The Ooh! Aah! Guide to Solitaires

Solitaires have been one of the most popular engagement ring designs for generations. Their elegant simplicity fits a multitude of aesthetics and stand the test of time. We’ll walk you through the history of solitaires, what they are, and why they are our go to!

First thing’s first- what is a solitaire? The word solitaire is used to describe a piece of jewelry with one stone.  The stone can be any shape, and you can set the stone in many ways, although the term is closely associated with round brilliant stones in a simple four prong setting.

The first solitaire setting was produced by Tiffany and Co and featured a round brilliant diamond in 6 prongs. This popularization led to four prong, eight prong, and bezel set variations, and the setting of different shaped center stones as a way to make the style more specific to each couple’s tastes. 

We love solitaires. We love their simplicity, the romance of showing off the stone you picked,  and most of all that you can change them with a simple band!  They’re a great choice for a client who is sure of their partner, but not sure of their taste!  They’re a great design that fits into many budgets as you can pick from a variety of center stones and metal options. 

With any engagement ring, there are a couple of things to consider- like whether they have a favorite stone shape or metal color, but there are a couple of things to think of in particular when you are shopping for solitaires. Does your partner have a job where they use their hands a lot? If so, you may want to try a solitaire that sits lower on the hand to prevent spinning, and the stone getting stuck on objects throughout the day. 

See what kind of wedding bands your partner likes- and make sure the ring is compatible. Some rings sit very low, which feels comfortable but doesn’t always leave room to fit a wedding band flush with their engagement ring. If you are wanting to surprise your significant other you can check out their social media boards or ask a close confidant!

As always, we are here to help! If you want to start designing your own solitaire come into the shop during business hours or contact us for appointment availability.

All "Sets" for the Holidays

Did the holidays sneak up on? They sneaked up on us! With current COVID-19 restrictions, shopping looks a little different this year. To try and help you all out, our staff has put together a collection of our favorite sets! Mix, match, and be merry!

Labradorite and Diamonds in Dark Rhodium

Earrings $395 Necklace $155

Our dark rhodium and diamond collecting is a staff and customer favorite. The dark patina applied to sterling silver makes the micro pave diamonds on each piece sparkle bright. This collection puts diamonds and fine gemstones (like these ultra opulent rose cut labradorites) in a great gift giving price point.

Labradorite Strand and Statement Earrings

Necklace: Made to Order, Contact us for pricing and stone size options. Earrings $56

More labradorite! We love that this stone has a little bit of color change- its signature flashes of blue, green, gold, and violet- which makes it an easy match with nearly whatever you want to wear. Labradorite is also said to grant protection and help strengthen intuition. We could all use a little labradorite in our lives right now.

Lapis Lazuli Set

Necklace $52 Earrings $32

Lapis- a southwestern staple! Identified by it’s distinct cobalt blue and golden flecks. We love this pairing with simple sterling silver capped droplets and smooth finished beads which feel soft against the skin. Both pieces pair nicely with other jewelry styles, and we love layering strands with mid length necklaces.

Lapis Lazuli and Sterling Silver

Necklace $107 Earrings $49

A more classic lapis look, this set would play nicely with the set above or by itself. We love the linear facets on this pendant which help this gorgeous stone catch the light, and the detailed metal work on the side of the studs. We can’t wait to see who we get to gift-wrap these for!

Mixed Metal Universe Set

Necklace $95 Earrings $42

“You are my sun, my moon and all of my stars.” We love love- so we fall in love with any celestial inspired piece of jewelry we see as it reminds us of this dreamy EE Cummings quote. This necklace features yellow, white, and dark bronze Sun, Moon and star pendants with a hammer-set white sapphire. The earrings are engraved vermeil beads on sterling silver ear-wires. This pairing focuses on tiny intentional details that feel special.

Mixed Metal Square Set

Necklace $52 Earrings $52

More tiny details! Simple sets like these are a great option for when you aren’t quite sure what jewelry styles the recipient likes. Brushed finishes and mixed metal settings help the pieces feel special, and can easily be incorporated into anyone’s collection. Contact us to inquire about availability!

Mixed Metal Square and Pendulum Set

Necklace $52 Earrings $54

Now, we’ll jazz it up! Replace a tiny earring with a larger earring with movement. Our mixed metal pendulum earrings are a great lightweight option that could easily become someone’s new favorite earring. With gold and silver tones, they match everything. The chain provides movement for a comfortable all day wear.

Sterling Silver Locket Set

Necklace $42 Earrings $42

A present for mom! Lockets are a great way to make a gift feel personal for the matriarch in your family. The delicate engraving and small size feel whimsical and modern. Both in sterling silver, they will be kind to skin and age nicely. Contact us for availability.

Ice Blue Firefly Set

Necklace $65 Earrings $66

Of course, fan favorite Firefly Collection is a solid choice. These unique pieces play off of each other making it easy to build a collection- like these two pieces that use different shapes in the same color story. Swarovski Crystals add bold color and sparkle while keeping these intricate pieces in a friendly price range, should we wrap them up for you?

Rose Gold and Diamond Set

Necklace $552 Earrings $780

Rosé, roses, rose gold, romance- you get it! We have a variety of pave diamond disc necklaces at the shop right now. They are a fine jewelry staple. We like to pair them with a funky stud for a sleek minimal look.

Rose Gold and Diamond Pave Disc Set

Earrings $360 Necklace $552

This pairing is a great option as well! A classic matching set that works together or separate. Studs are a great option for new moms! Tiny humans tend to grab dangling earrings-ouch! Rose gold is a great option for people who like to mix metals. It mixes well with silver and gold toned pieces and is a great way to broaden someone’s collection.

Green Ayala Barr Set

Every time we order Ayala Barr her pieces fly out of the shop! With Holiday zoom parties fast approaching, this line is the perfect statement line to show up on a virtual holiday party. We would suggest giving these as an early gift so your loved one can wear the pieces during holiday celebrations! Contact us to inquire about availability!

Ayala Bar Holiday Set

Merry and Bright! More from Ayala, this set reminds us of gorgeous poinsettias in rich crimson shades. Red is a power color, a statement. These gorgeous one of a kind pieces are a great gift for a bold loved one. Every detail is intentional, and the longer you admire them, the more you find to love. Contact us to inquire about availability!

Shopping During Covid-19

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed everything- how we communicate, how we see our doctors, how we work, how we shop- but we’ve all learned one thing: that people are resilient. We have been so fortunate to have had so much support from our community in New Mexico and across the nation.

 As we started planning for the upcoming holiday shopping season, we wanted to make sure that we had multiple shopping options for our customers so that we can keep everyone safe while guiding customers while they find the perfect pieces. If you’d like to get started early, we even have holiday wrapping available now! Here are all the ways you can shop with us this holiday season.

ONLINE

We work hard to put as much as possible on our website!  Whether you are a Firefly die hard or looking at wedding bands, we have lots of great options to browse. At checkout, you can select either curbside pickup or shipping. 

For curbside pick-up, we will call and email you as soon as your product has been packaged for you. Pull up in front of the shop and give us a call at (505)265-7170 and one of our team members will bring out your purchases to you!

BY TEXT

Text us! You can text us at 505-589-4017. Looking for something that you don’t see on our website? Let us know! We will talk with you about what you’re looking for and send pictures and prices directly to your cell phone. If you find something you like we can take payment over the phone, or email an invoice to you directly. Shipping and pick up options are available through this shopping experience as well.

BY EMAIL

If you prefer to communicate via email we can do that as well. Email us what you are looking for and we will gladly email you images of options that are in stock. You can then choose curbside pick up or we can ship to you. Email us at oohaahabq@gmail.com

 VIRTUALLY- Zoom or FaceTime

These appointments work great if you are interested in a custom piece, or if you want to get that one on one in person experience from the comfort of your home.  We do request that you make an appointment so we can make sure we have a team member ready to help you!  You can make an appointment by calling the shop or on our website by clicking HERE.  We have a couple different time lengths for virtual appointments, so please read the appointment descriptions to make sure you get the most out of your time..

IN SHOP

We always love to see our customer’s faces and we are still open 7 days a week! If you would like to shop in person, there are a couple of things to expect:

-          You must wear a mask while in our shop- Your mask must be covering your mouth and nose, and must be worn for the entirety of your visit. If you happen to forget yours, let a staff member know! We have some extras available.

-          Upon entry, we will take your temperature-    Any person with a temperature over  100.4 will not be permitted entry. If you would like to wait a few minutes and try again, we are absolutely willing to take your temperature again.

-          Sanitization Stations- We have hand sanitizer throughout the store, Please use some upon entry, and as often as you’d like while you’re shopping.

-          Limited Capacity- To make sure our staff and customers can practice social distancing, we have a reduced capacity. If the door is locked, we will let you in as soon as we finish with our current shoppers, and disinfect the cases. Please limit the number in your party when you can to allow room for other shoppers.

Our entire staff has taken a COVID-19 safety training course. We disinfect every item someone tries on or looks at. We sanitize our hands, cash-wrap, doors, and cases after each customer, and check our own temperatures three times a day. We are committed to staying safe so that we can continue to help bring a little bit of sparkle to our community!

Our goal has always been to create a space where all people are welcome. Everyone deserves to have unique pieces of jewelry, and we are so excited to be entering into another holiday season! Thank you for supporting us through the years. We’re here to help YOU!