TIPS!

Here is a random thought/tidbit for everyone who loves to take advantage of the sales after the holidays.

These sales, should not, let me repeat, SHOULD NOT apply to shopping for a diamond engagement ring.

Of course, this may seem appealing but be wary.

If you do your research, you will see these "marked down, sale prices" are pretty close to what you may have believed to be the regular price.

The catch?  Check the "original price."  This will be inflated and then compared to the "discounted" price, will seem reasonable.

Got it?

Don't forget to come visit us on January 13, 2011 to learn how to buy an engagement ring at RFS!

Send us your Men!!

The holidays are upon us, literally.  Here in South Florida, they sneak right up on you.

We want to let you know that after all the presents are opened, champagne bottles are popped, and leftovers are gone RFS is having a small get-together for those guys that didn't get their act together in time for this year's holidays.

Come, have some beer, wings, and settle down to a comfortable evening with (or without) your friends to learn about diamonds, and how the heck you go about choosing an engagement ring!
Devoted girlfriends, you are MORE than welcome to accompany your guys or you can simply send them to us so you can be sure he does it right.

                                  YOU ARE INVITED!

THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT IS FOR THE MEN ONLY:

Did you run out of time?  We understand it's hard enough to Christmas shop for her but you want to propose and you don't know where to start.  You ask your other married or engaged friends where to go and end up with 7 different names, because everyone's "got a diamond guy".  Which isn't actually helpful at all.  You still feel COMPLETELY confused.  You've never bought jewelry, and this is a BIG one!

We have an EASY resolution for you AND your (semi-deliquent) friends that are in the same boat.  You should all resolve to get educated on engagement rings and start looking, NOW.  Face it, if you want it to be a good year...the easiest way is to make her happy!  You can thank us for your relationship bliss, later.

THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT IS FOR THE WOMEN ONLY:

We are here to help.  If you sig other drops the ball through the holidays and by the new year you haven't picked up the title of fiance yet, send him to us!  No need to drop any more hints.  We will walk him through finding/creating the perfect ring for you.  We PROMISE to help.

Sadie Hawkins would be Proud!

Sadie Hawkins, as we all know it, refers to a dance where the girls ask the boys.  Sadie Hawkins Day originates from the character, Sadie Hawkins, in the Lil' Abner comic strip, by Al Capp, in 1937.  In the comic strip all the single ladies of Dogpatch chased the bachelors and whoever was caught got married.  Somehow, this later transcended into events we know as Sadie Hawkins dances.

More now than ever some wedding traditions are being thrown out the window.

Women proposing to their men would make lovely little Sadie Hawkins proud.  According to an article in Brides Magazine's December 2010 issue, 50% of women polled said that they would propose to their boy if they were sure he'd say yes.  There is even some testimonials featured from women who did the deed and "popped the question."

There was a section where the magazine questioned men on the street, most of them thought it would be awkward or weird.  Surprised?

Also, according to Brides' December issue, a whopping 6% of men wear engagement rings!

Would you propose to your guy?

And if you did, would you buy your desired hub to be a 'Manrock'?

By the way, RFS could design, if wanted, men's engagement rings or 'Manrocks'.

Not to worry, there is Hope for you!!

Hope Henderson is a local make up artist who will be providing the RFS blog with monthly tips on make up trends for every occasion, whether you're the bride or a guest she will let us know how everyone can look their absolute best for all their special moments. 

I asked Hope how she became interested in make-up and she isn't really sure where the passion came from.  She says she never wore that much in high school but loved playing with eye shadow. Her friends recognized her talent and would ask her to do their make up. At 20, she decided to go to Cosmix School of Makeup Artistry in Ft. Lauderdale where she refined her skills and learned techniques like airbrushing, and custom blending. She later went to Florida Academy of Skincare to get her esthetician license so she is able to educate clients about their skin while doing their makeup. 

In 2005, Hope was hired by MAC.  She knew she had found her niche.  MAC forced her to see outside of the box and Hope says she would spend countless hours outside observing others.  She was quickly given more responsibility and  excelled with it.  In 2007, she became a MAC store Assistant Manager.  In 2008, Hope was able to open a new MAC counter as the Manager and in 2009 she took the position as Store Manager in Sarasota. In 5 years Hope was able to do makeup on everyone from 8-92 years old and every skin color/skin type. 
 

Hope loved working for MAC but realized that the next promotion would mean more paperwork and less makeup.  Hope was getting married now and moving back to Naples and this was perfect opportunity to start her own business. In her first year of business, she far exceeded her expectations, not only having done plenty of wedding parties, she was able to do more editorial shoots. One highlight was being the makeup artist for the Naples International Film Festival Poster this year and she said seeing the poster around the city was surreal.  Another was when Paige Miles, of American Idol, asked Hope to do her make up when she was in town for a charity event.

Now, Hope is anxiously looking forward to 2011 and what it’s going to bring. She is open to work with anyone and travel anywhere.  Check out some of her work below!  RFS can't wait to hear tips from Hope and share them with you! 
 
http://www.hopeartistry.com/

Conflict-Free Info and Options

RFS does ONLY conflict-free diamonds in our engagement rings.  

WHAT DOES CONFLICT-FREE MEAN?

The term conflict-free, in reference to diamonds, is the opposite but stems from conflict diamonds, which are diamonds that originate from regions or areas that are controlled by groups opposing the internationally recognized government.

An example of this would be rebel terror groups using the diamonds to fund their terror acts.  These groups enslave (among other horrid things) local populations to mine the diamonds.  

You can check out more in depth information here on the United Nations Website: 

http://www.un.org/peace/africa/Diamond.html

WHY SHOULD YOU WANT A CONFLICT-FREE DIAMOND?

RFS asks why would you want the symbolization of your love for your significant other to have such a negative history?  You now have the option to have your engagement ring represent your love wholly.

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RFS came across another jeweler doing their part not selling conflict supporting pieces.  

Monique Pean creates jewelry from fossilized woolly mammoth ivory.  By the ivory being fossilized and from woolly mammoths there weren't any elephants killed simply for their ivory (which had become such a problem it is now illegal).  Below is a set of earrings by Monique.  Kudos!

  

Choosing an Engagement Ring with RFS

Choosing an engagement ring is not an activity you can practice to master and end up with the perfect ring.    For the majority of us, it is a once in a lifetime opportunity.  You have one shot to get it right.  Stressed yet?   Where do you start?  Google? Then what, follow us on Facebook or Twitter? (which you should)  STRESSFUL!

For those of you that (unfortunately) choose to remain anonymous this post will give you some insight into how we do, what we do, and an idea of the options available to you.

First, we will tell you about us.  RFS started in Brooklyn with only about 20 customizable options for conflict-free diamonds and recycled metals.  We've made it all the way to Midtown Miami and now offer 150 customizable engagement rings.  Conflict-free means the diamonds have not funded any wars or spurred any human rights violations.  Using recycled metals helps reduce the effects mining has on our planet.

We will then walk you through choosing a ring from our 150 customizable options and choosing a center stone by teaching you the 4 Cs (carat weight, color, clarity, and cut).   You will then choose the metal; palladium, platinum, white gold, yellow gold, and pink gold.

The 4 C's:

Feel better yet?  After we have showed you every option and taught you how to figure out what is best for you, we will help you create the perfect ring.  Now that your prepped, come see us!

Next up.... the proposal, but that's all you! :)

Your story :)

This is the first (hopefully, of many) of YOUR STORIES.  If you have any fun, funny, adorable, thoughtful, unique, or heart-melting engagement (or wedding) stories send them our way and you may find yourself on the RFS blog. 

Josh and Kerri - Our friends from Syracuse, NY.

Josh is in med school at SUNY Upstate and is your textbook nice guy (no really, they do exist).

Kerri is a very energetic, fun-loving teacher with a hard not to love, infectious laugh.

Josh and Kerri went to the same church as kids, where his father is a minister.  Kerri's two brothers and Josh were childhood friends.  Josh eventually moved away.

Years later, they ran into each other at Al's Whiskey Lounge, in downtown Syracuse.  Picture.... former cigar bar, huge wine and liquor selections and a WIDE array of cheeses to be paired with the wines. 

Josh, the ice-breaker, commented on Kerri's cheese plate, perhaps after a drink or three.  She later learned, he was sincerely interested in her cheese.  He likes cheese. 

A couple dates and two and half years later.  Josh popped the question.

Josh and Kerri went hiking at the Taughannock Falls in Ithaca, NY. 

He set up the camera in front of the falls and set the timer to catch them both in front a beautiful background. 

Ehh, a little displeased with the photo, Josh stayed put and sent Kerri to set the timer again.

This time, at precisely the moment the photo was being taken, Josh got down on one knee and proposed to Kerri.

OF COURSE, she said YES!

Josh and Kerri are getting married this Memorial Day before Josh starts his residency (perhaps we can get him to choose Miami and bring Kerri with him). 

Love is in Miami!

Oh wait, you live here? In South Florida?!  You saw the 'Love is in the Air' package and thought we forgot you?!  Don't fret my pet!  We, first and foremost, want to take care of you, that's why we moved to Miami!

We also offer a package called 'Love is in Miami' for those of you that will not be flying in from far, far away but we do want to make choosing the ring a special, very personal experience for you and your other half.

'Love is in Miami' offers you a luxurious suite in downtown Miami's Viceroy Hotel, bottle service alongside their infinity pool 50 floors up at Club 50,  meals in their fine dining establishments, treatments in their 28,000 square foot full-service spa, and a private viewing and design consultation with Tara Rose and the RFS team to create the perfect engagement ring in the privacy of your suite. 

Sounds like the perfect plan, right?  For additional information and pricing, please call (786) 888-4515.

Up, Up and AWAY!! Ring Finger Studio's Love is in the Air Package

RFS is one of a kind, from diamonds, to experience, to... options custom, personal, special options.  Our newest option is the Love is in the Air package.

This includes:

Round Trip Private Jet Service
Limousine Transport
A Suite at the Viceroy Hotel in Downtown Miami
Viceroy Spa Package
Full Concierge for your entire Getaway

You will be flown in a private jet down to Miami and stay in one of the unbelievable suites at downtown's Viceroy hotel where designer, Tara Rose will have dozens of diamonds at your fingertips.  Here, her and the RFS team will walk you through your private consultation to create your own one of a kind engagement ring!

For information and Pricing, please call (786) 888-4515!

Adventures in Art Basel

Art Basel, where do I start? Definitely something I could get used to..  There was so much going on and so many options every single day!! We started off the week right with some pre-Basel parties, the Gold for Life party and the Vanity Fair party at the MoCa.  The rest of the week was a whirlwind of galleries and parties.

We made to the MB Convention Center, of course, explored the Wynwood and Design District galleries, checked out the highly recommended Seven gallery, attended the Paper Magazine Party and Vogue Italia Party and even got to party right on our rooftop in Midtown.  Not bad for beginner Baselers!

Here is a quick look at our adventures through Art Basel.

Stardust by Adam Cvijanovic, 2010 at Seven

Both of these were VERY detailed in pencil and we saw them at Seven.  

In a Wynwood gallery.  The artist is named Calder.

More from a Wynwood gallery.

From the party in Midtown.

Only at Miami Beach Art Basel, temporary "ta-ta" tattoos!

This is an egg!!

The above three are from galleries in the Design District.

Vintage shopping!

The Vogue Italia party at SET.

Next  year's game plan - even more events and even less sleep!!  Basel tov!

World's Most EXPENSIVE Diamond Sold for.....

Last month Sotheby's, one of the world's oldest auction house, sold the most expensive diamond to date.  Check out the pic below!!

The Stats
This ring is a 24.78 carat "fancy intense pink", emerald cut, with rounded edges, diamond set in platinum between two smaller trillion cut diamonds and is said to be graded internally flawless.

The Buyer
British billionaire/diamond dealer, Laurence Gaff battled multiple bidders for the ring.

The History
The stone was last sold by New York jeweller, Henry Winston, over 60 years ago.

The Price
$45.72 MILLION, which is about two times more than the previous record holder for most expensive gemstone sold.

Unbelievable, right?

I'll take two please!


Credit Simon Bradley at swissinfo.ch

LIKE us, CALL us, FOLLOW us, CHECK-IN with us, RFS wants to hear from you!

Things are finally starting to settle down for RFS in Midtown.  We had the grand opening party, got Rachael on board, got home for the holiday, and made it through our first Miami Beach Art Basel (which we will do a full RFS adventures through Basel blog post this week).

Now we will be adding more content to our blogs such as interesting wedding related posts and events we attend in Miami.  We also want to add your stories from pre-engagement to the big day!!

With that being said you can contact RFS in many ways now, which are listed below.

Rachael can be emailed at Rachael@ringfingerstudio.com.  Send her all of your stories!
Twitter.com/RingFingerMiami
Facebook.com/RingFingerStudio
and of course here, www.ringfingerstudio.blogspot.com

You can also find us on an array of websites for info and reviews, which are listed below.  Search for us at:
http://www.modernluxury.com/
http://www.yelp.com/
http://www.citybest.com/
http://www.where2butlers.com/
http://www.blackbookmag.com/
http://www.weddingchannel.com/

Looking forward to hearing from you and learning about you all!  Hope to (expect to) hear from you soon!! :)

Vanity Fair Party at MOCA

So, night two of the Pre-Basel events we attended the Vanity Fair Party at the Museum of Contemporary Art in North Miami.

The party coincided with the opening of Bruce Webber's Haiti/Little Haiti - a series of photos of Miami's Haitian community in response to the U.S. immigration system in which Haitian citizens were detained indefinitely unlike refugees from other countries who were usually released to family or friends while awaiting asylum hearings.  

It also featured sculpture by Johnathan Meese, which are essentially "frozen surrogates" for Meese.  Against the opinion of a very sweet elderly named Myrtle, who was convinced that Johnathan Meese is a "Sicko" because of the abundance of male genitalia, we all really liked the work.

We left MOCA and made a stop at "Cheese Me", one of Miami's most talked about food trucks.  There is definite reason for the buzz.  The sandwiches were amazing!

The night continued with an after party thrown by the MOCA Shakers Bardot just a couple of blocks away from us in Midtown with music by AGAPE featuring Nadia Harris, who has an absolutely yummy voice even when she talks.  

Great time all around!

Some of the pics are by us, some are thanks to Llmar Saar.

Art Basel Kick Off with RFS

We’re back!

Back from NY and we’ve already attended our first Art Basel event, Gold for Life. To attend Gold for Life you could just give a standard donation or you were able to donate your old gold jewelry as your donation to the Art Basel kick off party. After our donation, we walked through a bevy of clipboard carrying, shimmering, young women that directed us to the “backyard” of the “venue”, which was a Palm Island mansion (if your in the market, its available through real estate big shots The Jills), where there were PLENTY of glittering Art Basel lovers, artists, socialites, and golden painted and bikini clad women surrounding a mosaic tiled pool littered, if you will, with paintings and surrounded by art! We were able to meet with a couple of the featured artists. There were a couple small jewelry vendors, complimentary 42 below cocktails, much needed espresso, and Sephora goodie bags on the way out.

The entrance to the Palm Island mansion.

The fountain area overlooking the intercoastal and downtown Miami.

Behind the mansion. Picture courtesy of Julian Sala, http://www.juliansula.com/.

View from the fountain over the pool towards the mansion, courtesy of Julian Sala, http://www.juliansula.com/.

RFS ring Rachael wore to the event.

Tara and Rachael of RFS.

View of the fountain and some of the models from the pool house.

The golden event benefited “A Gift for Life”, which funds research for pediatric cancer founded by Paula Roldos and “United Aliens Artists” fund which teaches art to underprivileged children around the world, founded by Olga Ortiz Mera.



All in all we officially have our first Art Basel event under our belts and will be checking out the International Vanity Fair party/reception tonight at the MoCa to let everyone know about RFS!



Our Ohhhh-Sooooo Gorgeous Stationary

Fellow Pratt Institute graduate and super designer Ray Shappell designed our logo and fabulously beautiful letterpress stationary.  I was lucky enough to have Ray photograph the process at Kallemeyn Press in Brooklyn.