1. Vintage engagement rings are unique. Unlike most of what’s available in your typical jewelry store, a vintage engagement ring is not being churned out by the hundreds. This piece has its own history and its own composition. There may be similar rings out there, but each one is special.

2. Vintage engagement rings are REALLY pretty. Antique engagement rings tend to balance design and materials in a way that’s more balanced than the contemporary emphasis on materials. The workmanship is often more detailed than on contemporary pieces, and the decorative motifs are typically more fully-developed in a vintage piece than in jewelry made today.

3. A vintage engagement ring is a connection to the past. There’s no relationship that’s quite like yours. But people have been getting married for EONS, and it’s nice to be reminded that you’re not alone in this, you’re together with a long tradition of people experiencing joy and sadness, elation followed by some slogging through. It helps to keep things in context.

4. A vintage engagement ring is a good value. The labor involved in recreating most vintage pieces would be cost-prohibitive today. Also, vintage rings tend to do a great job of using details and design elements to highlight materials, so a vintage engagement ring with a small-ish stone tends to look more substantial than the same small-ish stone in a modern setting.

5. Vintage engagement rings are eco-friendly. Vintage engagement rings are the ultimate in stewardship. So if you’re thinking about seven generations ahead (or even just about your own self living on a nice planet), selecting a ring that’s already in existence instead of making and using more STUFF seems like a no-brainer.

We’ve added a few vintage necklaces to our collection of vintage jewelry. These pieces are pricey enough that you’ll need to really love them, but they’re the kind of pieces you’ll wear until you’re OLD.

In the collection now: Vintage Octagonal Sapphire Necklace, $1260; Vintage Diamond Necklace, $1140; and this amazing sapphire and diamond necklace, $900.

These two pairs of vintage earrings are identical - in white gold and yellow gold. We don’t know much about them, except that they were owned by the same person. Love the practicality - “I like these earrings, I want to wear them all the time, and I want them to look good with EVERYTHING.” A yellow gold person? You’ve met your match. A white gold person? Ditto. Not into commitment? These earrings are four kindred spirits.

Now at Turtle Love Co.: Vintage White Gold Diamond Earrings, $540; and Vintage Yellow Gold Diamond Earrings, $540.

Ordering an engagement ring online can sound weird and impersonal, but it can also be a really great way to support an independent business and get a ring that’s really YOU. Here’s what you need to know about ordering a ring online.

1. Check the ring’s measurements. Lots of times jewelry is measured in millimeters, which can be alien to someone used to thinking in inches. Get out your ruler so you can visualize how big the ring is. Look at all the pictures, including the model shots, so you can see what the ring will look like on. For lots of our products, you can even watch a product video to get a better idea of the product in space.

2. Talk to your partner. Make sure you’re buying something that your love will like! Many people talk very specifically about what the ring should be like. If you’d rather keep it more of a surprise, you can still talk to your partner. Knowing how your dearest feels about diamonds or vintage jewelry or appropriate size (dainty vs. bold) will help you get the right ring.

3. Figure out the right ring size. We can send you a ring sizer that works like a cable tie (except that it doesn’t lock onto your finger) to help you choose the right size. If you want to get the right size without asking your partner, check out our pdf ring sizer, where you can use a (non-stretchy) string to measure the diameter of the finger, or use an existing ring to determine the right size.

4. Email us! If you have any questions at all, don’t hesitate to email us. We field all sorts of questions about all different products. Every purchase is important, and we want to make sure that all of your questions are answered.

5. Call us! Most of our customers prefer to talk with us by email, but you can always pick up the phone to chat, too! It’s fun to hear from you and sort-of-almost meet you. We can also take orders over the phone, if that’s more comfortable for you. Our phone number is 207.699.4062.

6. Order a sample, if it’s available. We know that this can be a big financial commitment. If you want to see your ring in person before you put up the big bucks, let us know. We can often send a sample of the ring you want in less-expensive materials, so that you can check out the workmanship and feel and size. The samples ARE NOT for purchase. We’ll charge you for the sample, and when you return it, we’ll refund your credit card. Then, if you liked what you saw, you can purchase the real thing.

7. Place your order - we’ll take care of the rest! Our online ordering system is secure and easy-to-use. If you have any problems, or if you prefer to order over the phone, don’t hesitate to call us.

BUT WHAT IF THERE ARE PROBLEMS??

Of course, we all want to make sure that you don’t have problems, that the ring arrives, it’s exactly what you thought it would be. Following all of the advice above helps avoid mishaps. But if something isn’t right? Email us! We’ll help. We can help with resizing rings. If it’s just not the ring for you, you can return it within 30 days according to our friendly return policy.

Boy, these additions to our collection of vintage engagement rings are gorgeous, aren’t they?

Pictured: Vintage Engagement Ring with Cushion Cut Sapphire, circa 1900; $1755. Vintage Engagement Ring with Delicate Scrolls, circa 1960; $3670. Vintage Engagement Ring with Emerald, circa 1900, $1625.

Here at Turtle Love Co., we sell engagement and wedding rings, but we know they’re not essential items. We know that you don’t NEED an engagement ring to prove that you’re planning to get married. And we know that you don’t NEED a wedding ring to demonstrate that you’re married.

We also get that almost all of us LIKE to share and to cherish these gifts that represent our most important relationships. So we offer a wide variety of rings, at a variety of price points, and in a variety of aesthetic styles, so that you can find the piece that matches your life, your “look,” and your budget.

But say you have exactly zero dollars to allot to engagement ring? Here are some options.

1. Go without an engagement ring. That’s what I did. I’d been engaged once before, and an engagement just didn’t make sense in the context of our relationship. Of course, when I told my friends that my husband and I were getting married, even my most progressive feminist friends would look to my left hand. But that didn’t change the fact that I was getting married.

2. Go for a silly engagement ring. Say, a stretchy sequined number. This could cost you slightly more than zero dollars, but not more than 0.5 dollars. The vending machines at the grocery store could be a good source. This is a good option for people with a sense of humor.

3. Get a piece of string. You know, the “reminder.” Before we were married, my husband and I had some sort of disagreement (the subject of which is now long forgotten, and was probably not that important in the first place - actually, now that I think of it, I probably hurt his feelings by being short and distant and self-involved. But back to my point…). As I apologized, I took a little piece of yarn and tied it around his finger to remind him that I loved him. He wore it for weeks. I’m pretty sure it’s still around somewhere.

4. Use a Sharpie. OK, this might not be really GOOD for you, but it’s probably not any worse than your morning coffee. You know those wedding ring tattoos that some people rock? Make your own. Bonus: this is like a thousand rings in one, because you can draw a different one every time!

5. Use a ring that you’ve already got. It is TOTALLY not required that you buy NEW stuff because you’re getting married. If you or your partner already have a ring that you like, stick it on your left ring finger and you’ve got an engagement ring.

6. Use a ring that someone else has. Most people don’t have this luxury, but it’s not as crazy as it sounds. Does your mom have a ring in her dresser that’s lovely and not getting enough attention? Give it a buffing, and it’s an engagement ring! It doesn’t need to have an illustrious place in your family history.

7. Get an engagement garbage can. Or puppy. Or whatever. We asked our Facebook fans to tell us about how they decided to get married, one super-practical gal told us about how she wasn’t into spending money on unnecessary things, and her love bought her a really nice garbage can. So go ahead, make an item for which you DID have more than a zero-dollar budget your multipurpose engagement celebration gift.