Meet RFS!

CHRISTOPHER CARITA - Co-Founder of RFS

The SERIOUS STUFF:

Chris deserves, but usually refuses to take the credit for the idea behind Ring Finger Studio.

He and Tara were walking up 86th street in Brooklyn, and he was quietly reflecting on his friends, more and more of whom were taking the plunge into marriage.  It occurred to him that each one of them had contacted Tara to get some help with the overwhelming process of purchasing an engagement ring, and each one of them felt confused about where to go and what to do.  They all dreaded walking into a traditional jewelry store, clueless, feeling pressured, feeling like everyone was watching, or judging what they chose and how much they were spending.

Known for having complete conversations in his head,  Chris blurted out, "Why does nobody specialize in engagement rings?  It's the biggest and usually the first jewelry purchase a guy will make?"

Weeks later, a new business was born. A place that specialized in the most important jewelry purchases in life, place that was comfortable, relaxed, and private.  And the rest as they say is, history.

The REAL STUFF:

Chris is a hopeless romantic and incredibly kind.  He's quick to buy a meal for anyone down on their luck, and he literally would give you the shirt off of his back.

He loves to cook, and recently has mastered baking bread.  His prize loaves are born from the oldest sourdough starter in the country, originating in the 1700's in New England.  A romantic even when it comes to his baking.

Chris loves playing basketball, is a Scrabble fantatic, loves imported artisan beers, and the mechanics of how things are engineered (especially guns)

Any other questions for Chris?  Email him at Chris@ringfingerstudio.com


Photo Courtesy of Ashley Brockinton Photography

Exclusive RFS Trunk Show with hip.e

RFS is collaborating with the upscale boutique, hip.e, in Coral Gables.  On the evening of January 27 at 6pm hip.e owner, Mari Alarcon-Grimalt is extending an additional 20 percent discount to those shoppers that come to see RFS's signature conflict-free diamond engagement rings along with a very special collection of estate pieces that will only be available that night at hip.e.

Come and enjoy drinks and light snacks by fellow Miracle Mile staple, Seasons 52 while shopping Mari's unique mix of apparel and RFS's never before seen estate rings.

This is an event you surely will not want to miss.  Please contact us with any questions at info@ringfingerstudio.com.  You can RSVP here!

Beer, Rings and Wings, January 13, 2011

The morning after has arrived and I would definitely deem Beer, Rings and Wings, our event on how to buy an engagement ring, a complete success!  If you hadn't heard, the invitation to the event that RFS put on last night is above.

Some chicken wings and a couple beers into the evening our guys tested their diamond knowledge, learned  some tips on where to start and some questions to keep in mind when engagement ring shopping.

A casual setting at Buro Miami in Midtown, where our studio is located, allowed the guys to get comfy, ask a lot of questions  and be very involved in discussions with the RFS team.

One lucky guy even brought home a $250 gift certificate he can use towards an engagement ring at RFS!

A special thanks to Miami New Times, Urban Daddy and Soul of Miami for featuring our event on their websites.

Wait one second, you're shopping for a ring (or know someone who is) aimlessly? And you didn't know about last night!?  Not to worry, we will hold more informative events very soon.  Send us your email address to info@ringfingerstudio.com and we will make sure you are personally invited.

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.

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

Naming the rings...

There has been much discussion in the past few months of how we were going to name all of the new rings. Style numbers are so boring, and probably because we've spent so much time with each ring, we really love them! They're dear to our hearts, and we just felt that they deserved some personality.

Here are some of my favorites:

www.ringfingerstudio.com

Hello Florida!

We've touched down in Florida and we're fast at work getting our new studio together.

Here's a preview of a few of our over 100 customizable engagement rings that are going to be on display in our studio. They're so fantastic! They're all made from 100% recycled metals and conflict free diamonds, which adds to their fantastic-ness!

Looking forward to meeting all of you Southern Floridians in the months to come!