged Friend

It feels right to gift my friend that just got engaged something from Catbird. She and her fiancee did go engagement ring shopping there. And while it’s impossible to be ring’d out, I have a feeling she may need some delicate, coquettish, earrings for the many white events she has coming up.

Usually, I would never recommend pearls. But earrings are *slightly* different. As long as they’re the last thing on and the first thing off she should be ok. And she doesn’t wear them in the shower. Or the pool. Or clean with them. Or clean them for that matter. Whatever, they’re cute and I love them.

The Margot Pearl Bow Earrings by Kara Yoo for Catbird

Catbird is offering 20% off site wide for BF

For My Friend That Could Use Some Protecting

The world is shitty folks. It’s a scary time for LGBTQ+ people. Luckily, Sofia Zakia’s Tender Ring of Salt is as striking as it is positive. Here, a sparkling eternity band of pink sapphires, blue topaz, and white diamonds encircle a knife-edge band with the words (or rather, written spell) “PROTECT ME” rest on its side. A stunning homage to the beauty of trans people, 50% of all proceeds of this ring are donated to Trans Lifeline. Talk about doing good while looking good.

Tender Ring of Salt at Sophia Zakia Jewelry

For My Cat

I’m a crazy cat lady. When I turned 33, I booked a boudoir photo shoot with my cat. (Think Taylor Swift ala Times Person of the Year 2023 cover.) So it only stands, that if I have the money, and the vet tells me it’s not a choking risk, I’d buy a friendship tennis bracelet for me and my cat, Taco. Of course, her’s would be less of a bracelet and more of a collar.

Enter: The Mixed Shape Tennis Bracelets from VRAI. I love that these two bracelets are similar, but different. Plus, because they are lab grown I can rest easy knowing our Christmas dreams won’t be haunted by the ghost of conflict diamonds past.

Mixed Shape Tennis Bracelet at VRAI

For My True Blue Bud

I love Toi et Moi rings and I especially love unconventional Toi et Mois. Here, a buttery gold band encapsulates an emerald/baguetteish cut diamond and blue sapphire stone. It’s masculine but feminine, sparkly but understated, and I am head-over-butt in love.

The OOAK Emerald Cut Diamond and Sapphire Bricolage Ring at Wwake

Wwake is offering up to 30% off this Black Friday

For My Friend That Deserves Celebrating (Spoiler: They All Do)

If there was a me in ring form, it might be this. Colorful, burnish cast sapphires shine in recycled gold and evoke the feeling of throwing a bunch of sprinkles in the air to try to catch them in your mouth. Ridiculously fun, foolish, and fabulous. If you don’t know about Polly Wales consider this your awakening. Welcome, you’ve been missing out.

The Rainbow Confetti Ring by Polly Wales

I lost it in the 5th grade after pairing a bright yellow poncho with fuzzy yellow round earrings. At 5’6” I was already much taller than most of my classmates, so it really shouldn’t have been that surprising that they started calling me Big Bird. Later on, Big Bird changed to Gisele and I was like fine, cool, call me Gisele like the model - guess I’m the Ugly Duckling incarnate. They tried to explain that they were calling me Giselle because that was the name I had taken in French class and I had spindly legs like a gazelle but we both knew it was because I was super hot like the model.

Anyway, you should really take two things from that story. The most important thing is that I’m so hot that my middle to high school peers continually got me mixed up with the famed ex-wife of Tom Brady / 10-year VS fashion show Angel - Gisele Bundchen, and the second, less important thing, is that when I talk about “style” I really don’t have a good track record.

But the facts speak for themselves, folks. And dubious style aside, I can undoubtedly say that if you want an oval cut diamond engagement ring- you might just be, a basic bitch.

But why is the oval cut basic? And is that necessarily a bad thing? To get to the bottom of this pumpkin spice conundrum let’s go back to the beginning.

The origin of the oval cut diamond

It’s a bit difficult to figure out just how long the oval cut diamond has been around. In my research, most scholars ascribe the first oval cut diamond, the famous Koh-i-Noor stone, to 1304 when it was in the possession of the Kakatiya dynasty. Later it served as a tribute to the Delhi Sultanate post-subjugation and then switched hands a buuuunch more times until 1849 when the British, true to their nature, colonized the state of Punjab and bullied a 10-year-old into signing over his position and diamond to the British.

Now it’s worth mentioning that we actually have no written text that backs up the early claims that the Koh-i-Noor was both a) oval cut and b) owned by the people stated above. There is a lot of mythology around the stone though, in fact, Hindu mythology maintains that the Koh-i-Noor dates back millennia and is mentioned in the Bhagavita and Vishnu Puranas as the Syamantaka stone which had magical powers.

Myths aside the first written text that speaks of its presence is from 1628 when Shah Jahan of the Mughal Empire (also known as the guy behind the Taj Mahal and portrait cut diamonds) commissioned an ornate throne that featured glittering gem-encrusted peacocks and massive effing diamonds. Mughal historian, Abdul Hamid Lahori, described the Peacock throne as containing the 186-carat Koh-i-Noor diamond, 95-carat Akbar Shah diamond, 88.77-carat Shah diamond, and 83-carat Jahangir diamond.

Long story short, the throne was later dismantled by invading forces. And the diamond was removed and worn on an armband by Persian conqueror Nader Shah. Later, after the British gained possession of the stone, Prince Edward had the diamond recut from the rose cut facets to the brilliant style to improve its sparkle before being set into the crowns of British royalty.

Ok, so the origins of the oval cut diamond are, in fact, the opposite of basic. It’s actually kind of metal as fuck and steeped in bloodshed. So why, you might find yourself asking, is the oval cut diamond considered basic today? That can be attributed to the rise of the brilliant style faceting which led to the creation of the modern oval cut diamond.

Modern Oval Cut Diamonds

When I say oval cut diamond, what do you imagine? Probably something like this:

The oval cut diamond that you see in your mind’s eye is attributed to diamond cutter Lazare Kaplan.

Like the Koh-i-Noor, there really isn’t clear evidence of a specific date of invention. Rather, most sources just vaguely mention the early 1960s. In fact, even Kaplan’s obituary from 1986 doesn’t mention his part in the invention of the oval cut diamond and instead chooses to focus on his cutting of the 726-carat Jonker diamond. (Which like, side note, but how impressive is it that inventing a whole-ass diamond cut is the least interesting thing about this man?)

Characteristics of the oval shape

Facets and length-to-width ratios

The modern oval cut is much like the round brilliant it has 58 facets and a pointed culet at its bottom. Unlike the round brilliant, it’s top and bottom is elongated, creating the oval shape we know and love.

Consider the ideal length-to-width ratio (aka the length of the diamond compared to its width) to be from 1.36-1.5. As you can see above, the larger the length-to-width ratio of your diamond, the less round it will be. Similarly, the closer to 1.00, the more round it will appear.

While the ideal length-to-width ratio is beautiful, many people are finding themselves drawn to elongated ovals as well. Honestly, I think that if you’re going to go above 1.5 you should probably just shoot for a Marquise diamond.

Just be aware that longer diamonds carry most of their carat weight on their table (aka the diamond part that you see when you’re looking directly down at it). This means that if you want a thick diamond, a long diamond may not be for you. This also means that you should be particularly wary of bowties. And no, we’re not talking about the fancy type of bowtie that you wear to a gala.

Bow ties in oval cut diamonds 

A diamond’s bow tie is the area of shadow that stretches across the middle of its table and appears in the shape of a bow tie. Here’s the thing, every oval diamond will contain a bow tie
(I guess you could say that they wouldn’t be caught dead without one).  The bow tie is a result of light blockage from outside of the diamond. And the cause of that blockage? It’s your big head preventing light from entering the diamond. 

Hopefully, you don’t have a bow tie shaped head, so why is your shadow reflected as a bow tie? This has a lot to do with the cut, polish, and symmetry of your diamond. As a reminder, oval cut diamonds are simply elongated round brilliants. The longer pavilion facets, primarily in the center of your oval, tend to absorb light from the highest points overhead. So when your big fat noggin is directly above it, you’re blocking the light from entering those specific facets. 

“Ok, but what about refraction?” You might ask, “Light enters diamonds from different angles and then usually bounces around the facets and exits at a different angle. So shouldn’t there be light coming from the bow tie area in the diamond?” Well, sure but due to the length and number of the pavilion facets, the light that enters your stone has less places to refract out to and is more likely to be directed out than up at you. Plus, the nature of a shadow is one that blocks light. 

Afraid of the bow tie? You really shouldn’t be. Not all bow ties are bad. Think of a diamond’s bow tie as one of its quirky traits that make your diamond uniquely yours. Of course, there is a difference between a bow tie that adds character and pizazz and one that looks like a big, black bar.

So, if you’re looking to avoid a glaring bow tie in your oval, try to do the following:

• Prioritize oval cut diamonds with an 8 main faceting pattern.

  When you look directly onto the table of your diamond you’ll notice something of a star shaped pattern. That pattern is the main facet of your oval diamond the number of main referencing the number of points of that star. More mains = more points = more flash thanks to the ability of the facet to bounce light around. And more bouncing light = a less pronounced bow tie.

• Request ASET testing

  ASET (Angular Spectrum Evaluation Tool) testing is a way to determine the light performance of a diamond. With an ASET test, a color coded map is created that visualizes the light performance of your diamond. Take a look at the diamonds below, while you might think that the bow tie-y red swath stretching predominantly across the table is your bow tie that actually means fantastic light return. It’s the blue dark stretch inside of the red you’ll want to be on the lookout for. So that solid line of blue in the first diamond? That’s no good.

  

• Examine the oval cut diamond that you want in person

  A lot of online jewelry retailers will offer photos and videos of your diamond but this doesn’t always paint the entire picture. If you’re able to, get up close to your diamond IRL to see the bow tie effect in action. That way, you can determine how much yours might annoy or delight you. And pro tip: try looking at the diamond in different types of light. A bow tie will appear differently under fluorescents than the hazy outdoor or bright light.

Ok, cool yeah, but why is the oval basic?

Simply put, over saturation. Engagement rings are no strangers to micro trends but for the past few years, ovals have been seriously having a moment.

Despite getting engaged six years ago, Hailey Bieber’s oval solitaire set atop a thin gold band maintains a tight chokehold over the Pinterest boards of the soon-to-be engaged.

And its not just Bieber.

Ariana Grande, Kourtney Kardashian, Simon Biles, and more have proudly rocked the oval rock.

But just because the oval diamond is popular doesn’t make it basic. No, what makes it basic is that it’s the shape choice for those who like to tiptoe daringly close to originality without actually diving into the pool. It's that shape that says, "I'm different, but not too different." This little gem is perfect for the person who picks vanilla ice cream but insists on a sprinkle of nutmeg to make it 'exotic.'

The oval diamond is like the comfortable middle child of the diamond family. It’s not as boldly traditional as a round brilliant or as defiantly unique as a pear shape. Instead, it strikes a safe, middle-of-the-road balance that whispers, 'I like to play it safe, but I also subscribe to a lifestyle blog.'

But let's not be too harsh—it does have its perks. Its elongated shape can make the wearer’s fingers appear more slender, which is a sly nod to practical magic. And it’s versatile enough to look quietly classy without screaming for attention—essentially high society's version of wearing white after Labor Day.

And taking all of that into account? The oval diamond being basic isn’t a bad thing at all. In fact, pour me some pumpkin-spice anything and call me a basic bitch because I am in.

Oval Diamond Rings I’m Obsessing Over

I’m the not so glamorous brain behind Fizz & Spark.

New here? If you don’t know me IRL you’ve probably found me via the magic of Substack (and a whole lot of SEO), and you’re probably (hopefully) into:

• Diamonds!

• Engagement rings!

• Fine Jewelry!

• History!

• Humor!

• Gemstones!

• Birthstones!

• Astrology and Zodiac Stones!

• Designing your own engagement ring!

• Proposing!

• Buying an engagement ring!

• Buying any ring!

• Pretty, sparkly, things!

Maybe you’re here because you’re hoping to get engaged. Maybe you’re here because you just like learning about engagement rings and diamonds. Maybe, you’re here because you want an unbiased opinion on buying diamonds. Regardless of your why, I’m glad to e-meet you.

Here’s what Fizz & Spark will cover

• Ultimate guides to diamond shapes, their histories, hidden meanings, pros, cons, how to buy, what to consider

• Diamond and gemstone ethics

• Diamond production

• Current engagement ring and fine jewelry trends

• How to buy engagement rings and diamonds

• Gemstones and their suitability for engagement rings / everyday rings

• The spiritual meanings of birthstone and zodiac stones

• Thought pieces re. things (IDK, this is up to my discretion ok)

• Explanations of prices and how much you should expect to pay and actually should pay

But why am I doing this / who gave me the authority?

Because I can, so I will.

But in all seriousness, I write about engagement rings for a living And in all honesty, I wasn’t a fan of diamonds when I started out in the industry. I found them outdated, wildly expensive, and, although beautiful, just plain boring.

Turns out, I just wasn’t aware of everything a diamond could be. There is so much more out there then round brilliant. I’m talking portrait, salt and pepper, old Mine, champagne, hexagon, kite, bullet, black…the list goes on and on and on. As I learned the history, the unique characteristics, and the world of under appreciated stones, I also developed a massive appreciation of the more mainstream shapes and designs.

As more and more of my friend are getting engaged I’m finding a deeper need to talk about the diamond industry. How to shop smart, how to not get caught up in the BS of diamond marketing (because, no, you should not be spending three months salary on an engagement ring), and more importantly, how to buy something you’ll love forever -whether it be a treat for yourself or a commitment to another.

I also just have a lot of opinions. And being able to write for myself, by myself, without trying to sell anything is freeing. With that being said… all things here are my opinion and do not reflect the organizations I’ve worked for. You won’t hear me telling you where to shop for a diamond or engagement ring because I’m wayy to biased in that. (But if you send me a dm or talk offline I’m happy to talk😉)

Anyway, welcome to Fizz & Spark!

Let’s get ready to rumblleeeeeeee.

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