Sophia Ring

I have a place on a lake and this ring has been in the water almost every day since May. Lake water, sunscreen, bug spray and a lot of sweat, which between them have destroyed three plated rings of mine over the years. This one has not shifted a shade. The most telling part is the underside of the stone setting where water pools and sits after swimming, and even there the gold is bright with no white residue or corrosion. I have never done anything more than dry it with a towel. It looks exactly as good in July as it did the day I unwrapped it.

Every solitaire I have owned develops a dark grimy ring where the setting meets the stone, usually within two months, and once it starts you cannot get it out. That was the specific thing I watched for here. I have worn this daily since late February through cooking, cleaning, workouts and two heat waves. Last week I put it under a magnifier and the join is still clean bright gold all the way around. No shadow, no tarnish creeping up the bezel walls, and I have not polished it a single time. It is the first plated solitaire I have not been embarrassed by after month three.

I have a nickel allergy that has ruled out basically all fashion jewelry for me since I was twenty. Rings are the worst because the metal is trapped against damp skin all day. I put this on in March expecting the usual itchy red band by evening and it simply never came. Since then I have worn it through workouts, through washing dishes and overnight more times than I can count, and my finger is completely clear. Not even the dry flaky patch I get from so-called hypoallergenic pieces. My mother has the same allergy and I bought her one for her birthday.

The design already looks a bit antique, so any real wear would ruin the effect rather than add to it. Happily there is none to speak of. The gold is even and the stone is clear.

It has that timeless shape you would expect from something inherited. But the finish is crisp and bright rather than worn down. Best of both, really.

The stone has more presence in person than in the photos, which I ended up liking but it took a day to adjust. If you want something discreet this is not it. Beautifully made for what it costs.