I’ve been wondering what to do with my engagement ring for a while now. It’s a tale as old as divorce itself. Once the marriage is over, what are you supposed to do with the jewels?
Taking off a wedding band or engagement ring when splitting from a spouse is no joke. In fact, it’s often one of the hardest parts of the breakup; the removal of a treasured possession that once symbolised forever.
Of course, in the grand scheme of things, what women do with their jewellery after a breakup is not high on the list of priorities, but when Emily Ratajkowski recently debuted her two new “divorce rings” to an online audience of more than 30 million, she made a statement. Her repurposed Toi-Et-Moi rings (now two separate pieces created by the same jeweller, Alison Lou) not only diminish the stigma of separation, but actually kind of…celebrate it? And so, quicker than EmRata’s engagement ring became a Pinterest board staple, “divorce rings” have taken the jewellery industry by storm, ushering in a new era of The Loud Breakup.
“In Islam, it’s the woman’s right to keep the jewellery, so you might as well redesign them,” says Hiba Jaber, founder and designer of her eponymous Dubai-based brand. “You shouldn’t limit gemstones to marriage jewels, you can open them up and redesign them into anything beautiful to go hand-in-hand with the new chapter of your life.” The antithesis of superficial sparkle, you may say.
The reframing of divorce from scandalous and salacious is an attitudinal shift that more women are embracing – and I’m here for it. Instead of going through a breakup with a scarlet letter on our chest, we are celebrating our new-found independence, and – let’s be honest – also just trying to make the best of a really sh*tty situation.
“First we would book a meeting with a client, either online or at our showroom in d3. It helps us to understand the client’s story and get an idea of how she feels about this new stage of her life, so we can try and reflect that in the design of the ring. I personally recommend simplifying it into something effortless that can be styled up or down in different ways,” adds Hiba. “It’s a beautiful process, and we love seeing the original intention and sentiment of jewellery turn into something new that can always be worn. Fresh beginnings in life deserve beautiful new jewels – plus, you end up with a whole new look with a fraction of the price!”
Celebrating EmRata’s newly reconstructed diamonds does feel a bit like stepping into full boss b*tch feminism territory, and, after all, investing in yourself is always a good idea. As the old saying goes: diamonds are forever – even if, sadly, the marriage might not be.
Click here to read Cosmo ME’s interview with our spring issue cover star Sabrina Bahsoon.