Ring in the fashionista

When it comes to jewellery, I am hardly the typical girl–diamonds are not yet my best friend. I like them well enough (who does not like sparkling things?), but I am not hopelessly in love with them. Having barely achieved financial independence, spending thousands of dollars on precious stones and metals are not at the top of my priority list. However, I do have my weakness. I have a soft spot for rings or finger candies—they’re my poison of choice. From those wildly out of my league to wallet-friendly options, here are my picks.

In general, I find white gold uninspiring, even sterile. Instead, the old soul in me is attracted to the alluring charms of coloured gold. Late last year, I picked up a trio of rose gold crystal rings from Harbin. At about $25 a pop, they cost next to nothing. While they are hardly premium jewellery, they have the burnished, antique look that I adore. I especially love that you can stack them on the same finger.

There is something very decadent about stacked rings, and none more so than the beautiful celebration rings from bauble mecca, Tiffany & Co. Birthdays, anniversaries or the birth of a new baby is reason enough to add one of these stunningly gorgeous rings to your collection, isn’t it? Featuring exquisite coloured gems, these make perfect heirlooms to be handed from one generation to the next. Just a gentle reminder: with the more extravagant pieces priced from US$10,000, this is serious bling for the seriously loaded.

For those of us who don’t have a small fortune at our disposal, there are other ways to make a statement. Given a choice, I would pick high quality crystals over low-grade diamonds any day, because the former outshines the latter. Swarovski has a wide selection of well-designed rings that are encrusted with the brand’s famous crystals. Standout pieces include the chunkier rings from the nirvana collection, which comes in a myriad of colours. A more feminine but equally flamboyant option is the gemma ring in ruby. With most pieces retailing at less than $300, these are both affordable and elegant. During the Great Singapore Sale, Swarovski is having a 10% storewide sale, so head on down!

Instead of the generic white gold solitaire diamond ring, why not cast your net wider and get something different? While I know of few locals who are brave enough to buy their jewellery online, this is a relatively common practice overseas. In particular, some independent jewellery designers who sell their wares on Etsy have received very good feedback for their work. Kyle Anne Metals is a fine example with its delicate, handmade creations. As most Etsy jewellery designers are open to custom orders, you can have your ring exactly the way you want it. At very reasonable prices, these rings will make lovely gifts for friends or even a fabulous treat for yourself.

More recently, trends have veered towards tougher-looking rings that are more ‘fierce’ than dainty. Check celebrity street style blogger, Tommy’s Jak & Jil for pictures of stylish girls donning biker-inspired silver knuckle-dusters. These relatively inexpensive rings are easily available. Check out highstreet outlets like Forever21 and TopShop for their faux silver, gothic cocktail rings and do look out for the 1-for-1 deals during sale time. Novica is another good place to hunt for handcrafted rings with strong, unique designs. Pair these rugged accessories with a floral dress for extra edge.

There is nothing like a novelty ring to inject a little bit of fun into your day. The anti-thesis of luxury, plastic rings are great for a playful weekend out and about town. Plastique, an Etsy shop, offers a world landmarks acrylic ring set that may seem like a potential safety hazard. However, it is simply too clever to pass up. The Getto Blaster Boom Box acrylic ring is another must have. For those with a sweet tooth, Baggage (Far East Plaza, #03-98A) stocks an adorable collection of dessert rings, featuring miniature cupcakes and ice cream cones! Wear this to a party and you will have an excellent conversation starter.

Start giving your 10 digits some love and dress them up. At the very least, they will look so much prettier on the keyboard as you type away on a dreary workday!

Dottie Tan

Shopaholic Dottie Tan scours shops—big, small, online and offline—to unearth fashion must-haves and beauty gems that you did not know you needed. That’s until you read her weekly column, Fashion Nation on inSing.com, which tracks her retail adventures. Indulge yourself, go shopping!