BETROTHAL FASHIONS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 519, 28 May 1909, Page 3

BETROTHAL FASHIONS.

The rumour: of . engagement bracelets io take the. place of'the usual ring has. (says a London.- writer.)caused. ... consternation among Vomen who look upon, an engagement' ring-almost as "sacred a thing'-as' a wedding ring. - But there is no cause for alarm, even if -attempts;'liavo been mado.to introdilco novelties in love tokens. '-.. The rival to the' ting is either a gold bangle or a gold link bracelet, ■ secured ty a tiny, gold padlock so. constructed that wheu onco it is closed it cannot! be-reopened... The idea, rather a pretty one, is.:that an "engagement bracelet" of this pattern,: when oncoit. has been : • put on, cannot bo removed again as long as ' the-wearer Jives—unless, of course, tho links 'nro actually cut' through with:a file.. 'It is argued that 'an engagement , ring ... can io slipped off at apy time, but the engagement bracelet is symbolic of. constancy. It«is put "n';wh'en;,the . promise' is given, -never to h* takon off j again. But it is only in very rare . oases the .bracelet takes tho place of..the ring.;, the majority of jovers are conservative, and after all the engagement ring gifus sufficient scope.for pretty .ideas-, , ' One prstty conceit, is to -have tho round portion'that holds tlie stone set on a minute hirigo, so that tho jowelled lid can bo raised to disclose a tiny: portrait'produced by. ceramic photography. These rings are certain',? attractive, the. workmanship is so delicate that no one; could possibly' guess the secret that .lies bidden within. . The favourite engagement . :ring of to-day is.: the diamoad "half-hpop.'' , tjiero are five, stones. I'his simple form of ring is liked because it can be .worn comfortably , over the wedding ring, whereas ..0110 in which tho stones , are set. in ; a circle or oval looks out of place .ever -the./simple. gold: circlet.. .Next to dia-. lionds, sapphires-;are tho favourites. ~ The prejudice .against, opals.; is gradually dying out when those lovely, stones are set in• any outer form of, jewellery,' but opals in an'.engagement;ring are unthinkable. ? -Tho custom of/having the name 1 of tho.fiance or ; fianceo engraved .insido tho, ring is . not so popular as it ■ was a few- years ago,- but curiously, it is more usiial to have the two ■names engraved-inside tho wedding ring. : '