Couples often come to Nagi Osta of Stamford’s Nagi Jewelers for custom his-and-hers wedding bands. Osta’s tip on collaborating on keepsakes is tried and true: “Know your lifestyle,” he says. “If you are a woman who loves to garden or a couple who spends your weekends rock climbing… don’t go too fancy.” A band of diamonds will easily get damaged.
He often suggests these couples collaborate on simple, platinum bands—perhaps with an interesting engraving or design flourish—because of its durability. “For lasting quality, platinum is king.” For maximum sparkle, Osta favors eternity rings in which stones are set around the entire band. The round-the-finger ice means that even when a ring slips a little (even the best fits do!) the band won’t need adjusting.
For engagement rings, add drama with a halo setting. This design incorporates surrounding a dominant stone with a ring of tiny diamonds for a statement-making pop, says Osta, who often suggests the micro pavé setting for engagement diamonds of 1 to 1.5 carats to enhance their impact. Or consider cushion cut diamond settings, which he notes are quickly replacing the princess cut as the shape-of-the-moment in engagement rings. “It’s got such soft corners that it, too, really shows off the diamond to a beautiful effect.”